7 Simple Ways to Decorate with Thrift Store Decor

Thrift store decor is one of my favorite ways to give my home charm and character while decorating; so I can’t wait to share a few tips!

If you’ve been following along for a while now then you know that I love to decorate my home with secondhand items.

Whether it’s garage sale shopping or stopping by thrift stores and flea markets, I love it.

I feel like it helps create a one-of-a-kind home.

Not that my home is so unique that you couldn’t compare it to another home or suggest that it’s similar to another home.

You absolutely can.

But it’s not necessarily a cookie-cutter home if that makes sense.

Shopping for vintage thrift store decor helps give it a bit of character that is harder to replicate with all-new home decor.

In my thrifty adventures, I’ve found a few tips that help me decorate our home with thrifted decor.

If you want to watch me share these tips AND my recent thrift haul head over to YouTube and watch my video!

https://youtu.be/sV8GKKGcOvw

What are some very frugal ways to decorate your home?

• Be patient; one project or space at a time (the right pieces for the right price will always surface if you’re patient)
• Don’t be afraid of the hunt (sometimes the perfect piece is at the bottom of a basket or at the back of the shelf)
• Shop second-hand stores and garage sales
• Check Facebook Marketplace for people looking to get rid of things for FREE
• Paint can transform and give new life to anything
• DIY projects are a must

Thrift Store Decorating Ideas

Since I’ve been trying to decorate our home with almost all secondhand items I’ve learned a few tips that I want to share with you.

When I first started I was buying things that I never ended up using, and then I also didn’t buy things that I wished I had.

So, to help you not do that as often as I did I want to share these tips with you.

But rest assured, you will make those mistakes every once in a while.

But by thinking through these tips I’ve been able to do it less often.

All these tips can be turned into questions that you ask yourself.

Side story: I was at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago and saw a rolling tote and thought it would be nice for transporting homeschool stuff back and forth between home and co-op, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend $6. (Remember, I’m super cheap.) Well, come to find out brand new those things are $50+!! The next day I went to buy it and it was already gone.

Thrift Store Decor that’s Your Style

The first thing I try to do when I’m shopping for thrift store decor is to ask myself if the thing is my style.

This may seem obvious.

But early on in decorating with thrift store decor, I got caught up in the price.

I’d think, “It’s such a great price! I’ll find a way to use it.”

But the thing wasn’t my style and so I never found anything to do with it.

I actually ended up wasting money, because the item just sat on my shelf and was never used.

So the first question I ask myself is, “Is this my style and can I think of a place that I would love to have it today?”

If the answer is no then put the item back on the shelf and move on, knowing you just saved money by not spending it haha!

Shop Unique Thrift Store Decor

Unique decor is one of my favorite ways to add character to our home.

I’ve never been a fan of my house looking exactly like every other house.

Even when we first got married and moved into our little starter home, it bothered me that my house was the mirrored version of the house 2 doors down.

Anyone else?

So while I’m shopping secondhand I ask myself “Is this unique? Will it add character to my home?”

Now there are other questions to ask yourself still.

So if the answer is no you still might want to put it in your cart.

Shop Practical Thrift Store Decor

This is probably my favorite question to ask myself.

For me it really help keep my home decor to a minimum.

I probably put a greater emphasis on this question than most of the others.

But it also kinda goes with my style.

“Will this have a function beyond just being pretty?”

Not all my decor has a practical purpose, but I do like to ask myself this question just to keep myself from buying all kinds of things I don’t need.

Repurpose Thrift Store Decor

This is when you see something and you know that its original purpose is not how you want to use it in your home.

Sometimes when you think outside the box like this you can find a way to meet a need for your home or some decor with thrift store decor.

Most recently I found a candle plate at a garage sale for $0.50.

I don’t use chunky candles for decor very often, BUT i have been wanting a “bowl” for matches after I light my candles.

I thought this little pewter plate looked like it would work great.

Not to mention it was only $0.50.

Way less expensive than running to McGee and co or Pottery Barn!

I will admit sometimes I miss things in this category.

The question is “Can I use this for another purpose in my home?”, and sometimes my brain just isn’t flowing with all its creative juices.

But if you at least acknowledge it, then you’re less likely to miss it.

Find Statement Pieces

This is one of the only times I allow myself to spend what I would consider a large amount of money.

Generally a statement piece is more along the lines of a piece of furniture, although that. isnot the only thing.

I could see a rug, or a piece of artwork being statement pieces as well.

For you, it might mean something different, but for me, that is something that speaks to me, and is very much a one-of-a-kind piece.

Something with character that can’t be easily replicated.

And yes, filled with little imperfections.

Speaking of imperfections that reminds me of the last statement piece we bought AND BROKE.

You can read that story HERE.

Can I DIY this Thrift Store Decor

Sometimes there are different things that I am wanting but I don’t want to pay full price for them.

So while I’m at the thrift store I look for something that I could DIY into what I want.

The most recent examples are the DIY aged lamp and DIY aged stone vases I did.

I found the lamp and the vase and I asked myself “Could I do a DIY project to turn this into something that is my style?”.

Neither of them were my style before the DIY projects, but since they were great prices and I knew I could easily turn them into something I liked I brought them home.

This picture frame is another example of that.

The frame was $0.50, which is a great price.

Now I just have to put in the work to find a print that I want to put inside the frame.

Be Patient

This is the last tip I have and it’s not a question.

It’s a script that I tell myself over and over while I’m hunting for things.

With enough time I will eventually find what I’m looking for and for a reasonable price too.

Remember in May while I was garage saling and looking for white mugs?

The ones at the garage sale were $3 a piece, and for me that was too much.

But since I was patient and waited I eventually found the same mugs for $1/mug at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago!!!

When we first got married and I started my homemaking journey I decided I wanted a “lantern/bird cage” thing.

I saw one and told my husband that I might not ever see another one again, so we had to buy it right then.

well it wasn’t much longer after that when my husband and I found another one similar FOR LESS MONEY.

Now when I insist on something, my husband will tease me and tel me “It’s the only one and you’ll never see another one ever again.”

Then we both laugh.

I will say that I have gotten much better at leaving things behind.

For me, the regret of spending money on something I had no business buying is far greater than the regret of leaving something behind.

I hope that this was helpful for you and gave you some tangible advice on how to begin decorating your home with thrift store decor.

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Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

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