10 Things to Always Buy at the Thrift Store

You are probably thinking, does she know something I don’t know? (That is if you live in Canada). Alas, no, the thrift stores have not reopened yet (thanks COVID-19) but when they do and they will…you will probably be so excited like me that you will go nuts and just buy things for the sake of buying things because you miss it so much.

DON’T do it, instead, look for these 10 things that you should ALWAYS buy at the thrift store.

Frames. Almost all of the frames in my house come from thrift stores, unless they were gifted to me. Some are used as intended. You can use them for other purposes, like displaying jewelry, paint them and use as chalkboards, magnet boards or bulletin boards. Here is a lovely example from liagriffith

Books. I buy books to read, books to decorate with, and even books that are falling apart. The pages and spines can be used for other projects such as these bookmarks from the spines of thrift store books by craftsalamode

10 lovely things to do with old vintage books: unique DIY ideas

Furniture. I cannot resist old dressers that are solid wood, especially when they are $15.00 or less, and you shouldn’t either. They just don’t make solid wood, dovetailed furniture like they use to. I’m also a sucker for kids furniture like this adorable child’s table. Showing the before and after. It dates back to the 1960’s and I brought it right into the 2000’s with a little elbow grease (ok sanding, painting and staining)

Baskets. They are abundant in thrift stores. I look for old picnic baskets. They are easy to paint and distress and have many uses besides going on a picnic. I use one of my many (yes many) to hold blankets and throws. Here is a link to a post on how to paint a picnic basket, just in case you come across one. She is one of my favorite diy bloggers. Confessionsofaserialdiyer

Wood Trays. These are usually pretty inexpensive (under $5.00) and can make quite an impact to your decor. Use them in your kitchen, living room, bathroom (for makeup or towels) use one to serve cold drinks on a hot day. The last one I found, I painted it navy blue and used one of my chalk couture stencils (link to my designer site if you are interested in finding out more or purchasing products) to make it country farmhouse chic.

Tool Caddy. I don’t think I’ve ever passed up a little wood or metal tool caddy. I usually paint them and either put a vinyl stencil or use a chalk couture transfer. They are also quite versatile in what you can use them for. I have one holding coffee pods, another holding CD’s and another sitting waiting for a makeover. The one below I gave as a gift to a friend. You can check that post out here.

Quilts: I prefer to find older vintage quilts and it doesn’t really matter what condition they are in. If they are not usable to display at the end of the bed, they can be turned into other types of home decor, like pillows, pot holders, christmas stockings or framed in an old vintage window. I love this one by sadieseasongoods.

Cast Iron. It is not always easy to come by and there are some things you should watch out for, like where it is made. If it says made in USA buy it!! The top vintage cast iron skillet makers to watch for are Griswold, Wagner and Lodge. Most people don’t like to use cast iron as they say the food sticks. It’s all in the way you season it. Check out an article on that here. Aren’t these interesting?Art & knick knacks: You know what they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. The same can be said for art and I don’t just mean paintings. You can find some really interesting, unique, quirky or one of a kind things at thrift stores. Don’t overlook the art and nick nack sections, your next piece of home decor could be waiting for you. Even if the piece isn’t exactly to your liking, just remember it can always be diy’d. Check this out, love it or hate it, it’s an example of what you can do.

Find some decorative pieces and put them under glass, instant glam and looks high end. That what the interiorfrugalista did and they look fantastic.

Salt and Pepper Shakers. Yes you read that right. Salt and pepper shakers are cheap – usually under $1.00. They can be turned into ornaments, necklaces, place card holders and more. Here is a makeover by Ducttapeanddenim that I particularly love. It even shows a video tutorial on how to make one.