How To Use Thrifted Finds When Decorating Your Home

A great way to find unique pieces and good stuff for your decorating style is in local thrift stores. I have been to thrift shops enough times to know that a good deal is there waiting for me. I sometimes have to keep an open mind when shopping that some things will be DIY projects that need a little paint or TLC to give them a fresh look for my home. Because you’re saving so much money by shopping at your local thrift shop the thrifted items will become your favorite things! They are made more special because you gave them a new life, you “fifth sparrow-d no more” them. In the post let’s walk through how to use thrifted finds when decorating your home. 

I love the thrill of the hunt when walking through a flea market, a vintage shop or an antique store. You never know what great finds are at yard sales, garage sales, and secondhand stores on home goods, vintage items, clothing and new items. 
Let’s explore how you can “fifth sparrow no more” the thrifted home decor you find!

How To Use Thrifted Old Books When Decorating Your Home

The book section is a great place to find –

• Vintage books to use in vignettes and tiered trays. These will come in all different colors. The color scheme I look for to use in my home is shades of blue, white, green, gold and the ever rare pink.

• Hardback books to craft with for a mixed media project.
• Coffee table books to decorate with or use the pictures of for artwork.

A great place to use those old books is in vignettes and tiered trays as risers. In my living room this spring vignette on my coffee table uses a Miss Manner’s Guide as a riser for vintage sisal ducks and a cloche. 

A perfect example of using coffee table books as artwork is this gallery wall of bird prints. Using glass from Dollar Store frames and pages from a coffee table book cut to fit within the glass I created a unique gallery wall.

Using Thrifted Picture Frames When Decorating Your Home

The next time you’re on a thrift store decor hunt do not pass up a beautiful frame because it is the wrong color, filthy or you do not like the picture that is in it. Frames come in many different shapes and can be repurposed in so many ways. 

To repurpose a frame, start by cleaning the frame and give it a new look with a fresh coat of paint. One of the best ways to repurpose a frame is to make it into a tray. Stop a cluttered look on any piece of furniture and corral all of your best thrift store finds on this tray. Use on a coffee table, end tables, or a sideboard. 

Another way to use a frame is to use it as a one of a kind statement piece. One of my favorite things is to layer a large frame (this one I repurposed into a faux chalkboard) with another decorative element like a framed print, a printer’s tray or vintage vases and candlesticks. 

Using Thrifted Light Fixtures To Decorate Your Home

Lamps are expensive when you purchase them from a big box store or one of the larger chain thrift stores. However, in thrift stores, you can buy lamps or light fixtures for a great deal at affordable prices. 

This unique spin on a chandelier was simply made by combining a basket and a chandelier that were both thrifted.

One of my favorite ways to update a lamp is with spray paint. A great example of this is this birdie lamp that’s a perfect piece for my entryway table. 

Do not forget about the lampshade, these can also be found at a great price at thrift stores! For this project it does not matter if the fabric on the lampshade is in good condition because we are making it over for a shabby chic design style. This is a fabric, no sewing that gives this beautiful milk glass hand painted lamp (one of my favorite vintage finds) a different look.

Use Thrifted Wall Decor In Different Ways To Decorate Your Home

Display vintage dishes on the wall for artwork with a simplistic look – 

Update, upcycle, “fifth sparrow no more” thrifted artwork and create a botanical wall hanging from thrifted art – 

Create a gallery wall with common themes, this one is mostly birds (of course) –

More Ideas For Thrifted Finds To Decorate Your Home With

Set a table with similar dish sets. Often when thrift shopping only a small quantity of matching plates are left from a set. Set your table in a this-that-this-that pattern!

I made a french laundry basket by repurposing a thrifted large basket and pairing it with a plant stand. 

One of the best items to thrift is furniture. You can find unique items to fit your style, a great piece to fit that spot where you need something specific, or pieces that will be fun projects to makeover.

In Closing About Decorating Your Home With Thrifted Pieces

Hit up your local store, whether it is a Goodwill, a charity thrift store or a vintage mall and find those one of a kind pieces that will help you find the beautiful in your home. These are just some of the best places to find secondhand items or maybe even new pieces that will be your favorite, will be the  best things you ever buy that you will want to tell others all about. Thrifting with friends, family or yourself will be some of your best times with many fun stories.  Happy shopping for that next great piece!

Before You Fly Away To Decorate Your Home With Thrifted Finds

Pin any of the images to Pinterest so you decorate your home easily with your thrifted finds – hover over any picture to save the pin to your Pinterest account. So easy!

I’m Kristin, CEO aka Creative & Energetic Owner of The Fifth Sparrow No More. I’m so happy that you’re here! I want you to be able to find the beautiful in yourself and in your home. We will do that through learning what God says about us and decorating and DIYing in thrifty and purposeful ways.

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