6 Items You Should ALWAYS Buy If You Spot Them At the Thrift Store
For DIY enthusiasts as well as anyone who loves to decorate, upcycle or craft, the thrift store, the flea market, and the garage sale, for starters, are literal treasure troves of unique finds and pieces that you literally can’t get anywhere else. Instead of buying brand new things, you can save a ton of money and fill your home with pieces that have character, or pieces that can be the basis for some awesome DIYs.
The only problem with the thrift store or flea market is that it can be overwhelming figuring out what to buy and knowing what’s really unique. There are likely to be many items that aren’t all that special, and then there are the special, once-in-a-lifetime, prized items that seasoned decorators and thrifters would love to get their hands on. How do you know if you’ve stumbled upon one of these prized items?
Let me help you! Here are some items to lookout for when you visit the thrift shop, the flea market, or even the basement or attic (or barn?) of a family member or friend, you never know!
Above: Pressed tin once used for ceilings makes great draw fronts on a vintage chest of drawers!
DIY Supplies
Every DIYer has a stockpile of decorative items that they collect along the way, and are waiting to use on the right project. From various paint colors, to different types of materials, this collection will keep growing over time. There are many great places for sourcing your DIY supplies, beyond the art supply store! If you like printing t-shirts and mugs, Crafting Besties has great supplies and guides, and if you’re looking for cabinet legs, (to make a cabinet out of a thrift store find for example) there are many online retailers that have great options you can get without leaving your home.
Thrift shops are another place DIYers flock to and find everything from old canvases to wood planks and table tops. You might find items that will be the inspiration and starting point for your next great project.
Ornate Frames
Thrift stores are often packed with all sorts of picture frames, and most of them are common and inexpensive. Sometime, you may stumble onto something different, or beautiful, unique and detailed frames that might cost thousands in other shops. Right now, gold frames with beautiful moldings are extremely popular and many thrifters find them at second-hand shops and flea markets. Often these frames come with paintings inside them, so you overlook them for that reason, but it’s worth taking a second look. Even if the frames contain a painting you don’t like, you can always remove it. If the frame is a bit beat up, you can always use spray paint to give it a new lease on life. Don’t underestimate the kind of frames you can spot in a pile of seemingly ordinary ones.
Above: If that vintage mirror is actually part of a great looking vanity go for it. Simply sand, paint with white milk paint, and distress the edges a bit, and voila, gorgeous!
Mirrors
Mirrors are one of those things that never really go out of style, and brand new, they are actually really expensive. At thrift stores, mirrors are actually quite affordable and you can get so many different styles, from full-length arched mirrors, to small round ones. You can spend a little bit of money and get a piece that can really become a focal point for your home. Thrift store mirrors can also be upcycled and upgraded in a multitude of ways, from new frames to new colors so even if the mirror is a bit dated, you can certainly turn it into an amazing DIY upcycle!
Yarn & Wool
It might seem really trivial, but yarn is actually an overlooked thrift store find that could be amazing, especially if you find the thick, chunky variety that is quite expensive brand new. For anyone who loves to craft, knit material is actually a great thing to stock up on. You never know when you need some yarn fringe to spruce up some placemats or for a great macrame project! Additionally, vintage 90-100% wool sweaters can be felted in the washing machine, and used to make all kinds of wonderful home accessories such as pillows and baskets, and wool sweaters can also be used to make great looking pillows as is! Many folks choose to buy vintage sweaters and actually unravel the sweaters to obtain yarn, so give that some consideration as well!
Above: Be on the lookout for vintage enamel pitchers, mugs and plates, they make great decorative accessories outdoors!
Vintage Kitchen Gadgets
Vintage stores are places where people often sell off a lot of things in a huge stack. Sometimes, this includes really beautiful and unique household items that have a lot of charm. People have found vintage coffee grinders, butter churners, lamps, and stove top kettles in second hand shops, and even if you don’t want to use them, they are the perfect decorative pieces for your home. These things are also usually quite affordable, and if you’re someone who really loves charming historical pieces, the thrift store will quickly become your favorite new place to spend time exploring.
Above: Open industrial shelving is a great way to display your vintage glassware finds!
Crystal Glassware
Thrift store stock will always be a mix of different items, old and new. Sometimes the stock actually contains hidden gems that are quite expensive and rare. You’ll come across a lot of glass, especially old glass bottles, decanters and wine/drinking glasses. Most of these items aren’t too special, but sometimes the glassware is actually crystal not glass. This is a high-value material that’s worth a tidy sum of money, and you can find it on the shelf of your local second hand store. If you know how to identify crystal items, you might be able to snap up a few great pieces that can add a lot of value to your glassware collection.
