Vintage thrift store goods are great for sustainable home styling. Get tips on how to incorporate affordable finds that add a unique touch to your home.
If you want to add some charm and style to your home, look at thrift stores and used goods marketplaces for eclectic interior design on a budget. You can save a lot of money and get one-of-a-kind pieces your guests won’t see anywhere else.
For sustainable home styling, here are 10 tips to make each thrift store shopping experience a success.
First, think about what type of home décor style you’re interested in. Are there certain materials, like brass or wood, that you want to focus on? Or maybe there’s a select color palette you have in mind.
Even minimalist aesthetics can benefit from some standout thrift store pieces. Create a physical or digital mood board that helps you define your home décor style. Save design photos for inspiration, which you can reference as you’re shopping.
Whether you visit an estate or garage sale, log on to an online marketplace, or head to your favorite vintage or thrift store, the selection of items can easily become overwhelming. Clutter can make a space stressful, and you don’t want to overspend while shopping, especially if you’re thrifting to lower your bill. List out what you need, so you can shop with a plan.
A list can help you prioritize how you spend your time and help you avoid impulse buys of things you don’t need. Add measurements to your list, too, so you have a clear idea of what sized items will fit or won’t fit in your space.
Even thrift stores feature sales. You can save even more by signing up for thrift and vintage stores’ email subscriber lists or by following them on social media. Sometimes stores will offer discounts on certain product categories on certain days of the week. Other times, you might find an extra sale when a promo item’s featured on social media. If there’s a store you love and visit often, check to see if there are any perks for being a loyal customer.
You could also follow “vintage” stores online solely for inspiration. Both online secondhand stores and online stores that specialize in vintage-style goods can provide great inspiration. When you see items you like, you could probably save by purchasing a similar piece in person, since you can avoid shipping costs and other online markups.
With a shopping plan in place, start by visiting the store sections that feature the items you’re looking for. Thrift stores can feature a ton of cool finds, but if you’re looking for kitchen items, you’ll want to avoid getting sucked into the clothing aisles and spending all your time there.
For home décor, some of the most popular sections to visit include furniture, kitchen and dining, and sections labeled “home goods” or “home décor”. You may also want to visit decorative sections, like artwork, as well as a used books section since items like books can double as home décor.
During your visit to the store, add whatever items you feel a positive emotional reaction to in your cart. There may only be one of the items that you’re interested in, so if you’re considering it, add it to the cart so someone else doesn't grab it.
Also, as you shop, consider the components of each piece. For example, you might love a frame but not the art that’s inside it. Check out the whole piece to see if you can use it for the component you want – in this case, removing the art from the frame. The total price may be low enough that it’s worth editing a piece you buy.
Shop with an open-minded attitude and creative approach. Thrift store finds can often be transformed from what they were originally intended to be used as into something new.
For example, an eye-catching small bowl in the kitchen section could be used as a key holder near an entryway. If you’re looking for a flower or plant container, there might be a neat basket that could work. Use your list to guide you, but keep your eyes and mind wide open to new possibilities.
Hold and inspect an item before placing it in your cart. Thrift store finds are often imperfect, and may require a repair or improvement to get them into the exact state you want.
Before you buy items that require a lot of editing, realistically consider your strengths and how crafty you’re willing to get. Some of us love sanding down furniture and repairing items with tools. Others may only be willing to give something a new coat of paint. Avoid future headaches by only purchasing items that are in a condition that’s workable for you.
Before you go to the checkout counter, find a space in the store where you can go through each item you’ve added to your cart. Before you buy, make sure that:
Return any items you’re not ready to buy back to their respective shelves. Now, you can feel confident that each purchase you make is one that will enhance your home décor, rather than overwhelm it.
Sometimes, thrift store items aren’t properly priced. This can happen for a number of reasons. Some stores take “brand-new” items from big box stores due to defects. Or, an item that’s on sale may be stained or broken, but the person pricing the item wasn’t aware of the defect.
If there’s a product you want to purchase, but you don’t feel the price is justified due to a problem or defect, alert a salesperson and ask if there’s a way to lower the price. Many thrift store associates are flexible and want to price items fairly, so it never hurts to ask when it’s justified.
Once you’re home with your items, consider how to incorporate them into your home décor. If you found the perfect piece you were looking for on your list for how you envisioned it would fit the space, you’re already ready to decorate!
For other pieces, experiment with decoration and let them live in a space for a few days to see how the design speaks to you. It’s OK to move around your thrift store pieces every so often or get your family’s input for how to best display certain items.
If you purchased something because you loved the look of it, you might even move it to different rooms every few days to see how it fits. As you add new vintage pieces to your home, you might think of ways to group them together. For example, you could add a bunch of uniquely designed mugs to a mug tree on your kitchen counter. A collection of vintage books could be an attractive new addition to your living room décor.
As your style evolves, so can the look of each of your home’s rooms. You can also tweak your current vintage pieces by modifying them with new colors, or arrange them in new ways with other thrift store finds. The options are truly endless when it comes to decorating with thrift store purchases!
Your home should be your happy place, and there are so many ways to make it one you love without spending a ton. Check out more articles for ways to elevate your space inexpensively.
Whether you want to save on home décor products, groceries, or other life essentials, Save can help. Visit our coupon book finder to see if we deliver free coupons in your area.
