Do you have the ability to reimagine thrifted decor? A comment I have received often is that I have great luck at thrift stores. People see my cool finds and wonder how they never find items for their own home.
I’ll let you in on a secret: it’s not luck! What you don’t see are the multiple trips to the thrift store every week just to come home with one item.
But there’s another little secret: I know how to reimagine items so that they are useful and beautiful in my home. Once you train your eye to see past what an item is – its condition or what it was previously used for – you’ll be able to come home with treasures you may have overlooked.
To give you some ideas and get your creativity flowing, here are some inspiring ideas to reimagine thrifted decor. I have implemented these in my own home. Feel free to copy these exactly or make them your own!
Wooden pieces are great because you can sand them down and refinish or paint over them. Plaques, signage, crates, or other wooden pieces are prime candidates for a mini makeover.
My husband found this wooden piece at the Goodwill bins and brought it home for me. I painted it blue and white and had an artistic friend paint on some pink hydrangeas. Now it’s stunning and fits my style perfectly!
If you spot some pretty florals but aren’t into the vessel they came with, you can change it up! Faux florals are pricy new, so scoring a deal at a thrift store is always a win.
I replanted these orchids from a basic terra cotta pot to a blue and white one that fits my style better!
You may not find any art that interests you, but don’t sleep on thrifted frames! If you love a frame, you can always print some art or family photos to put inside.
And remember – if you like the frame but not the color, you can always add paint!
[How to Frame Canvas in Thrifted Frames]
They just don’t make furniture like they used to! Thrift stores are full of solid wood pieces that are begging for a second life in your home.
You can stain or paint a furniture piece to match your style. This will help you get a totally custom look! No one else will have what you have.
Here are a few pieces I refurbished for some inspiration:
[Child’s Rocking Chair Makeover]
Curtains, sheets, and other textiles often end up in landfills. If you get creative about how you can repurpose them, you can help with this problem. View textiles as fabric, and you can come up with endless possibilities!
I purchased a large blue and white thrifted sheet and turned it into a custom ruffled tablecloth! I sprayed it with Scotch Guard to protect it from stains. It’s beautiful, and you would never know it was a thrifted sheet!
A friend was clearing out her attic and gave me some broken lamps covered in crystals. I removed the crystals, cleaned them, and used wire and metal hoops to make a cute chandelier for my daughter’s room.
If you spot a broken-down item with crystals or other pretty parts, you can pull it apart and use the pieces to create something unique!
If you see a pretty vessel, try turning it into a vase for flowers! I love using old creamers, footed vases, and even a swan vase to hold faux or dried flowers in my home.
If you love thrifting, design inspiration, and more, follow me on Instagram @Lauren_Rose_Home for more content!
Design, thrifting, and entertaining are my passion, and I share that passion with you through this blog. I also love being in the kitchen and crafting cocktails. I love Jesus and occasionally, I talk about him too. He has been so powerful in my life, and I love to bring him glory with my hobbies.
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