15 Best Ways to Thrift for Home Decor and What to Buy

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Thrifted finds are one of the best ways to curate a cozy home on a budget!  But, it can feel overwhelming!  Check out these best ways to thrift for home decor and tips on what you should and should NOT buy when thrift shopping.

I absolutely LOVE great thrifted find of home decor that I can use to make our home feel extra cozy along with giving it a curated vintage style.  Chances are that you also love, or at least are intrigued by, ways to thrift for home decor and thrift store finds too!  Today, we are going to chat about the best ways to thrift for home decor at thrift shops, flea markets, antique stores, yard sales, and even the online marketplace.  Beautiful finds from all of these places definitely count as ways to thrift for home decor and we are going to dive deep today into the best secondhand items to hunt for, what thrifted home decor finds you should buy, and what thrifted items you should NOT buy!

No matter what style of home decor you love for your home, thrift store shopping can be a great way to create a beautiful home without spending a lot of money.  You may even find that some of the most unique finds for your own home end up coming from secondhand shops.  

If I may be so bold as to say so, our home is proof that some of the best home decor items can be found in unexpected places, which are usually not my favorite big box store (although that is fun to shop too!)

In fact, my favorite things in our home have been unexpected finds at an antique shop, local thrift store, Facebook marketplace, vintage shop, or antique malls.

So, let’s chat about some ways to thrift for home decor, how to think about it, and even a peek at some of my own favorite thrifted finds!

15 Best Ways to Thrift for Home Decor and What to Buy

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #1: Shop with a loose list.

I almost always head into the local thrift shop with at least a mental list in my mind of what I’d like to find.  However, if you only shop for secondhand items with a strict list of specific items, you may miss out on really great thrifted finds.  For me, it is helpful to have some specific things I’m looking for.  At the same time, though, I am always keeping my eyes open for vintage items or home goods that would go great with my personal style of decor or even inspire something fun in my decorating.

Also, I have a list of thrifted home decor finds that I almost always buy if I see them for a great deal.  I’ll share some blog posts you can check out for specific seasonal decorating lists:

Here are a few of the things I always get excited to find:

  • Ironstone
  • Architectural salvage
  • Pretty picture frames
  • Vintage artwork or wall decor
  • Old books in the book section
  • Brass candlesticks
  • Wooden bowl
  • Vintage dishes

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #2: Stick to your style.

The list above is important because it is a list of vintage finds that are specific to my personal style of decorating.  Your list would likely include a different color scheme or even different styles of home decor pieces.  The point is that when you are shopping at secondhand stores, stick to your own personal style.

Why?  Well, speaking from experience, grabbing a great deal on thrifted finds is fun.  However, once I get it back home, those thrift store finds just become clutter in the corner of storage because as fun as the thrifted items are, they just don’t work in my house!

A great deal is only a great deal if it is something you will actually enjoy using!

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #3: Keep a list of measurements.

One of the things that will help you the most as you visit antique malls or favorite thrift stores is to keep a list of measurements for spaces around your home.  

For example, I had a short wall in our back dining room that I hunted for that “perfect piece” for a long time.  Having the measurement of the wall on hand helped me to narrow down choices and prevented me from making costly purchases that we wouldn’t have been able to use!

Pro Tip:  I love the note section of my phone for things like measurements because I always have it handy!

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #4: Take pictures of places you’re shopping for.

If you are shopping for some specific places in your home that you want to refresh or rearrange, snap some pictures before you leave your home!

As you browse through the flea markets, antique stores, or yard sales, you can more easily visualize how thrifted finds would work in your own home.  I am such a visual person and often pull up pictures of our home on my phone when I am considering home decorating purchases!

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #5: Don’t overthink a great deal.

Now that I’ve told you to not waste time and money on things that don’t fit your personal style, this tip can help balance out your decision.  I recently described myself as a chronic overthinker.  Even though I was laughing about it, it is so true.  I can talk myself in and out of a $2.99 purchase multiple times while standing in a booth at a vintage shop.

Now, I am not saying that you should be frivolous with your budget.  However, if you come across good stuff that is is a good deal and you know you can likely use it, go ahead and put it in your cart!

On a recent thrifting trip, I came across this great old music book shoved in the middle of a bunch of books I definitely did NOT want.  It didn’t have a price but with fingers crossed, I asked the kind cashier.  “Oh, $1.00 will be fine”, she said.  I tried to not smile too big and added it to my cart!  I don’t have a special spot for it and really don’t need it.  However, I love old music books and $1.00, well, it won’t break the bank!

Don’t overthink and talk yourself out of a great deal!  If you really love the item, chances are you will be able to find a great place for it in your home decor.

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #6: Quality over quantity.

Admittedly, when I was first learning the art and science of thrifting for home decor, I didn’t always follow this tip.  However, as you look at ways to thrift for home decor consider the quality of home decor pieces over the quantity.

How many pretty platters do you actually use?  Or how many chairs can you actually fit in your home without looking cluttered?

I would rather invest in a beautiful ironstone platter that is unique rather than several cheap ones that are just cute.  At the same time, it feels better to spend my budget on a chair that is actually comfortable and durable rather than one that is cute and in my favorite color but not really usable at all.

Test out furniture in the thrift store, look for unique pieces, and invest in solid wood furniture and unique items that add to the character of your home.  This is one of the best ways to thrift for home decor and to create a curated home that tells your own home story rather than just a pretty space that is impersonal.

Ways to Thrift for Home Decor Tip #7: Out with the old, in with the old.

In with the old (because I buy way more vintage items than new items!) means out with the old and is one of the best ways to thrift for home decor.

Because I love to thrift and shop and hunt for great vintage finds, I am routinely adding to my collections.  In order to keep our home from becoming cluttered and overwhelming, I try to give my decor spaces a good purge a couple of times a year.

There are definitely pieces that I’ve had for many years and still love using.  However, if I haven’t decorated with a piece in a really long time, it usually means it is time to part ways and let someone else give it new life!

Plus, yard sales put some cash back in the budget for more vintage shopping or family adventures!

Pro Tip:  Schedule two times a year to look through your home decor and give it a mini purge.  For seasonal decor, I set aside anything I didn’t decorate with that season instead of boxing it back up for storage.  This helps me keep the seasonal decor under control too!

More of my favorite ways to thrift for home decor:

These additional ways to thrift for home decor are very important as you learn and get better at creating cozy, curated home decor with thrift store finds!

Shopping for your home decor pieces by thrifting is going to be fun!  Here are a few more important ways to thrift for home decor:

8. Go frequently and get to know the store’s restocking dates!  This will help you to be able to be one of the first to shop the new (old) stuff!

9. Keep your home decor organized.  Even though a thrifted platter might be a great deal, it’s maybe a bit of a waste if you already have too many at home!

10. Be patient in ways to thrift for home decor. You may stop at several thrift stores and walk out empty-handed.  But the next time?  Your treasure might be waiting!

11. Invest in neutrals that can be used in different rooms for varied purposes.

12. Shop your own home to see how you can repurpose what you already have.

13. Use online resources, like FB Marketplace, to daily search for specific pieces.

14. Declutter your own space before starting to fill it with “new” treasures.

15. Look for the best deals on pieces that need a little love and be willing to put in some elbow grease!

What NOT to Buy When Thrifting for Home Decor:

This is a list of things that I typically pass up, mostly just by personal preference!

  • Sheets
  • Towels
  • Pillows (except for throw pillow inserts that are very clean)
  • Broken furniture (we aren’t usually looking to add DIY projects to our list!)
  • Home decor items that are not in our home’s color palette
  • Secondhand items that aren’t much cheaper than sold in retail stores
  • Piece of furniture that is not solid wood
  • Light fixtures (unless I can test to make sure they work, then bring on the second hand lighting!)
  • Cookware
  • Brass or silver-looking decor that is too shiny or not heavy
  • Faux plants and flowers (there could be exceptions to this, just speaking of “generally”!)

What to Buy When Thrifting for Home Decor:

Here is a list of some of the home decor, vintage items, and thrifted items that I always look for when I am thrifting for home decor:

  • Straw hats
  • Coastal inspired pieces
  • Sea shells
  • Baskets
  • Free objects from nature
  • Colored glass
  • Architectural salvage
  • Seasonal decor
  • Outdoor pots
  • Ceramic bowls or pots for plants
  • Terra cotta pots and saucers
  • Vintage art
  • Pretty dishes
  • Vintage books
  • Basket paper plate holders
  • Glass cloche
  • Brass candlesticks
  • Wooden bowls
  • Seasonal tableware
  • Decorative mirrors
  • Ironstone
  • Stoneware
  • Piece of furniture with good bones

Happy Thrifting!

​I hope these ways to thrift for home decor help you create a plan for thrifting for your home decor and incorporating your thrift store finds into your own home and personal style!  I would love to hear what is on your thrifting list along with your favorite ways to thrift for home decor, so make sure and share in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by today and stay tuned on Instagram!  I’ve picked up some great thrifted pieces over the summer that I can hardly wait to start incorporating into my home decor now that our summer traveling has ended and I have some time at home!

Happy thrifting!

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterestand Facebook!  

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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