How to Use 10 Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor

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Are you ready for some budget-friendly decor? Add these favorites to your list and get thrift store finds for spring home decor this season!  Keep reading for other ideas to use thrift store finds for decorating and DIY around your home!

I LOVE going thrifting.  In fact, if I have a free Saturday morning, I often find browsing some thrift shops by myself to be incredibly therapeutic!  It is even more fun when I find ways to use some of these common thrift store finds in my spring home decor.

I am definitely adding some little touches and hints of spring to my home decorating in the living room right now and have pulled out a few of these thrifty finds from past years to use again this year!

Thrifting is a perfect way to restyle your home in a budget-friendly way for the different seasonal decorating.  At the same time, sometimes browsing through thrift shops can inspire creativity in a way that you just don’t get with typical home decor shopping.  Also, thrifting is a great way to find your next DIY challenge too!

I am excited to share with you how I’ve used these common thrift store finds to decorate my home for spring in past years.  It is sparking my own creativity to think how I can use the same home decor piece in different ways this year!

Are you ready to see?  Let’s get started so that you can add these favorites to your thrift store shopping list too!

How do you decorate with thrift store finds?

If you’re looking for ideas to decorate your home with thrift store treasures, you are in the right place!  Each month, I join a few of my blogging friends for a special series called “Thrifting with the Gals.”

We all love sharing our thrifted treasures, how we are using them to style our homes, tips and tricks for thrifting, and DIY projects with thrift store finds.  Especially since we all live in different parts of the country, there is always such fun variety.  I love seeing what each of these friends come up with every month.

You will love following along with their blogs too:

family room styled for spring with fresh faux stems and neutral pillows

How do you decorate for spring on a budget?

Thrifting is one of my favorite ways to curate my home on a budget.  No matter the season, there are great options for thrift store treasures that you can use when decorating your home.

For the spring season, shop this list of favorite thrift store finds for spring home decor:

  1. Baskets
  2. Outdoor pots
  3. Ceramic bowls or pots for plants
  4. Terra cotta pots and saucers
  5. Bunny figures (paint if you don’t love the color!)
  6. Vintage art
  7. Pretty dishes
  8. Old books
  9. Basket paper plate holders
  10. Glass cloche
spring vignette with stacked wicker picnic baskets and faux greenery stems

How to thrift shop effectively?

Remember these basics when you head out to go thrifting:

  1. Set your budget.
  2. Take a small tape measure.
  3. Make a list of any specific items you’re looking for.
  4. Make a list of places you’re trying to decorate.
  5. Take a picture of a decor area you’re working on so you can refer to it in the thrift store.
  6. Keep an open mind.
  7. Pay attention to restock and sale dates at your favorite thrift stores.

How to Use Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #1: Baskets

What can I do with thrifted baskets?

One of my first stops at my local thrift store is always the basket section.  This is partly because it is the first aisle at my local thrift shop but mostly because I’ve gotten almost all of my decor baskets at thrift stores in the past!

In the spring season, wicker baskets are one of my favorite things to decorate with.  The wicker texture is a great source of inspiration for bringing in woven texture for seasonal decorating.

Not only can baskets look really pretty and add to the texture and charm of your decor, but they also are great for storage and organization!

Over on THIS post, you can see examples of my favorite ways to use thrift store wicker baskets in my home decor.

Here are some favorite baskets available online for spring home decorating:

  • These stacked baskets fit perfectly on a coffee table or shelf and are pretty storage for things you need easy access to!
  • This large basket makes amazing storage and is really sturdy.  I’m using it as an accent table by my sofa!
  • I love this gorgeous wall basket.  It is so perfect to style for any season.  For spring, just add some fresh cut branches from your yard or these realistic faux cherry blossoms for an instant statement piece on your wall or door!
wall basket hanging over a white mantel with greenery inside

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #2: Outdoor Pots

Pro Tip: When you head to the thrift store, scout out around the front porch and sides of the buildings where outdoor items are often kept.

Often, you can get wonderful pots and planters for a spring vignette at the thrift store.  Even if you don’t love the different colors or find one that fits the aesthetic of your own spring porch decor, you can always use outdoor spray paint for an easy DIY!

This is an easy and budget-friendly way to dress up your front porch or patio.  Grab a few spring flowers to plant and enjoy!  You can also enjoy these faux uv resistant outdoor topiaries in a pretty thrifted pot or add these UV resistant faux stems like I did last year!

You can see my spring front porch decor HERE for more ideas!

front porch styled with spring wreaths and large bunnies in wooden lantern holders

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #3: Ceramic bowls or pots

Large bowls are common finds in thrift stores.  I love to watch for ceramic ones (or, if I’m really lucky, a great ironstone bowl).  These large ceramic bowls make wonderful planters for spring house plants.

So, don’t miss the kitchen and dishes section to dress up your spring plants!

Last year, I used a large ironstone bowl that I got at a flea market for our DIY Easter Resurrection garden.  It turned out so beautifully and we can’t wait to do it again this year.

tablescape styled with tulips in glass vases with a beautiful resurrection garden styled on a bread board in the middle

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #4: Terra cotta pots and saucers

What are the hidden gems in thrift stores?

No matter what time of year, always watch for the BEST terra cotta pots and saucers at thrift stores.  Even though there are lots of ways to DIY a new terra cotta pot to make it look old, nothing beats a thrifted pot that has actually been sitting out in someone’s garden for 10 years!  Small pots are some of my very favorite pieces to use in my spring decorating!

At the same time, you’ll save SO much money.  Terra cotta pots and saucers tend to be pricey but I love using them in my spring decor.  Thankfully, I’ve found all of mine second hand.

Terra cotta is a great way to add a touch of earth tone color to your spring decorating.  At the same time, a terra cotta pot with lots of patina adds so much texture and character to your spring home decor too.  I love to stack small pots or even put a bunch of small pots in a big bowl for a fun centerpiece.

On THIS post, you can see how I made an entire spring centerpiece for the dining room area using thrifted terra cotta pots!  I’m already thinking about how I want to create this fun centerpiece 2.0 this year for a fresh look!

small terracotta pots styled in a large terracotta bowl with a small plant and stone bunny
mortar and pestle styled next to a watering can and little terracotta pots holding candlesticks and moss

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #5: Bunny statues

How do you decorate for spring on a budget?

Nothing can turn a space into a festive spring space like a cute bunny figure or statue.  In fact, so many of them hop into and around our home during the spring season that I’ve lost track.  (See what I did there?!  Haha!)

However, one of the best ways you can save money for seasonal decorating, like spring home decor, is to find these season or holiday-specific pieces at thrift stores.

I often see cute bunny figures at thrift stores.  Even if the different colors don’t go with my decor, they can make great little DIY projects to upcycle for your own spring home decorating.

Pro Tip: Shop for seasonal and holiday-specific items year round.  Often, people are getting rid of the most seasonal items at the END of a season.  

Even if the rabbits are new items, they can still mix perfectly with your favorite vintage finds for some spring home decor style!

Here are a few cute bunny statues and figures available online too:

large gray bunny styled next to a mortar and pestle and a plant in a beautiful spring vignette
salvage piece styled next to a plant and a marble cake stand holding a bunny and small terracotta pots

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #6: Vintage art

Don’t skip over the art, frame, and mirror section at the thrift store.  I’m not one of the lucky thrifters who finds a lot of great vintage art.  However, you never know!  After all, half of the fun is in the hunt, right?

My favorite spring art pieces for my gallery wall are pretty pages from my Audubon book and vintage flower books.  These particular books can be pricey at an antique shop but I fortunately found mine for a good deal at a flea market.  I love to frame these pretty prints (with thrifted frames, of course!).  Always be sure to check the book section for books that have pretty art in the pages.

Pro Tip: Use rub and buff to update the frame of a great thrifted art piece or mirror.

Audubon print inside an elegant gold frame on a white shiplap wall

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #7: Pretty dishes

This is perhaps a little more obvious, but the dishes and glass section is always a favorite.  Of course, I’m always on the hunt for vintage ironstone.  I love using ironstone no matter the season.  There is something about a pretty stack of old, white dishes that just makes me smile!

However, I also love to look for cute, seasonal dishes that are really cheap.  I’ve been known to buy a set of dessert plates, use for the season, and take back to the thrift store to donate!

It’s a perfect example of a way to get a different look without spending very much money in the first place!  Actually, it’s a great way to add some seasonal touches to your table or kitchen shelves without investing a lot of money or storage space!

shelf styled with various ironstone pieces

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #8: Old books

What to look for when thrifting home decor?

Old books are always at the top of my list whenever I’m out thrifting.  Remember I said that I love to frame pretty art from old books?  That is definitely a really budget-friendly way to add spring touches to your home decor.

Another thing I look for when thrifting are books that have pretty covers, seasonal titles, or great texture.  I use old thrifted books to bring accents of color in seasonal decorating.  After all, they are really inexpensive and can be styled in a lot of different ways, too!

Titles that reference a specific season or holiday are a wonderful detail to add to your home decor.  You can also use a stack of vintage books to add height variety to your decor.  For example, a stack of vintage books can be especially pretty under a vignette of candlesticks to give them more variety of height.

For over 27 of my favorite ways to decorate with old, thrifted books, make sure to check out THIS post!

spring books styled on a wooden bakers rack with a gold swan
thrifted books styled in a wood vintage tray alongside glass pharmacy jars with fresh spring stems and a mortar and pestle filled with wooden eggs

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #9: Paper plate basket holders

This is probably the most unexpected item to find on a list of common thrift store finds for spring home decorating.  However, I see them so often and I absolutely love using mine!

Confession: I have a really hard time not buying more when I see them!

You know what I’m talking about, right?  Remember the cute little baskets your Grandma had that are just the right size for a cheap paper plate?  They were used for picnics to sturdy the “original” paper plate.

I love to bring a new look to these fun vintage finds using them on my spring tablescapes on the dining room table.  Actually, I use them in the summer and even fall, too, because they just add great texture to a place setting.  Also, I love how the woven look ties in with the many wicker baskets that I enjoy using for spring.  At the same time, it brings another, different neutral color and texture to the dining room table too.

Watch for these fun pieces at thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets!  You may end up with “too many” like I did!  Haha!  However, you can’t go wrong because they are cheap and so much fun to use!

In case you need them now for spring decorating, you can purchase new ones inexpensively HERE too!

tablescape featuring woven wicker basket plate chargers

Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor #10: Glass cloche

I saved the best for last!  If you’ve been a reader for awhile, you know I just LOVE my glass cloches and I decorate with them year round.  Glass cloches are great pieces that can really elevate your home style, especially with a pretty spring vignette.

Pro Tip: Look for glass dome cloches in the knick knack aisle.  Often, they were part of an old clock and you can repurpose them in your spring decor.

Actually, all of my small cloches have been thrifted items!  While I have larger ones that I’ve paid a lot more for buying as new items, I have also been fortunate to find some great medium-sized glass bell jar cloches at thrift stores, antique stores, and yard sales that are actual vintage pieces.

Even though glass cloches probably won’t be the cheapest thing in the thrift store, they are still worth it.

You can find over 21 ways to decorate your home with glass cloches over on THIS post!

Here are some favorite glass cloches available online:

amazing glass cloche found at a yard sale
beautiful spring vignette with old books and brass swans styled under a glass cloche next to a plant

How do you decorate your house on a low budget?

Investing in unique pieces that can be used year round and then accenting seasonal decor that I find at thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, vintage markets, and even antique malls, has been a great way for me to redecorate often without breaking the bank.  It is a good feeling to make my house feel refreshed with simple thrifted finds that didn’t cost a lot of money!

Thrifting is the key!  I hope this list of fairly common thrifted finds can help you have some extra fun with your spring home decor this year too.

You’ll love checking out the thrifting tips, ideas, DIY inspiration, and finds from the other Thrifting with the Gals ladies today too.  Don’t miss these favorite thrifting ideas:

image showing beautiful thrift store finds for blog collaboration
wood logs in a cute basket on a plaid tablecloth
beautiful white vintage dresser styled with large black lamps
adorable spring vignette with spring Easter eggs and moss and a beautiful pot

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

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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