Decorating with thrift store finds is a fantastic way to create a home that is unique, stylish, and full of personality—all without spending a lot of money. The key to successful thrift shopping is to approach it like a creative treasure hunt. You’re not just buying secondhand items; you’re looking for pieces with potential that can be transformed and curated to fit your personal style.
Here’s your guide to decorating with thrift store finds on a budget.
1. Shop with a Plan and an Open Mind
Before you start, have a general idea of what you’re looking for, but be open to a fun, unexpected find.
- Have a List: Go to the store with a list of items you need, whether it’s a side table, a vase, or some picture frames. This prevents you from buying random items you don’t need.
- Look for Potential, Not Perfection: Don’t get discouraged by an item’s outdated color, chipped paint, or old hardware. Look at the item’s shape, size, and material. A sturdy, solid wood table with a bad finish is a much better find than a brand new, flimsy table.
- Go for the Bones: Look for classic shapes and simple designs. A simple lamp with a classic silhouette can be given a new lampshade, and a traditional dresser can be modernized with a coat of paint.
2. Look for Good Bones and Quality Materials
The best thrift store finds are those that are well-made and will last a long time.
- Solid Wood Furniture: This is the holy grail of thrift shopping. Older, solid wood furniture is often better made and more durable than modern, particleboard pieces. Look for sturdy construction and check the joints to make sure they’re secure.
- Unique Decor: Keep an eye out for interesting, one-of-a-kind decor. A ceramic vase with a unique shape, a vintage mirror with an ornate frame, or a retro brass tray can add character to a room.
- Natural Materials: Look for items made from natural materials like wicker, rattan, wood, and ceramic. These pieces often have a timeless quality that will last through design trends.
3. The Power of DIY and a Little Elbow Grease
This is where you turn your thrift store finds into stylish, custom pieces.
- A Fresh Coat of Paint: Paint is your most powerful tool. A can of spray paint can transform an old, brass lamp into a modern matte black one. A can of latex paint can give a tired old dresser a completely new lease on life.
- New Hardware: Swapping out old, dated knobs and handles for new, modern hardware is a small, inexpensive change that can make a huge impact on a piece of furniture.
- Reupholstery: For a chair or stool with a solid frame, reupholstering the seat with new fabric is a simple and cheap DIY project that can completely change its look. You can find beautiful fabric at discount stores.
- Clean and Polish: Sometimes, all a piece needs is a good cleaning and polishing. A beautiful wooden table might just be hiding under a layer of dirt. A metal frame can be polished to a beautiful shine.
4. Curate and Create Cohesion
The key to a thrifted home that looks intentional, not cluttered, is curation.
- Stick to a Unifying Color Palette: A simple way to make a collection of thrifted items look cohesive is to stick to a color palette. For example, if your decor is mostly black, white, and wood tones, all your thrifted finds should fall into that color scheme.
- Mix and Match Styles: Don’t be afraid to mix different styles. A vintage wooden desk can look fantastic with a modern metal lamp. The contrast between old and new creates visual interest and makes the space feel layered and collected over time.
- Group Items Together: Group similar items together to make them feel like a purposeful collection. A cluster of thrifted vases, for example, looks more intentional than a single vase sitting alone on a shelf.
5. Focus on High-Impact Items
When you’re first starting, focus on items that will give you the most visual return on your investment.
- Large Mirrors: A large mirror is a budget decorator’s secret weapon. It reflects light, makes a room feel bigger, and acts as a beautiful focal point. You can often find large, ornate mirrors at thrift stores for very little money.
- Frames: Thrift stores are a goldmine for picture frames. You can use them to create a gallery wall, a popular and inexpensive way to add personality to a room.
- Side Tables and Lamps: These small pieces are easy to find and can be updated with a simple DIY project, adding a pop of style to a room without a lot of effort.