7 Easy Home Projects You Should Do With Thrift Store Finds, Designers Say

Thrift stores aren’t only full of potential home goods, but they’re teeming with objects that make for perfect DIY supplies. Even the most unsuspecting picture frame or glass bowl can end up transforming into a one-of-a-kind decor item with just a little creativity.

Actually finding those worthy pieces can be tricky, though; antique and thrift stores usually have a lot to choose from and not everything is cut out for a small home project. To cut through the noise, we asked two experts for fun DIY projects you can do with thrift store items—this way you’ll know exactly what to have on your radar for your next shopping trip.

Statement Vintage Mirror

It’s all too common to fall in love with an item at a thrift store that just does not fit your aesthetic, and this often happens with ornate vintage mirrors. But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye forever; maybe you just have to say goodbye to its current form.

“With a bit of creativity and some DIY energy, those budget finds can turn into standout pieces,” says Interior designer Magda Callery.

Look for: Old mirrors—small to floor length—particularly those with interesting and ornate frames. Any little blemishes or chips? “Call it character,” Callery says.

Project: Using any color of paint you like and repaint the frame or use chalk-style paint and distress it. Then hang it in your entryway or guest bedroom for a new-to-you statement piece.

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Glassware Planters

It’s tough finding glasses, plates, and vases that all match in a thrift store. Luckily, that’s not necessary for this easy home project. Callery recommends looking for the pieces regardless of color or pattern as their transformation is simple.

Look for: Glassware, plates, teacups, mugs, tealight candle holders, and vases.

Project: Find some matte spray paint to give mismatched glassware and plates a clean and streamlined look. “You’ll look like you spent a fortune at a high-end decor store,” says Callery.

Upgraded Table Decor

If the table decor out there doesn’t gel with your personal design tastes, that’s perfectly fine. Making your own is a breeze and just requires some typical thrift store finds and a little paint.

While you can use everything in the state that you found it, interior designer Evelina Juzėnaitė recommends repainting vases and candlesticks. This gives you more control over the surface finish and colors you add to your home, and it’ll feel more special knowing you made them yourself.

Look for: Antique table decor like candle holders and vases.

Project: Give it a fresh layer of paint or simply buff out the old bumps and bruises it has accumulated over the years.

Quirky and Cute Lamp

If you’re furnishing an apartment or home, you’ve likely seen that lighting can be pretty expensive. One way to get around this is by looking for table and floor lamps with a shape you love, then you can DIY the rest.

Don’t worry if you dislike the color or texture of the lamp or its shade, you can give it a complete 360; just make sure the fixtures you’re looking at aren’t too old and the wiring is in good condition.

Look for: Floor lamps, table lamps, task lighting, or pendant lights.

Project: Paint the base in a trendy matte black, brass color, or any hue of your liking. Then you can source (or create) a new lampshade to give it a personality that works for your tastes.

Elegant Picture Frames

Juzėnaitė notes that picture frames are a great purchase for a home DIY since they often sit on walls and are rarely touched. This means they last for ages and make for great decor. However, if today’s ultra-modern frames and older ornate styles from the past aren’t your thing, you can make them your own.

Look for: Various sizes of picture frames—ignore the color as you will change this.

Project: With a little paint or spray paint, you can make a matching set of picture frames or create a collection that features different colors that all look cohesive together. Then use them to frame art and photos, or use them all on their own as a cool DIY wall art project.

Unique Dresser or Table

The beauty of thrifting is you often come across high-quality items for a great price, including solid wood furniture.

“Solid wood lasts forever and can look high-end with a bit of sanding and paint,” says Callery.

Look for: Chairs, tables, shelves, and sturdy dressers.

Project: Start by sanding down the wooden object you’ve choose for your project. Then, select a color you love to repaint it—bolder colors and modern pulls make for showroom-worthy pieces.

Antique Books

This project can be as low-lift as sourcing some new books and cleaning them up or as involved as making separate projects with the books you find. The beauty of antique books is that they just look better with every passing year.

Juzėnaitė recommends finding books with unique illustrations or passages of text that you can gently cut out and frame for your gallery wall or shelves.

Look for: Large antique books, matching sets or same sizes of books, or coffee table books you would like to have out.

Project: You can keep this as simple as giving these books a new home stacked on your shelves as decor or on top of coffee tables.

Items to Avoid for DIY Projects

There are plenty of cool items to be found at your favorite thrift shops, but there are also some objects worth avoiding for projects. Here’s what to stay away from and why:

• Chipped or cracked glass and ceramic: There’s a higher likelihood these will continue to break and cause an injury or a mess.
• Upholstered furniture: If you like more complex projects, that’s fine. But to keep things simple skip these items. Callery says reupholstery can be expensive and time-consuming.
• Electrical appliances: Juzėnaitė says that things like chandeliers may be pretty, “but you never know if the wiring is good.” Callery agrees, especially if you have no experience in electrical work. “A lousy light fixture isn’t worth turning your house into a fireworks display,” she says.
• Carpets and old textiles: If you want a quick and easy project, these aren’t it. They can be expensive to clean “and you won’t always be sure that everything is sterile,” says Juzėnaitė.
• Objects with weird odors: If you can sniff out the smell of paint or chemicals, these odors might have seeped into the wood or material. Juzėnaitė says they can impact the air and your home and aren’t worth trying to clean.