decorating for fall with moody blooms

Thrifting is an adventure, which yields unexpected and unique results. Sometimes thrifted goodies need to be looked at with a discerning eye. Thrifts have a plethora of unique decor accents as is or with some TLC. Come on in and join me as we dive deep into the land of thrifting and all the treasures it provides.

things you should always buy at thrift stores and never pass up Pinterest
The Gist

Things you Should Always Buy at Thrift Stores

> Thrift stores are a great resource to curate and collect home decor pieces
> Thrifts provide a unique and affordable option to create cultured and charming home interiors
> Learn what are treasures to always buy at thrift stores and never pass up!

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Welcome~ 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. Thrift stores are a wonderful resource for so many things and provide so much character and charm for home interiors.

thrifted goodies series 37 July
Join us…

The Thrifted Goodies Collaboration

The Thrifted Goodies series consists of a monthly collaboration between myself MaryJo @Master”pieces” of my Life & Rachel @the Antiqued Journey. We share thrift store information & inspiration, including particular finds, tips, up-cycles, stylings & general advice about thrift shopping mostly for decor. Some months we invite a guest host for triple the fun. Welcome to the thrill of the hunt! Thrifting is exciting, environmental and economical. Thank you for joining us!

Today I am sharing items you should look for and pick up at thrifts and never pass up. Thrifting can be overwhelming and having a strategy proves to be helpful for the best experience. Having a list of items to search for helps focus and facilitate the thrift shopping process.

thrifting architectural decor accents

Rachel is sharing thrifted vintage decor on a budget. 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 home decor on a low budget with thrift finds.

You can also find Rachel in her other spaces; give her a follow:  Instagram || Pinterest || Facebook || LTK Shop

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.

MaryJo behind the blog

MJ 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!

Books are great thrift finds, including vintage and stylish books to add to home interiors. Look for books with pretty covers and colors that match your design aesthetic. Books add culture and interest to decor.

thrifting architectural decor accents

Books not only can be used as is for decor accents, but can also be altered and up-cyled in many ways. If decorating with books is your jam, you might be interested in the following posts; simply click on the links below:

thrifting mindset

There is a wide selection of frames, which come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles. There really is something for everyone with different aesthetics and purposes. Focus on the frame and don’t worry about the insert. You can always add your own artwork, mirror or simply leave it empty.

Vintage and second-hand picture frames offer unique and one of a kind variety at an incredibly affordable price. Frames are not only for gallery walls, but can serve so many purposes in your everyday decor plus they make great pieces for seasonal decorations as well.

framed doily art work DIY

There’s a wide variety of basket options at thrifts and unlike many other items they remain affordable and reasonably priced. Baskets can be used for storage and organization, or for plants and flowers, or for displaying and toting items in style.

Like many thrifted items they can be used as is, or up-cycled with paint, fabrics, ribbons and more. Baskets can prove to be on the spendy side at decor stores, but you can find them on the cheap at thrifts. I always look at the basket selection in thrift sores, and I have discovered many of my favorites this way. Here are some of my basket up-cy;ces:

easy thrift store basket make-overs

Another super affordable category is decorative glassware. Most of theses pieces are simply a few dollars and can be used in so many unique ways. Plus since it’s inexpensive glass, you can experiment with stains and paint for a glassware glow-up.

Spring thrift haul plus faux jadeite DIY hack

I used two new techniques this year to give glass pieces a glow-up, including a faux jadeite look and a stained process, which can be switched up. If you’re interested, follow the links below for step by step instructions:

how to stain thrifted glassware valentines

Thrift stores are a great resource to shop for collections. The items are usually priced reasonably, and the selections are unique. I’ve acquired my milk glass, copper, transferware dishes and silver plate collections, to name a few, through years of thrifting,

vintage thrift finds

Pewter and iron stone are also on my radar, which I own smaller collections of these. Whatever you are drawn to for your home aesthetic, chances are you will find unique pieces at thrifts stores. Keep a list of coveted items and sooner or later you will find them.

thrifted goodies

This is a personal favorite of mine. Vintage sheet music just speaks to me or should I say sings to me? I love the classic and cultured feels of weathered sheet music pages. I have used used it in my home in so many ways.

Sheet music books are by far the biggest bang for your buck. For mere pennies you can find beautiful music booklets, which you can simply add to decor vignettes or use in many home DIY projects. Here are just a few if you are obsessed with sheet music too:

thrifted sheet music

If you aren’t thrifting, you are missing out on a thrill seeking experience with unique results. Thrift shopping not only provides great finds at affordable prices, but it’s also a sustainable practice. Thrifting is a way to reuse and repurpose someone else’s cast-offs, preventing them from crowding the landfill. It’s good for the pocket book and good for the planet.

thrifting mindset

These thrifting finds create a signature style for your home, which can’t be replicated. Thrifting is a fun treasure hunt for adults and a secret weapon for interior designers and vintage store owners. I lean into thrifting to provide fresh and unique pieces for our home. If you enjoy thrifting and vintage decor, please consider joining the Masterpiece community. Sign uo below and receive all new content directly into your in-box.

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MJ 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.

The Thrifted Home Super Power

Thrifting is a fun treasure hunt for adults and a secret weapon for interior designers and vintage store owners. Lean into thrifting to provide fresh and unique pieces for your home, creating a collected and curated timeless feel.

Are you wondering right about now…

What are the benefits of thrifting?

  • ENVIRONMENTAL: Buying reused items is good for our planet since it recycles items others have used, and it keeps more things out of our land fills. I love to up-cycle, recycle, and reuse items whenever possible. These used pieces tend to have patina, character and culture, which is not easily found in new items.
  • ECONOMICAL: Thrift shopping usually yields a great value on items you might not necessarily pay regular retail pricing. Granted these items are used but sometimes this doesn’t really matter since the items are in great condition. Or the fact that they are used gives them wonderful patina and distressing that sometimes takes years to develop.
  • EXCEPTIONAL: Since thrifted items have already had a life before you find them, they have a story to tell, which tends to make them unique. Many of the thrifted items I find and choose would probably not be items I would select as new. It makes the process of thrift store shopping super interesting and provides unique looks. 
  • ENJOYABLE: Thrifting is an adventure, which should be fun and not stressful. Just remember to have an open mind, enjoy ypurself and embrace the unexpected. If thrift shopping is not working for you, walk away. Thrift shopping should be rewarding, offering treasures and unpredictable surprises. There’s always the next thrift shopping adventure around the corner to help you find that amazing piece! 

I thrift shop frequently and add treasures throughout our home regularly. Thrift finds give your home a unique look and are budget friendly. I hope this inspires you to go thrifting, or if you’re already a thrifter, I hope it gives you a new insight.

why you should always thrift on the road

Don’t forget to hop over and visit my thrifty friends Rachel @ The Antiqued Journey for more thrifting inspiration. Thank you for being here today and may the Thrifting Gods be ever in your favor.

Au revoir!

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Shopping Note

I included *affiliate links here to some of the items I used or that are very similar for your convenience. If there’s something you are looking for, which you don’t see here, please drop me a note or leave me a comment down below. I’m happy to help.

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things you should always buy at thrift stores and never pass up Pinterest

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12 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your list of favorite items to find at thrift stores! I wish I’d have better luck finding books and sheet music! I need to add them to my list! Happy thrifting!

  2. Loved this roundup! I always keep an eye out for baskets and books when thrifting, but I never thought about sheet music. Such a charming touch for DIYs and decor. Thanks for the inspo!

  3. You have such an amazing eye for these things, MaryJo! There are things here I never would have imagined such a beautiful use for. Wow. Thanks for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #66 linkup. Hope to see you next week at #67, too.

  4. Congratulations, MaryJo! This post was one of the most-visited at the Will Blog for Comments #66 linkup, so it will be in the spotlight throughout #67 (2 weeks) starting today. You are welcome to save the “This Blog Post Was a Featured Favorite” image there to share with your readers here. Thanks for being a great part of our linkup! Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you Monday for linkup #67. 🙂