I am and have always been a big fan of shopping at thrift stores. Not only do I love shopping for bargains, I’m also a believer in trying to give a new purpose to things that have been discarded. It keeps items out of landfills and is also a great way of challenging my creativity.
The people in my life are either lovers of thrifting or they hate it. Where do you stand on this topic? I’ve never talked much about my thrifting adventures here but this is actually an activity that B and I often do together on a regular basis.
For years, when traveling we’ll hit up local thrift stores just to see what different things we will find. And now that we are decorating the beach cottage, we’ve started seeking out thrift stores nearby and have actually discovered a handful of new places to check out.
Back in September, we took a much needed vacation and stayed at the cottage. One of the days was overcast and rainy so we couldn’t take the boat out. Instead we decided to check out the local thrift shops. Just like at home, some are better than others and some have a better inventory of certain types of items than others. One of our favorites has a lot of furniture and for weeks I kicked myself for not looking closer at several wing back chairs I had spotted at a distance.
On one of our most recent trips, we took advantage of another rainy day to go back and I told B that if I found one I loved, I was coming home with a wing back chair.
In addition to a chair, we also purchased several other items that day that I’d been looking for so today I thought I’d share a few of those items with you.
For starters, the wing back chair was a great find. Not the most ideal fabric but it’s in great shape and there are no stains or odors so it’s a great piece for a future project. I’ve wanted to learn how to upholster furniture so this may be a great project for this winter. In the meantime, it could be worse.
At the same store, we also purchased three lamps. Two matching lamps (didn’t get photos) and this beauty. the shade is a little too fancy for my taste but the lamp itself spoke to me for some reason. I’m not sure what it was about this one but I couldn’t bring myself to walk away. The other two were less attractive but you’ll be seeing what I did with those in an upcoming post!
I also found two nesting baskets that I thought would be great for storage at the beach cottage. They are good quality, heavy baskets and I love that they are lined.
This vintage metal piece is part of a collection I’ve been acquiring for an upcoming project for the holidays. I just love the details.
Finally, these woven pumpkins weren’t anything that I was looking for but they are proof that you never know what treasures you’ll come across. I plan to use them as part of my Thanksgiving table so we’ll see how they look.
So, now that you see all the items in my recent haul, I thought it may be helpful to share with you some of the sections I always peruse when visiting any thrift store.
Furniture
Furniture at thrift stores can be hit or miss. Usually the best pieces go quickly so check early and often if there is something that you are looking for. Find out when your local store gets in their new inventory and be there right away for the best variety.
Baskets
Baskets can be used for so many things throughout your home, from decor to storage so I always look through the available baskets at any thrift store. My recent haul included two nice storage baskets for less than $5 total, a great score!
Dishes and Kitchenware
While it’s not always easy to find complete sets, (I did recently score a near complete set of china), this is a great place to find unique pieces for little money. I’ve also found
Home Decor
From wall art, to picture frames, candles and more, it can be hard to find diamonds in the rough but it can also be worth the time to sort through what you find. I’m always browsing these sections with an open mind, thinking about possible repurposing or makeovers to create something even better. I find this fun and love the way it pushes me creatively.
Other sections I’ll quickly browse…
I do occasionally look through the clothing, specifically coats, bags and sweaters. I once found a new-with-tags Banana Republic Trench coat and a really pretty woven market bag that was pretty just to use as decor. I don’t often take the time, but it can prove to be worth it.
What’s your favorite thrifted finds? Do you have specific sections you never skip when thrifting? I’d love to know!
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