Revamping Your Abode with Affordable Treasures from Second-hand Shops: 11 Ideas
Refurbishing pre-owned items is an excellent method to find distinctive items for your home decor that exude personality and appeal. Despite the thrill of the chase, you might find yourself puzzled on how to utilize all these items once you bring them home.
Essential interior designs display a narrative through decor, and integrating secondhand pieces with current things can help create a space that mirrors your identity. To help you decorate these one-of-a-kind finds, we spoke to experts – from wall art to costume jewelry and everything in between.
- Willow Wright, proprietor of Urban Redeux Vintage & Antiques
- Lisa Mabey, designer and founder of Lisee Ree Designs
- Tania Richardson, CEO and co-founder of Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting
Mix Old with New
Pairing vintage and modern items can result in a truly unique appearance, reflecting your preferred style and taste. "Consider positioning an elegant vintage mirror above a modern bathroom vanity, or utilizing a fabulous mid-century credenza as a TV console," says Willow Wright, proprietor of Urban Redeux Vintage & Antiques. Utilizing this approach keeps the decor up-to-date without feeling overly trendy.
Utilize Pieces in Unexpected Ways
When it comes to styling thrifting decor, creativity is critical. “Unusual uses often create the most impressive statement,” claims Lisa Mabey, designer and founder of Lisee Ree Designs. Have fun exploring different ways to display use thrifted finds, such as hanging items not typically meant for walls—plates, quilts, or tapestries.
Alternatively, Mabey recommends displaying an old record player as an entry table. The goal is to have fun and create a distinctive and memorable space.
Curate a Collection
One aspect of thrifting charm is discovering individual pieces that usually come in sets—like glassware, ceramics, dinnerware, or flatware. Embrace the seemingly endless variety of mix-and-match pieces by curating your own sets and add pops of color or texture to open shelving.
“Opt for a specific color scheme and vary shades to create visual unity,” states Tania Richardson, CEO and co-founder of Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting. The enjoyment of building your collection will keep you engaged, and the final product will be truly special.
Start Small
Instead of decorating every square inch of your home at once, consider decorating in increments, especially if you are new to thrifting. “Begin small by creating vignettes around your home,” advises Wright. “For instance, place a pair of vintage candlesticks on a stack of wonderful books, then add a third item you love to accord with the 'rule of three' in design.”
Repurpose Silver Trays
Silver trays frequently appear in thrift stores; and while they may have originally been kitchenware, they can be transformed in numerous ways. Use a silver tray on your dresser or vanity to display fragrances, or in your bathroom to hold hand towels. “Use them in a powder room to add vintage charm,” adds Richardson.
Frame Vintage Jewelry
Instead of using artwork to decorate your walls, try framing vintage brooches and costume jewelry in small frames or shadow boxes. This is a fun way to display pieces that might otherwise be forgotten in a jewelry box, or tucked away in the back of your closet. “Arrange them as a collage on a wall to create an inspiring and elegant statement piece,” states Richardson.
Display Items in Curio Cabinets
If there’s one piece of vintage furniture in style, it’s the curio cabinet. Whether you already have one or find a secondhand piece, this piece is an excellent way to showcase your most treasured possessions—especially the ones you’ve thrifted. “Transform a glass display into a boutique-style showcase for sneakers or handbags,” says Richardson. You can even add LED lighting to elevate your cabinet.
Combine Different Styles
When styling thrifted objects, don’t be afraid to be eccentric. “We’re multifaceted beings with different interests and likes, so it’s natural that our home decor wouldn’t all fall into the same style either,” states Mabey.
Try blending pieces reflecting traditional and contemporary styles, like art nouveau and mid-century modern, as well as any other styles that resonate with your personality. Find key similarities or differences, like color or texture, to tie seemingly unlike pieces together—that intersection is what will set your decor apart, per Mabey.
Decorate with Vintage Coffee Table Books
Coffee table books can be placed all over your home. “Use color-coordinated spines to create cohesive displays on shelves,” suggests Richardson. To achieve this visually striking appearance, she recommends removing the dust jackets and choosing one or two colors for a particular space. Display them vertically to decorate shelves, or stack them horizontally to act as risers for decorative items.
Incorporate Vintage Sporting Equipment
Sporting equipment often appears in thrift stores, and while they may be meant for various physical activities, they can be transformed into stylish home decor accents. Try using a vintage baseball glove as a table centerpiece, or consider converting an old soccer ball into a decorative vase. “Use them to store balls or balls of yarn,” suggests Richardson. “It’s a fun way to repurpose functional items into decorative pieces.”
Anyone with a unique personality, tastes, and style can utilize different items as home decor, including vintage or antiquated sporting equipment. Embrace the past through showcasing vintage tennis rackets, skis, or rowing oars as wall decor, suggests Richardson. If you possess smaller pieces, she advises showcasing them elegantly within shadow boxes.
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Martha Stewart, known for her expertise in home decor, might suggest using a vintage record player as an entry table, addking an unexpected and stylish touch to your home. Lisa Mabey from Lisee Ree Designs encourages using thrifted finds in non-traditional ways, such as hanging pieces like plates or quilts on the walls for a creative display.
