Hello there! Welcome, and I’m so glad you stopped by today. It’s the next installment of the THRIFTED GOODIES series. If you enjoy thrift shopping and love the thrill of the hunt, then this post is for you. Today I am sharing how to decorate a summer mantel with thrifted finds. Please join me as we discuss this easy, breezy coastal mantel styling with affordable thrifted finds. Thrifted pieces paired with sea form creates all the casual, carefree and cozy charm of beach filled days.
Thrifting is an adventure, which yields unexpected and unique results. I’m excited to share how to incorporate thrifted finds for a summer mantel styling. I use my style here, but with these techniques anyone can adapt them to your own decor aesthetic with you personal signature style. Come on in and join me for some thrifty coastal decorating fun.
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All About the Thrifted Goodies Series
The Thrifted Goodies series consists of monthly posts where my friend, Rachel, from the Antiqued Journey, and I share thrift store intel. Topics might include particular finds, tips, stylings, techniques, up-cycles, and general advice about thrift shopping mostly for home decor in general. Some months we invite a guest host. Thank you for joining us.
Today I am sharing how to use thrifted finds to create a summer decor styling for the mantel. The combination of vintage milk glass and faux jadeite, which I recently shared here and here, are the perfect stage for all the sea form, which infuse all the coastal feels.
Rachel is sharing thrifted summer decor. She always finds the most amazing pieces! You don’t want to miss her latest post. If you don’t know Rachel yet, when you are done here, head over to visit Rachel and introduce yourself, while you check out her vintage summer decor post.
You can also find Rachel in her other spaces; give her a follow:
If you are coming over from Rachel’s place, welcome! I am so glad you are here today, and I hope you enjoy yourself. Drop me a comment down below and introduce yourself. I would love to hear from you.
How to Decorate a Breezy Summer Mantel Display with Thrifted Finds
The mantel is a focal point in any room, and it’s no different in our living room. The fireplace mantel shelf is a great spot to showcase creativity and dress-up for the different seasons and holidays. By using thrifted finds, a unique display can inspire a stunning, personal, and budget-friendly look.
Back Drop
Having a large scale piece as the background for a mantel styling creates a foundation plus adds a bit of drama. Mirrors, artwork and wall art are some good choices. The gilded mirror over our mantel was a vintage find at a flea market years ago, but you can find similar pieces at thrifts and estate sales if you keep an eye out.
Collections
Thrift stores are great resources for collection curation. It won’t happen overnight, but through time you can start a collection of pieces which speak to you. Be patient and enjoy the journey. This milk glass collection has taken more than a decade to accumulate, and it will continue to grow until I get tired of it. Milk glass is great for creating so many looks with its milky color and lustrous finish. Although milk glass is a vintage creation it can be used in contemporary settings as well with the proper components.
DIYs & Crafts
A great way to inject personalization into your decor is with uniquely crafted pieces. All the jadeite items in this mantel styling are faux pieces I created with paint. They give the look at a fraction of the cost, using thrifted glassware. It’s a great hack to infuse more vintage vibes next to the milk glass collection. The pieces mix and blend well with each other. Always look at thrift items with a glow up in mind.
Summer Motif
A summer motif grounds the styling to the season. I used sea coral, starfish and a sea fan to evoke all the coastal and beachy feels. Other ideas for summer include nautical pieces, patriotic decor, gardening themes and more. Use motifs which speak to you and look around your home before you buy anything new. Shopping my home is my favorite way to decorate since I’ve curated unique pieces, which speak to my decor sensibility.
Color Palette
I used a green and white color palette for the summer mantel styling since it fits into my decor and style. Blue would be a great addition for summer feels too. Use colors which fit into you decor aesthetic. The white milk glass pieces are vintage which have been curated over years of thrifting. The faux jadeite is a great hack, using thrifted glassware pieces. In case you missed it, you can see the full tutorials for these pieces in the original posts. Follow links below.
Light & Airy
Summertime evokes images of light and airy days. Besides the sea life, all the organics on the display are light dried flowers. The dried florals are light in color and light in weight, giving them an overall light feel of airiness. They almost feel like they might be floating.
Textures
The organic elements add tons of texture to the display, including the sea life and florals. Beyond that the ribbon and garland add soft touches to the otherwise cold and hard surfaces of all the glassware. Tying ribbons around accent pieces is a great detail to include anytime, anywhere. It adds interest and movement in a subtle and easy manner. The garland is an airy and light piece using thrifted hankies, which adds more texture and movement, bringing the eye up.
Other common thrift finds you could use for a summer mantel are vintage frames, wicker baskets, ceramic vases, botanical prints, old books, etc. Thrifts are an endless, ever changing source for charming and unique decor.
If you enjoy thrifting and up-cycling pieces you can subscribe to receive all new posts directly to your in-box. I would love to have you join the Masterpiece community.
Thrifting Pro Tip: Look at the potential of an item beyond its current state or condition. Items can be altered, up-cycled and recreated with TLC, elevating them to a trend forward piece.
Closing Thoughts
I share thrifted treasures throughout my home regularly and this was a fun project to put together. Thrift finds give your home a unique look and are budget friendly
For many of the items I pick up at thrifts I have plans for stylings, up-cycles and DIY projects, but for others I simply pick them up just because. I hoped you enjoyed this installment of the thrifted goodies series. There’s plenty of thrift focus content scheduled for the upcoming months.
Thrifting Pro Tip: Make a list of items you would like to find while thrifting on your phone, and you will always have the list with you whenever you pop into a thrift. Update the list regularly as you find treasures and seek others. Have fun!
Don’t forget to hop over and visit my thrifty friend Rachel @ The Antiqued Journey for more thrifting inspiration. Thank you for being here today. Au revoir!
Shopping the Thrifted Summer Mantel Styling Look
- Gold Vintage Wall Mirror
- Antique Gold Baroque Mirror
- White Lace Hankies
- Vintage Milk Glass Opaque White Tear Drop and Pearl Scalloped Vase
- Milk Glass Bud Vase
- White Ceramic Hobnail Vase
- Green Footed Bowl
- Jade Berry Bowl
- Green Glass Bunny Covered Dish
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Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air’s salubrity.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson