How to Thrift for Home Decor

A Guide to Unique & Budget-Friendly Styling

One of the most underrated places to find unique and budget-friendly decor, is at thrift stores. In fact, I often find the most beautiful pieces in thrift stores or flea markets. I always loved old world things and have found that they were often produced with much more care and eye for detail than today’s mass produced pieces.

If I come to think about it, most of my decoration are things that I have collected in thrift stores throughout the years. From mirrors to candle holders, paintings, baskets, vases, flower pots… So how do you thrift for home decor?

I wrote this blogpost to help you become an expert thrifter. There are tips and tricks on how to be prepared, stay focused and have some fun!

3 reasons why you should thrift

• Because it’s fun! Plain and simple. If you like to collect beautiful things like I do, and ‘save’ them by giving them new life in your home, then thrifting is for you. It’s inspiring and sparks your creativity to see all these random objects and trying to see what their potential might be and how they will elevate your home. So go ahead, thrift for home decor like your life depends on it! Okay yes, I’m getting a bit carried away here.

• It’s sustainable, both for the planet and your bank account. Take for instance big elegant vases, these can be really expensive if you buy them new. I have bought gorgeous vases for 2 euros while they can cost up to 30 euros if you buy them new.

• You will inevitably find very unique and tremendously gorgeous pieces that will turn your home in a story that only you can tell. If you thrift most of your home decor, your home will become a very personal sanctuary that you have created in detail with unique pieces. Just think about it, our homes are an extension of who we are. And who we are isn’t made in one go, it’s a process. We are a collection of moments in time, experiences, places… It’s a an ongoing process that moves slow and takes intention and awareness. And it is exactly the same for building homes that feel unique and intimate.

Preparation is key!

Keep an inventory

First, grab a cute notebook and a pen. You know how I love a good notebook. Then write down all the items you wish to find. Take a look around your house and make a list. Do this room by room and be specific. Let’s say you need a salad bowl, a vase and a cute wicker basket to keep your kitchen towels in.

You now have something to focus your lens on. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at anything else or not buy anything that isn’t on your list. If you find a treasure, go for it! The list is simply to help you not feel overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.

Get some ideas

Then look at the color palette and style of your kitchen. Is it minimalistic and would you like to keep it that way? Or maybe you want it to be cozy and timeless? Maybe you love French style homes (one of my favorites). Write it all down.

Look for inspiration everywhere you go, from friend’s homes to hotels, restaurants, home and living stores… Get some concrete ideas and if you feel like you lack imagination, then copy small things until you get your creative juices going. And trust yourself, there’s no wrong or right here. It’s your home, your canvas and your story to tell. Have some fun!

Other places to look for inspiration:

• Home décor books
• Pinterest
• Blogs
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Cookbooks and cooking shows (Ina Garten is my favorite)
• Movies

One of my biggest inspirations have been Nancy Meyers and Nora Ephron movies such as ‘Something’s Gotta Give’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’, ‘It’s Complicated’.

What to keep in mind while thrifting

Stay focused

Keep an open mind and look through the chaos. Thrift stores can look overwhelming and chaotic but you have to be able to look passed that. Zoom in on items and imagine how they would look in your home. Don’t worry too much about it if you do not instantly know how to style it.

Start small

Buy one or two items at first as not to overwhelm yourself. And keep taking notes of things you love while watching movies, looking on Pinterest…

Visit often

Don’t just go to one thrift store once and conclude that ‘there’s nothing to find’. There is lots to find but you will have to be patient and visit multiple stores and visit them more than once. The thing about thrift stores is that they can look completely different in a week’s time. So don’t get discouraged and allow yourself to fine tune your treasure hunting skills.

Keep an eye out for overpricing

Another reason why it’s a good idea to visit several stores, is pricing. Some items can be overpriced and as you become a ‘professional’ thrifter, you will easily notice when this is the case. In most stores, they usually lower the price when items don’t get selled fast enough.

Think outside the box

Items can have multiple purposes. There is no law that tells you that you cannot use a soup tureen as a flower pot, or a teapot as a vase.

Okay, now go and have some fun and let me know how it goes!

Love,

Wendy