There’s something magical about finding one-of-a-kind decor that no one else will have. Your chance of finding it is so much higher when shopping vintage. Vintage and thrifted items carry stories, character, and craftsmanship that modern, mass-produced home decor lacks. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a design-savvy friend, these eight thrifted home decor ideas will surely set your home apart.
Thrifted Coffee Table Books
A well-chosen coffee table book can elevate a space and make a thoughtful gift. When browsing for secondhand books, make sure to remove the dust jackets to reveal actual body cover color. Sometimes that is more stunning than the jacket itself. Look for books with:
Beautifull embossing, especially on botanical books.
Striking colors that complement your home’s decor. Maybe get a few to make a statement.
Interesting titles and fonts that add personality when displayed on a shelf.
Engaging content such as art, travel, photography, culinary, or design books that spark conversation.
For an extra touch, stack a few monochromatic books together and tie them with a silk ribbon for a beautifully curated gift.
Vintage Glassware
Vintage glassware is the most fun to find! Whether your a cocktail enthusiast or going the mocktail route. A vintage cocktail coupe offers glamour and intrigue.
Cocktail coupes – Timeless and elegant, these are perfect for serving champagne, a classic Manhattan or just your fresh squeezed breakfast juice.
Unique bowls or servers – I often find vintage ice cream bowls, corn-on-the-cob plates or cute divided glass cocktail party plates.
DIY candle holders – Turn vintage glassware into candles by filling them with wax and a wick. This adds a personalized, handmade element and a really great gift idea!
Vintage Ceramics; Pottery or Vases
Recent Facebook Marketplace find.
Ceramics, especially handmade or artist-signed pieces, make fantastic home decor. A vintage vase can be filled with fresh flowers for an extra-special presentation. I've even used one to collect change in my closet.
Look for:
Mid-century modern pottery for a sleek, timeless look.
Hand-painted designs that add an artisanal touch.
Earthy, textured pieces that blend well with modern decor styles.
Some popular classics to keep an eye out for:
Bordallo Pinheiro – An artist from Portugal who became well known for his hand made whimsical majolica serving pieces.These are highly collectible.
Majolica platters – Maybe not by Pinheiro's hand, but honestly any majolica serving ware is a show-stopping addition to any table setting.
Vintage Tablecloths, Napkin Sets, or Drapery Fabric
Beautiful old linens often get overlooked. So many beautiful tablecloth and napkin sets have sat in drawers for decades, only used on a few occasions. Most people are afraid of stains and odor. However, just one spin through the washer may be all they need.
Old draperies can be very fun and unique materials for the diy'er. It's just fabric. There are so many fun ideas you can do with them. In perfect condition they make for some of the most charming gifts. Even if a tablecloth or napkin set has minor wear, it can be repurposed.
Specialty coasters or placemats – Cut and hem into stylish table accessories. Use that embroidery feature on your sewing machine or hire a seamstress to make monogramed coasters.
Custom drawstring bags – Perfect for small gift bags, or travel pouches to separate clean from dirty.
Scented sachets – Sew yourself a little sachet, fill it with lavender, and tuck into drawers or closets for a fragrant touch.
Thrifted Lamps or Lampshades
Do you know what element enhances your space more than anything? Yes, Lighting! Lots of low diffuse lighting can completely transform a space. So you can almost never, have too many table lamps, and vintage lamps or shades are a treasure trove of style. Even an outdated lamp can be given new life with a little creativity:
Paint - Give an unsightly base a new lease on life with a new coat of paint, like we did with these.
Wrap it - Use rope (new or old) and your trusty glue gun, to transform a shade or a base into something more rustic.
Paper mache – This is a great solution to change the shape a bit. Paint it in a bold color or pattern. Check out the table lamps from Stray Dog Designs for some inspiration.
Swap out a shade – Take an tired existing lamp in your home and give it a new shade. Everytime I go to Goodwill, I always see multiple shades that deserve more time in the spotlight.
Honestly reusing old lampshade circle forms is something I've been pondering for quite a while. I've got a lampshade project that's been waiting in the wings. It's probably time to get that going!
Not that many years ago, I was chiding my mother for keeping this very old brass lamp with the giant (dirty) cream shade. It was my grandmother's, and my mom insisted it was worth keeping. "It's a Stifl lamp!" Back when I had my corporate job, my patience and mindset was so different.
Now, with new eyes, and deep into the vintage world, I totally regret making her get rid of it. It's easy to get bored with something you've been living with for years and years, and to overlook its potential completely.
Today, I would have just altered or totally changed the shade and it would have had an entirely different personality. Sometimes it's just about moving it to another room where it features are more complimentary.
Vintage Candlesticks and Votives
Candlesticks add elegance and warmth to any home. Vintage versions are often higher quality than new ones and come in a variety of styles:
Brass – A classic choice that never goes out of style.
Silver – A little polishing can bring these back to life.
Glass – Perfect for a more delicate, romantic aesthetic. Oh, la, la....
Pair a set of vintage candlesticks with hand-dipped taper candles for a beautifully thoughtful gift.
Honestly the old hotel silver is the best, but is very hard to find thrifted these days. However, many well-curated vintage shops have hotel silver or vintage silver serving items. Platters are great for....
Magnetic Boards – Hang a large one on the wall to use as a magnetic board. Very kitchy in the right kitchen, hallway or mudroom!
Art Wall - Organize a collection of platters as an art feature on a dining room wall. Very popular on the east coast and southwest.
Traditional serving items are also functional and always have a place for any special occasion.
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Vintage Copper Kitchenware
It wasn't until maybe the last 15 years or so that I truly started to appreciate copper kitchenware. Way back in the early days of Martha Stewart she opened my eyes to copper. She'd talk about her collection and share how to painstakingly care for them. Today you're more likely to find them at a garage sale than at a thrift store. They also make great gifts because they are so hard to find.
Large Vessels – My mother found a very big copper pot at a garage sale that they use to hold firewood. I have kept my eyes peeled for years and have still never found another!
Pots and Pans - There are a lot of benefits to using copper. It conducts heat faster and more evenly than stainless steel, and it has inherent microbial properties. Grab them when you can find them for a good price.
This morning I was running errands and thought I'd pop in the nearest Goodwill. Saturdays are always quite busy, but I find that everyone is looking for something different, so there's never a mad rush to grab whatever thing you want.
Today I found 1 very large and heavy silver platter and two smaller trinket trays; one silver cream and sugar set with another tiny cute vessel. I also found a couple old tennis rackets with the older wooden protective frames around them. Those are great decor items I didn't even mention here!
So break out of your comfort zone and go checkout the vintage gems at your nearest thrift or second hand store. If nothing else, you'll get a good healthy picture of how much we all "donate", aka get rid of. In fact, you'll be surprised to see things you might have just seen at Target or even purchased on Amazon.
If you are already an avid home decor thrifter, I'd love to know what your go-to items are; or better yet, share a story in the comments below of your absolute favorite find!
Happy hunting for those one-of-a-kind thrifted home decor gems!
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