Thrifted Homeware

There are plenty of stylish things to thrift that don't include clothing. Whether it is furniture, kitchen or dining-ware, books, ornaments (as well as many other items as I would suggest the list is endless), you can often even 'up cycle' items to improve them - and I can show you how! 

Home style is personal; you can find fab items that help say who you are and elevate your surroundings.  Just like when considering clothing style, browsing magazines, websites and other media can give you inspiration on the look you want to achieve where you live.

When renting, the right homeware can make a rented place feel like a home. When you buy a place, in my experience, you want to make it your own; homely, stylish and livable - and ASAP. Buying a home is so costly that homeware should be as affordable as possible, especially when you first move in. Once potentially other costs come along such as children, holidays, weddings etc homeware (in my view) needs to remain affordable. 

Hopefully these examples will whet your appetite:

- I use thrifted trinket boxes around my living room costing no more than £2 each to hide unsightly tv remotes and clean up the overall look of the space

- Thrifted picture frames, mirrors and prints add character to a home

- Small home trinkets, such as jewellery stands and small storgage boxes

- Candle holders and ornaments add interest to surfaces such as bookshelves, cupboard shelves and table tops

Stone tealight holder

Thrifted glass ornament display. Seaglass pebbles collected in Ibiza, 2018

- glassware (such as vases, glasses, kitchen items etc) and ceramics, plant holders etc

Storage jar and salt & pepper shaker set

Cheese plate

- small wooden pieces such as magazine racks, waste paper bins, bedside tables (see later!), ottomans, small cabinets etc

- nursing chairs, tables, dining chairs etc 

Thrifted nursing chair

For instance, you can paint the legs on less than interesting small brown bedside tables and apply gold-leaf to their tops in order to update them, elevating their style

Tools

It really depends on the project, but the sky really is the limit and with a bit of lateral thinking and a generous sprinkle of imagination (or a pinterest account), you can improve almost anything you find.

Some examples

- Spray paint comes in handy for ornaments (or picture frames) that need refreshing (or in need of a total ornament). White and metallics are amazing for a clean look.

- Liquid gold (available from Lakeland and other retailers), dusters, polish, soapy water and wood pens are my best friends when refreshing wooden items. Sometimes this list is more expansive, depending upon what I am planning. It can extend, as above, to gold leaf, sand-paper, boat varnish, primers, paints...

- Paper mache can be fun to apply to small trinket boxes that need a little tszuj and given a more grownup feel if you select your decoupage paper carefully

- Glasses (and glass ornaments) often only need a wash in warm soapy water, or in the dishwasher if they do not appear too fragile.

Please comment any of your own upcycles and amazing homeware finds!