I’ve been an avid thrifter for the majority of my life and during this time I have come across the 10 best things to buy at a thrift store before purchasing them at retail. Now I know you can’t find everything you need or want for your home at the thrift store but, for certain items, I do check out my local Goodwill and other second-hand stores first before I head to the retail stores.
- Candlesticks – The first item I urge you to always buy used is candlesticks. Unless it’s a trendier style. Candlesticks are one of those home décor items that rarely go out of style For the most part, brass, silver, and wood candlesticks and candle holders are a classic choice you can use year after year. And, if you find a wood candle holder that has a good shape, but you don’t like the color, you can always spray paint it.
- Baskets – Baskets are an item that is plentiful in the thrift store and since most thrift stores are overflowing with them, that means you can usually get them dirt cheap. I personally have spray-painted baskets to look like those from West Elm and saved a big chunk of change in doing so. You can also modify baskets to fit your style by cutting off the handles and removing embellishments.
- Mirrors – Who doesn’t love a beautiful mirror? I know for me, it’s hard to pass by the mirror section in the thrift store without stopping to see what they have. I have found solid wood mirrors at a much lower cost than retail along with mirrors that needed a little TLC to make them more my style.
- Seasonal Decor – Holiday decor is another item that is plentiful second hand and usually at a great price. Certain seasonal décor can be a little trendy so it doesn’t pay to spend a lot of money on items that you may only enjoy in your home for a season.
- Furniture – Furniture can be hit or miss at second-hand stores. I personally have never found a great couch second hand, so I say invest in a beautiful couch and buy your end tables and coffee table second hand. These can be changed by either stripping them and re-staining or painting them to get a totally different look.
- Glass and Dishware – Glass and dishware are items I highly encourage you to buy second hand. Although at times I know it’s hard to find a complete set, but this is such a great tip, especially if you are just starting out in your own place. And if you have small kids, you know how frustrating it is to buy new plates only to have one of your kids chip them.
- Table linens -I love looking through the linens at a thrift store because you can usually find cloth napkins and tablecloths in excellent and even new condition at a fraction of the cost of new ones.
- Books – Whether you’re looking for books to read or decorate a home, buying used books is the way to go. I have found coffee table books and books to decorate my home at a discounted price by buying them used.
- Vases – Vases come a dime a dozen at the thrift store, and they can easily be DIY’d to create something that fits perfectly into your home.
- Picture frames – At times, you can get picture frames cheaper at Dollar Tree. But, the frames they sell are cheaply made so why not buy well-made gently used frames instead? You can find frames of every shape and size and even new frames with the tags still on them. These can also be painted, decoupaged, and deconstructed to create a totally new look on the cheap.
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