So I hit the thrift stores this past week to look for items for our living room, kitchen and front deck. According to my recent blog topics Instagram poll, thrift decor ideas was a close second behind DIY projects. (That blog post can be found here!) Specifically, I went out looking for some wall art pieces, a new lamp base, and outdoor furniture. In the process, I decided to check out a few different spots since I’m still new to the area. I took lots of pictures and I’m sharing tips and ideas so you feel like you’re coming to the thrift shop with me!

If you’re new to thrifting…

If you’re new to thrift shopping, let me first say, that you never really know what you’ll find! I mentioned in my first blog on Budget Home Essentials that I like to shop thrift stores for unique decor. And this is still true! So if you like to shop around, it can be fun! Thrift stores are an awesome option because the things you buy will benefit a charity or small local business. In addition, when you find a new life for one of these pieces, you’re making a sustainable choice.

Someone who shops luxury, quality wholesale, IKEA, and thrift stores the same week? Yes, that’s me! I like to mix things up and embark on a bit of a treasure hunt. And there’s certainly some treasures I’ve found! Keep reading to see more of my finds and ideas for how these can be implemented into a modern home.

Different types of thrift stores

There’s several types of stores can fall under the “thrift” category and I’ll share my perceived differences for those. The most common are Goodwill and Salvation Army, where people donate unwanted items and the sales go to the charity. You’d be shocked in the best way at what people will donate to places like these. When you find something good there, it’s such a win for both you and the organization! This is where you’ll typically get the best deals IF you can find what you want. In this week’s adventure, I shopped two different days at the Goodwill by the Paddock Mall.

Next, there’s small businesses who purchase large quantities from estate-type sales, to sell at a discount. Or they may sell consignment. These stores are typically privately owned by a family and they can be very motivated to sell. I shopped at the Bargain Barn Thrift Store Extravaganza and I was impressed by how much selection they had!

Lastly, you have the traditional vintage stores which typically have a more curated collection of vintage goods. I shopped at the brand new Ocala Antique Mall and Estates. The prices may be higher than the other stores, but the average value of the items is likely much higher.

I found so much at all three stores, so I’ll briefly share my thoughts and ideas for each.

Ocala Antique Mall and Estates Finds

Vintage stores are great about pairing like items. I love this old wash bin and selection of wooden bowls. Why buy the antique decor look from a high end store when you can get the real thing?

I love vintage silk scarves! They’ve come back in style since more people are using them in their hair or to dress up a bag. If you find one with a design or colors you totally love, you could even have it framed as an art piece. How pretty would this colorful yellow and black one be in a simple white frame?

I’m living for the idea of someone refinishing these high-back rattan chairs and adding plush cushions for a chic patio moment. (More outdoor living trends and ideas in this recent post.)

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I saw these vintage art pieces in gold frames and thought they’re MEANT for a moody dark library gallery wall. Or they can go totally extra on a patterned wallpaper accent wall.

These mid-century glass pieces look like a school of colorful jellyfish, and I’m into it! With so many people opting for glass-front cabinets, colored glassware decor is an on-trend, vintage pick.

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These ceramic birds are the stuff of Opalhouse at Target’s dreams. They could add a fun sculptural flair to a gallery wall over a couch or part of a vertical gallery on a narrow wall.

Is this etagere Pier 1, World Market, or Anthropologie? Nope, it’s totally the real vintage thing. This would be beautiful in an eclectic style living room.

These capiz shell chargers would help create a stunning table setting on a contrasting, dark wood table. One of a kind, investment pieces like this can dress up your table even when paired with inexpensive plates and flatware.

Ocala Goodwill Finds

I can tell we’ve arrived at Goodwill when an 80s brass/glass table is styled with a plastic blue kid’s chair! But how cool are these vintage chairs? I feel like this 80s glam, beach-style stuff is back in style in a big way.

You might see these two matching light blue lamps and think – hey, those look nice! I thought so, too. But then I checked the price and saw they were marked for $35 each. While this isn’t bad, you could get totally great lamps from Target or similar for the same price. Goodwill also gets retail items that may not be marked down as low as other items, and I think this is the case here. Keep scrolling though, because I did find a lamp for a better price!

I thought these green chairs could look really cool with dark wood stain and new upholstery. What you may have to invest to improve these chairs is a fraction of what they could cost new from a Crate & Barrel or West Elm.

These storage units I thought would make cool, tiered planters for a covered patio area. Tiered planters are very hot on sites like Urban Outfitters this season.

If you need a new lamp shade, check out your local Goodwill! I feel like this $3 lamp shade would be 4x more at Target.

Bargain Barn Thrift Finds

Bargain Barn definitely had a lot more furniture than the Goodwill. They actually buy storage units to resell in their store, nearly unseen. I recommend this spot if you’re in the Ocala area!

I’m very big on buying lamps in pairs, and these quickly caught my eye at the Bargain Barn. I could see these working as-is, or I could see someone switching out the shades for modern black ones. Another idea, if you have the DIY bug, is to paint the base detail blue and white and add sleek white shades.

The Bargain Barn had two of these matching archway window mirrors –which can create such a beautiful symmetrical moment in a space. You could rough them up for a farmhouse feel or touch up with black paint for a traditional look.

I love how this floor lamp has a tiki style that could add vintage character to a coastal-inspired home. Whether that’s in a neutral toned room with palms or against a jewel-toned, teal wall, this one had me dreaming!

Had to snap a picture of this larger-than-life pin board BEHIND the floral painting. With linen fabric and white, chalk-painted looking frame, this would be perfect for an open wall of a home office.

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When trying to decide on something that’s a little out-there in style, consider if it’ll have friends in the room. Do you have something with similar colors? The two pieces above with the very similar color palette and matting style were recommended to be sold together by the owner, and I agree!

Even More in the Bargain Barn Back Room!

Cedar chests are timeless and popular because the natural material keeps bugs away. By mixing a piece like this chest with modern decor, you can create a customized, lived-in feel in your home.

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Is this a thrift store or a 2020 Urban Outfitters? I couldn’t help but day dream about styling a whole room around the big rattan etagere on the right.

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Again, more and more rattan furniture! A little reupholstery could make these look totally 2020. Rattan, along with other casual, natural furniture materials, are back and on trend.

I like the lines of this mid-century side table. With a dark walnut stain it could look like it’s from West Elm in 2020, but with a bright paint color it could look like 1960s Palm Springs.

This table and chairs set appears to be vintage and high quality. My idea was to paint the chairs and table base black and add new upholstery. It could be chic, black and white 80s moment.

What I Bought!

So onto the next part – what I actually bought on these adventures! As mentioned previously, I was thrift shopping for new wall art, a lamp base, and outdoor furniture. And luckily, I was able to find a few of these items!

I found this frame for $10 that I can use to frame a large art piece for our living room. The white color should be a nice contrast against our slate blue walls and has a subtle, farmhouse feel. (Because even though I straight up live on a farm, I still like it with my modern and colorful spin.) This was found at the Bargain Barn.

I’d envisioned a narrow shelf piece that we can hang above our Keurig for a little coffee station. But I totally forgot about it when I went thrift shopping. Then at Goodwill, I spotted this shelf in one of the bins for $3! It even has the fixtures on it to mount on the wall! More DIY on this particular piece will be coming in the near future, so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

Last but not least, I found this vintage beauty at Goodwill. (Sharpie for scale reference.) What’s funny is that this was hiding behind the lamps I mentioned were overpriced. If you remember from my epic 2020 DIY Recap, we needed a new base to replace the one that broke. And you better believe this means there’s another big DIY happening here in the coming weeks!

Does that leave you with a bit of a cliff hanger? 🙂 Are you inspired to go and thrift shop for your home this weekend? I hope you enjoyed this thrift shop with me adventure. Let me know what you find at your local thrift store in the comments below.

And hey, if you’re liking any of my ideas and want to make something similar happen in your space, I’d love to help! I’m currently accepting projects for summer and can do consultations in-person or virtually. Drop me a note here, and we’ll get started. Thank you!

About Kaitlyn Loos

For more information about Kaitlyn, check out: About Kaitlyn: Interior Design, and About Kaitlyn: Event Planning.

You can also subscribe to the blog and contact Kaitlyn directly here.

Disclaimer: All of my DIY blog content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I share what works for me in my home, but you should consult with professionals/landlords before taking on any construction projects. My blog does not constitute interior design advice for readers. I am not liable or responsible for any damages resulting from or related to your use of this information.

Hello again! Another big thank you to my Instagram friends who took my recent blog post topic survey. While the final results were pretty close, the winning topic you all wanted more from me is…DIY projects! This put a big smile on my face because I definitely have a bit of the “maker gene.” In my mind, I keep cutting back to college making a 5 ft hanging birdcage out of cereal box strips and hot glue. I love a good DIY, and this is the first year I’ve had this kind of platform to share them. I’m inspired do more! But I thought this was a great opportunity to recap all of my 2020 DIY projects so far.

I’m including all the related links you could ever want in case you’d like to try any of these yourself. There’s also some new photos of how it looked in the respective space that you may not have seen yet. Oh, and to make it a little more interesting, I’ve created a ranking system! The ranking is based on performance, durability, cost to value ratio, and overall aesthetic appeal. This is like when a beauty Youtuber shares at the end of the year which products they still love, and what they’ve changed their minds about. I’m starting with the highest score to moving down to the lowest. I hope you enjoy!

1. IKEA Fixtures Spray Painted

My office has quickly become my favorite room in the whole house since the One Room Challenge. (Check out my office reveal here!) Who knew a project from the last day of the challenge would make the number one spot? It was so simple! This was gold spray paint (this one specifically) to the knobs that came with my Billy Oxberg doors and wall hook set.

The inspiration photo I had of the Billy Oxberg pieces used custom pulls like you would find at Anthropologie. While I liked that, the spray painted hardware also has the elevated look I was going after. These two quick projects are highest on the list because the were very easy to do, low investment, and they’re ridiculously pretty IMO.

2. Mini Water Painting

This was another project from the last 24 hours of the One Room Challenge, though it was part of a set plan. I knew that I wanted a small pool water painting and I knew it would be a fun thing to try to DIY for the challenge. But on the day-of, it honestly took a little bit of experimentation and I picked the best of three. My arts background helped!

This painting was created by coloring a coffee filter with a water-based marker, dampening the filter, and pressing to print onto a piece of water color paper. Repeated a few times to create the desired pattern.

3. Dollar Tree Anthropologie Vase

If you are crafty or interested in this project at all, you absolutely must try it! I’m so happy with how this Anthropologie-inspired vase came out. You can see more details in this Instagram story highlight.

4. Spray Painted Coat Rack

Another DIY project that is very simple to do is my spray painted coat rack. This coat rack needed to move rooms after the One Room Challenge happened in my office and I loved the idea of finally getting around to spray painting it gold. I love how it looks against our slate blue walls in the living room. Get my favorite spray paint here!

5. The Dollar Tree Gallery Wall

The Dollar Tree Gallery Wall was a bit of a runaway hit compared to my other projects and posts on social at that time. And, I documented basically the whole process on my Instagram Story highlights, if you want to check it out! While I’m happy with the look and the low investment cost of this project, I don’t have the highest expectations for how long these Dollar Tree frames will last. You could achieve a similar look using a set like this one from Amazon for $43.

6. The Upcycled Wicker Lamp

I think all of my best DIY projects are when I have the opportunity to be brave and have some fun. I took this thrifted lamp from looking like it was ready to go to the dump, to looking like it’s ready for the pages of PB Teen magazine. All I used was a can (or two) of white spray paint and some embroidery thread. You can watch the full upcycled lamps saga, including this one, on this Instagram Highlight.

7. The Upcycled Pineapple Lamp

The pineapple lamp was basically tied with the wicker lamp because the overall improvement was huge. However, the “extra” level of this lamp makes it a bit limiting for where you can style it in the home. I think it would look better with the gold spray paint from #1. Again, you can watch the full upcycled lamps saga, including this pineapple lamp, on this Instagram Highlight.

8. Chains on Frames

The chains on frames DIY from my corner gallery in my new office to me is absolutely beautiful. (Check out my office reveal here.) I’m so happy with my decision to go with the very delicate jewelry chain. (Similar chain here.) However, it was a bit tricky, and maybe not beginner-craft-level to hot glue the chains and do the faux/double “hang” like I did to protect the art from falling. It’s also a bit risky because the jewelry chain may discolor over time and not match the frames as well. For now, I absolutely love this detail in my new office and I would recommend this project.

9. Bathroom Vanity Update

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And now this DIY countdown has taken us to the bathroom! Check out the details from my bathroom vanity makeover in my Under $300 Bathroom Makeover blog post.

10. Dollar Tree Linen Closet Shelves

I’ve gotten a few compliments on these Dollar Tree DIY shelf coverings in my bathroom linen closet. You can check out the full details and find the Youtuber who inspired me, by checking out the Under $300 Bathroom Makeover blog post.

11. DIY Window A/C Unit Filler Inserts

Not to toot my own horn, but I thought I was a frickin’ genius when I thought of these! If you’ve ever lived somewhere without central air conditioning (yes, hello from the mini-farm) you might like this DIY idea!

If you have a window A/C unit without the adjustable accordion attachments OR a large window, try this DIY. This was totally inspired by the linen closet DIY! I measured the opening and used extra foam core to cut out the perfect shape to fill it. Then, for both aesthetic and water proofing purposes, I covered in the faux wood contact paper. We’ve had several of these in use for months and they help keep bugs out. Even in this rainy season, and I have not yet had to replace them. And when I do, it’s less than $2 worth of supplies!

12. DIY Hem Taped Curtains

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You can see more of this and before/after photos in my One Room Challenge Office Reveal. But basically I tried iron-on hem tape on my curtains and it worked! I love how this makes my space feel more put together and that I can always let the hem out if we move.

The one downside to this project is that sunlight may show your hem-tape work, as pictured above. It’s worth it for me, but if you do this project for a more permanent space, my advice is to cut them and keep the hem tape within about two inches of the bottom.

13. The Velvet Foot Stool

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I still LOVE this foot stool, but I totally admit that the pillow is a bit delicately placed and can come off easily. In an office space I think this is fine, but it’s probably not going to stay if you have kids or house pets. Check out this DIY in my Instagram Story Highlights.

14. The Blue Bedazzled Upcycled Lamp

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There may be a few of you scratching your heads as to why this lamp is so low on the list, and that is because it has broken! The tall lamp had taken many tumbles from its precarious side table, and the base has officially broken and the inside part of the shade has come out. However, I deeply love this lamp shade and I’m setting out to try to fix it and put it on a new base.

The tip to gain here is not to spend a lot of time/energy/resources on a lamp that is so easy to fall over/break. There are other fish in the sea! You can watch the full upcycled lamps saga, including this one (before its RIP), on this Instagram Highlight.

15. The 70s Upcycled Lamp

While I don’t want ANY of my DIYs to be at the bottom, our list has come to an end… I specifically have very positive memories painting this one during a beautiful sunset. I love how the painted lampshade gives a moody effect when the light is on. But I think it would look better one day on a more mid-century inspired base. If I painted something like this again, I would do slightly finer lines and more of them. You can watch the full upcycled lamps saga, including the 70s lamp shade, on this Instagram Highlight.

So this was a fun trip down recent memory lane for me! What did you think? Let me know your favorite DIY in the comments down below.

Be sure to subscribe here because more DIYs are on the way!

About Kaitlyn Loos

For more information about Kaitlyn, check out: About Kaitlyn: Interior Design, and About Kaitlyn: Event Planning.

You can also subscribe to the blog and contact Kaitlyn directly here.

Disclaimers: a small percentage of purchases from select links will benefit me via an affiliate program. I appreciate anyone who wants to support my blog by shopping the products, but there is no obligation to buy.

All of my DIY blog content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I share what works for me in my home, but you should consult with professionals/landlords before taking on any construction projects. My blog does not constitute interior design advice for readers. I am not liable or responsible for any damages resulting from or related to your use of this information.