Why spend a fortune on new furniture and décor when you can find both at your local thrift store for a fraction of the price? Plus, you can add your own touches to customize these pieces so your space reflects your personal style. When I first started renting, I shopped at the thrift store to fill my apartment with much-needed furniture and accessories out of necessity. Now I shop there because I love scoring a great deal and adding my own style to everything I buy… with the bonus of saving a bunch of money while doing so.
Let’s talk style for a moment. Love country? Use chalk paint and sandpaper to give pieces a lived-in farmhouse style. Is an eclectic look more your thing? Browse the shelves for global finds and paint them in bright colors. If you’re more into a modern look, a sleek coat of high-gloss paint will make these pieces shine. Here are five pieces you’re sure to find in just about any thrift store, along with easy ways to fix them up for next to nothing!
Chairs
New chairs can cost a fortune! Thankfully, you can snag them for next to nothing in thrift stores. Use chalk paint or spray paint in your choice of color. Replace shabby seats by covering them with a favorite fabric — it’s as easy as using a staple gun and some upholstery fabric. Mix it up, too: Mismatched chairs around the kitchen table are a hot look right now; just try to have two of each style to make it look cohesive.
INSIDER TIP: Make sure chairs are sturdy before buying! A little wood glue can go a long way toward helping keep chairs in top shape, but with so many chairs there, go for sturdy ones that require little work. Replacing caning or missing spindles can be expensive, which defeats the purpose of getting a great deal.
Mirrors
Let there be light! Add light to your apartment with mirrors. They often make the space look bigger as well. I love to use them in a gallery wall to bring light to dark spaces like hallways or rooms with no natural light source. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find frames that fit your style; paint or gild them with gold gilding paint to match your style, like I did with that $10 faux bamboo Regency-style mirror!
Frames
I’ve never been in a thrift store that didn’t have a mountain of inexpensive frames. Again, paint is your friend. Spray on several light coats with your favorite spray-paint color and you’ve instantly transformed this inexpensive thrift store find. I also like to use two colors for a modern, “dip dyed” look such as on this $1 frame.
INSIDER TIP: Remove the glass and backing before spray-painting; it’s so much easier than taping off all those corners!
Large Furniture
New furniture often costs upwards of $1,000 in a furniture store, so purchasing a large piece secondhand can save you hundreds of dollars. The trick is to make sure it’s sturdy, well made and has “good bones.” This hutch was not aesthetically pleasing when I found it in the thrift store, but it was sturdy and had clean lines, so I snagged it for $65. After removing the glass from the doors and the outdated hardware, I painted it with a homemade chalk-like paint and added new door pulls. Now it matches my style and provides much-needed storage too.
Home Décor
New home accessories are pricey and often knock-offs of vintage finds anyway. So why not go straight to the source and buy them for a few dollars at the thrift store, then spray-paint in your desired colors? Scour the “tchotchke” section — you know, where the outdated figurines and odds and ends live. You can also find décor steals in the basket and even kitchenware sections. You never know what you’ll find! These items were scored at the thrift and cost much less than their new, trendy counterparts.
INSIDER TIP: Look for books with interesting covers and spines, then remove the paper cover for a beautiful, budget-friendly look. All these books (and the bird figurine and brass display box, too) were thrift store scores!
Once you start making over thrift store finds, you may never go back. They’re versatile, and you don’t have to worry about “investing” in a piece that may not fit your next apartment or future needs. Still not sold? Check out this guide to glamming up your pad on the cheap. With a little bit of elbow grease and imagination, these five easy thrift store makeovers will fill your space with high style on a budget!