We often hear people complain that they're no good at thrift store shopping—they have an aversion to dirt, no patience, or just bad luck. The truth is that anyone can be a good thrifter if they keep an open mind. It's as simple as recognizing when an object needs a good cleaning, a coat of paint, or even just a new context. Here are a few common items to keep an eye out for the next time you're at the thrift store.
- Dishes: You can find mismatched dishes in a range of colors and patterns at any thrift shop. Use them to build a collection, hang a wall of plates, or make them into mirrors.
- Artwork: If you're thinking of hanging a wall of clustered artwork, thrift shops are a great place to build a cheap, out-of-the-ordinary collection.
- Shelves and Secretaries: Storage pieces are always useful around the house. Clean up shelves with paint or wallpaper. Although old-fashioned, secretaries are really useful pieces that can easily transform into a home office, bar, or linen closet.
- Sweaters and Blankets: Have these dry-cleaned, and then use them to add some coziness to your home by reupholstering a chair seat or covering a footstool.
- Trunks, Suitcases, and File Cabinets: Industrial trunks and storage pieces or vintage suitcases are easy to find at flea markets and thrift shops. Clean them up and use them as occasional tables.
- Dining Chairs: Whether you're looking for a whole set or a single side chair, dining chairs are always waiting to be scooped up at second-hand shops. If your chair needs a little love, try painting it, reupholstering a seat, or staining it.
- Dining Tables: Simple thrift store tables can be used for kitchens, dining rooms, or repurposed as a desk. If the table is scuffed or needs some DIY love, try restyling it with paint, fabric, or even just a tablecloth.
- Lamps: Sometimes all a lamp needs is a new shade and a good cleaning to make it brand new. If you find a broken lamp at a thrift store, you can always try rewiring it.
- Rocking Chairs: We can't tell you how many Thonet rocking chairs we've found at thrift shops around the $30 mark, usually in excellent condition. Rockers are great for a child's room, a porch, or even a corner that needs a big piece. If your chair is a little dull, try painting it.
- Fabric: If you've got basic sewing skills, thrift stores are the perfect place to look for fabric scraps to use for pillows, napkins, tablecloths, curtains, and any other project that could use a stash of mismatched prints. Just make sure to wash your fabrics before using them.
Re-edited from a post originally published 02.8.2010
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Every time i visit a thrift store I seem to walk out with a bag full of books, vinyl records and picture frames.
Love that stop-light light in the 5th pic
Thrift stores and garage sales = crack to me.
I've forced myself to swear off them until I get my garage cleaned out!
Wooden trays seem to find me at thrift stores. I don't even know how many I have now. There is even gorgeous mid-C wooden tray under the cat's dishes.
What's with the orange, brown, yellow afgan? My brother still uses one exactly like that that a friend made for my mom in the 70s...and I see that exact pattern/color combo all the time! I also have that blue sheep sheet and we got rid of one of those rockers. One man's trash is.....
Funky throw cushions, picture frames, kitchen utensils, kids' toys, games and books... it's heaven!
vases, cast iron cookware, costume pieces
the book: "wold animus"......
I ALWAYS see it! 3-4 copies! and now i see it at barnes-n-noble! a new printing! who would have thought?
actually I get lots of good buys at the thrift store. When was the last time YOU got a a $2000 european art deco glass Virgin Mary figurine for $4 bucks? or an $800 aluminum GF armchair for $8 dollars?
Love the thrift store!
ps
$70 Furi east/west chefs knife = $1.50...
oops WILD animus... darn typos!
Dude, I got a Henredon vanity at a thrift store. Actually, I'd say about 90% of the furniture in this house is thrifted - the rest is from craigslist, hand-me-downs, and a minor purchase from Ikea.
textile heaven.
old linen tablecloths, embroidered napkins, funky old drapes, amazing old dresses........... textiles galore!!!!!!!!! i think i made half my wardrobe from thrifted fabrics
Thrift store shopping is becoming more and more popular in the current downturn of our economy.
You can usually find the best bargains in the electronics section of the thrift store.
We have a wholesale thrift store, which is a thrift store where everything is in huge troughs and sold by the pound. I walked out with a $22 set of copper saucepans, which I later found out are worth $1,800.
Thrift stores are like magic eye pictures. You have to unfocus your gaze and take everything in. I've found that the people who go there and "Never find anything" are trying to go in and find a specific item.
Pheonix 1027 got it perfectly... thrift stores are like magic eye pictures where you have to unfocus your gaze to find the hidden prize.
That said, I have found fabulous chenille bedspreads, dishes, small furniture and clothing at the various thrifts I've haunted (all of which are a far cry from most of the places pictured here... any place with "antiques" in its name will not be offering true thrift shop prices).
Totally, and you have to go at it with an open mind, but without lowering your standards too much. You can find some great stuff, but I make sure to feel for quality where it matters [furniture and clothing].
I drug my husband to Goodwill a couple of weekends ago. He started looking through the old record albums and found a mint condition 'Thriller' album for $0.99. It's only worth about $10 on eBay right now, but still, that's a 1010% return!
wow. i would love to walk into a thrift store and find some of the things in the photos above. sadly, boston area thrift stores almost always seem picked over.
I buy large quantities of clear glass vases and use them as hurricanes for indoor and outdoor lighting. They're usually about .50 cents each. I put in candles or large tea lights and group them on the front and back stairs and around the backyard for parties.
I found some beautiful hotel silver at my local thrift store when I went a few weeks ago. Not the type of thing I'd normally collect but for those that do, $2 for a pretty wilver plated creamer is a sweet deal.
I always haunt the dinnerware section of my favorite thrift store. Recently I found 12 perfect white porcelain Williams & Sonoma dinner plates (retail $150!) for $10. Now every time we eat it's like being at a restaurant!
I just went thrift shopping the other day, taking a rare day for myself. I don't really consider myself a purse person, but I found several designer handbags at 2 of the places I went. I came home with 4 new ones in unusual colors.
Because we're trying to de-clutter our place & to limit the amount of stuff that "someday" we plan to recycle/refinish/repurpose, etc., I didn't bring anything else home. And I found myself looking at things, wondering what someone (else) could make with it or how cool a collection of those crystal or glass candlesticks would look.
Self-control takes a vacation.
I have bought many wonderful items in the last year, including some lovely Royal Doulton china plates at Goodwill which were 99 cents each. Upon researching the pattern, I discovered the pattern is from the 30s
The problem is that some "thrift" stores like Goodwill (which I used to work at) are not embracing their role as a thrift store and refuse to put items that might need a little TLC onto the sales floor in an attempt to "up the quality" and be seen as a reputable retail store. You wouldn't believe how much repairable stuff gets thrown in their dumpster (and then they have a locked fence around it to discourage dumpster divers for insurance reasons). So much goes to waste!
Their prices have gotten higher too.
i recently had some amazing luck at our austin, tx goodwill...seriously, it was SO MY DAY...somedays my thrift store shopping is so ON that i swear off all others purchasing destinations...and then lauren conrad has to go create a line for kohl's and i'm doomed, ha! enjoy...here's the link to my 10 great finds at goodwill for $25 - http://www.casacullen.com/2010/02/shopping-goodwill-under-25.html
My husband and I love thrift stores. We have a weekly run to several stores, just to see what we can find. Sometimes nothing, but sometimes we hit the jackpot!
http://www.thethriftshopper.com/
YOU'RE WELCOME!
: )
I've been going to thrift shops since I was a kid. The likelihood of finding good stuff depends a lot on where you are in the USA, how many dealers know about the place, and how often you're willing and able to pop in and case the joint.
I've gotten some good deals in my area but there are also a ton of dealers who go to the same shops. I see at least one or two every time I'm in there. I'd have to go daily to get the jump on them, and even then I'd lose out sometimes. It's just not worth it.
My favorite shopping excursion is to the thrift stores!! So many goodies to bring home a give new life to... Great selection.
$3 tiffany and co vase at goodwill in orange county. highlight of my thrift store shopping :)
Oh, KiraArts,
you've confirmed one of my suspicions.
I've always wondered how much amazing stuff never makes it to the floor of the goodwill. Many people who work there seem to have little idea of the value of some worn or homelier items. I recently picked up a 2 piece cotton women's dress, c. 1890. It was stuck on the pajama rack, but needs to be in a museum. I think it was $5.99.
And jick, come thrifting in Boston w/me... I'll show you my secret treasure troves!
Oh... I love this. I just found a window valance at the GW - perfect green paisley... I took it apart and used the fabric to make a wonderful pillow for the sofa!
I found vintage earrings (50s) the kind that you screw into your lobe...for .10 cents they hurt a little but they make me feel great.
thrift stores in my area are limited and very picked over.. and some who work at for instance Goodwill, have started pricing stuff based on what they think they could get on ebay or other auction sites.. so it really limits quality
Thrift stores are a part of my life that I thank my mother for. I live by them. My vintage dress collection is vast and fun. I only by new basics, like tank tops, under clothes, etc. I definitely agree that you must be choosy and not lower your standards. That takes time and discipline but is well worth the effort. I have thrifted in multiple countries and have a house full of collected pieces that I love.
Wow, I love apartment therapy. But really? You had to do a feature on just what a person might find at a thrift/resale/vintage store? Gee. After 40 years of adult home decorating I'd say about 20% of my furnishings/accessories are brand new. I've re-done, painted, disassembled, recovered and everything else over years. Who doesn't know where the cool lamps come in at certain thrift stores in their city? Who didn't know (before they got expensive) to buy up those cool, square 007-style real leather briefcases to use for bills, love letters and stationary---that get comments continuously. Who doesn't know to get wooden! picture frames (tear out the ugly print) glass, mat and all, and in no time have a great piece of art for your place for all but nothing?
The article is presented as if this is all a revelation. If it is...I just haven't been paying attention to how many people only go to Pottery Barn or IKEA (not that I haven't) until they read online they have other creative affordable options. I thought it was common sense.
Ciao...