My Top 3 Tips For Thrifting Home Decor

Thrift stores are a great place to find affordable pieces for your home. Here are my top 3 tips to set you up for success when you are thrifting home decor.

1. Thoroughly Search Those Shelves

The shelves in the housewares section at thrift stores are often messy and piled with items. Things are grouped into categories, but there is no separation between great quality items and junk. If you simply skim the shelves you can miss amazing pieces that are buried under or behind things. When thrifting my best advice is to really look at each shelf. Don’t be afraid to lift things up or move them around to see what else is hidden there, and don’t neglect looking at the lower shelves! Get on your tippy toes or crouch down to really take in everything that is there. Some of my favourite decor items were found because I took the time to carefully look.

2. See The Potential

Most items you find while thrifting can be diamonds in the rough. My suggestion is to pay attention to the shape, lines or texture of pieces and imagine what they could be. Some items could benefit from a good cleaning, like tarnished metals. Many items could be completely transformed with a coat of paint like pottery, frames or furniture. The pieces you find at thrift stores are a fraction of the price you would find them new. The money you save can be worth putting in a little elbow grease. Another suggestion is to think outside the box when thrifting for home decor. While looking at an item think of ways you could use it besides it’s intended purpose. For example, you can use small crockery to store items on the kitchen counter, and pieces of china could become planters or vases. Get creative and you can find great pieces that add character to your home.

3. Go Thrifting For Home Decor Often

New stuff is being brought to thrift stores all the time, so to have the best chance at scoring amazing items you have to go thrifting often. Not every shopping trip will be successful but don’t let that discourage you. Part of the thrill of thrifting is never knowing what you may find! To increase your chances try shopping at times that are less busy, like early in the morning on weekdays. When there are fewer people shopping there is less competition and a better opportunity to snatch something great.

So there you have it, my top 3 tips for thrifting home decor. Have any other tips for shopping at thrift stores? Drop them in the comments!