One of the questions I get asked most often is how I’ve been able to decorate our home without spending a fortune.
The answer is actually pretty simple: I rarely buy everything at once.
Instead, I collect pieces slowly over time. I thrift, browse yard sales, shop Facebook Marketplace, and keep a running list of things I’m looking for. Sometimes it takes months—or even years—to find exactly the right piece, but I’ve found that decorating this way creates a home that feels much more personal and collected.
Lately, I’ve found several pieces that I’m excited about, and while none of them are major purchases, each one is helping shape our home in small but meaningful ways.
A Summer Quilt for the Living Room
My favorite recent find is a quilt I picked up for just $10.
For years, I’ve wanted a quilt with a classic red, white, and blue feel—not patriotic decor, but simply a combination of those colors that feels timeless and appropriate from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
This quilt isn’t literally red, white, and blue. The colors lean more toward burgundy and periwinkle, but it was close enough that I immediately fell in love with it. I
I’ve draped it over the back of our living room sofa for summer, and it adds exactly the cozy seasonal touch I was hoping for. It’s one of those pieces that makes a room feel layered and lived-in without requiring any major decorating changes.
And for $10, it was impossible to leave behind.
A New Home for a Special Plant
Last weekend I stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores during a 50% off sale and found a small planter along with a couple of woven planter baskets.
While they may seem like simple purchases, I already know exactly how I’ll be using them.
One of the plants in our home came from a potted arrangement given at my Dad’s funeral a few years ago. It’s a plant I’ve cared for over the years, and while it may not be particularly rare or valuable, it holds a great deal of sentimental value for me. I think of him every time I see it.
The new planter and baskets will give it a fresh home and allow me to display it in a way that feels a little more intentional.
Sometimes the smallest decorating projects are the ones that mean the most.
Collecting Pieces for an Upstairs Bathroom Refresh
Another project I’ve quietly been working on is our upstairs guest bathroom. Rather than planning a full makeover and buying everything at once, I’ve been collecting pieces here and there whenever I find something I love.
So far I’ve picked up:
- Blue and white wall art
- A blue and white striped shower curtain
- Vintage blue and white floral curtains
None of these pieces have made it into the room yet, but together they’re helping me build a vision for the space.
One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that I enjoy decorating much more when I allow rooms to evolve gradually. It takes the pressure off and often leads to better decisions because I’m buying pieces I truly love instead of settling for whatever is available at the moment.
Why I Love Decorating This Way
Decorating slowly isn’t always the fastest approach, but it works well for both my budget and my personality.
I enjoy the hunt. I enjoy waiting for the right piece. And I love knowing that many of the items in our home have a story behind them.
Whether it’s a thrifted quilt, a vintage piece of artwork, or a planter that gives new life to a meaningful plant, these small finds help create a home that feels collected over time rather than purchased all at once.
That’s one of my favorite things about decorating with secondhand finds.
You never know what you’ll discover next. What’s something you’ve thrifted recently?
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