When you’re on a tight budget, you can save money by finding home decor at flea markets and thrift stores. Even if you’re not on a budget, these places are treasure troves filled with items just waiting for you special touch to make it beautiful. Below are some tips for finding great pieces and turning them into beautiful home décor.
How to find beautiful home decor treasures at flea markets and thrift stores
Let’s start with some basics for flea market and thrift store shopping, shall we? The first thing you need to know is WHERE to find them. Finding established thrift stores is pretty simple, just search thrift stores + your zip code. I found 19 in my area and it only took a second of searching.
Flea markets are a bit trickier. We have a huge one that runs every weekend in the same spot. While they have some great deals, they cater towards people from the city. This means higher than usual flea market prices, because to the city people, they’re still great bargains. Finding amazing deals usually requires visiting flea markets off the beaten path. Group yard sales are also good. Check sites like Craigslist and your local paper’s community events section to find them.
My last basic tip for flea market shopping: shop early to find the best stuff, but late to find the best deals. If you are looking for something specific, be there first thing in the morning. If you just want to browse and get a good deal, go towards the end of the day when people just want to get rid of stuff. For thrift stores, know which days are “discount days.” Our local thrift store cycles out unsold merchandise on Wednesdays, so they often discount it at a pretty hefty price.
Turning your finds into home decor treasures
Now that you know the basics of how to shop flea markets and thrift stores, it’s time to talk about how to find beautiful home décor! My biggest tip here: shop with an open mind! Home décor isn’t all about paintings and sculptures, it’s about showing off your personality. Take a look at a few of my favorite ideas for turning one man’s trash into your home décor treasure.
In an age of cell phone photography and instant gratification through digital cameras, film-based cameras are pretty much little more than a novelty item. While some are considered collectible and can cost a fortune, many thrift stores sell lesser-known brands for a song. Show off your love of photography by grouping a few on a mantle!
Old books are a veritable treasure trove of home decor ideas! While I can’t bring myself to harm any book that is still readable (or collectible), there are plenty of books at flea markets with missing or completely faded pages. You don’t even have to find antique books to get fun home decor. Grab a few hardcover books, take off the dust jacket, spray paint the covers (either all one color, like gold, or multiple colors for a different effect) and voila, work of art!
Throw pillows are one of my favorite pieces of home decor because they’re so versatile and easy to switch out. You can pick up some inexpensive boring pillows at a discount store, then grab some gorgeous place mats or material scraps to give them a face lift. You can also use pretty towels to make your own no-sew repurposed pillows!
Glasses and tableware isn’t just for dinner time! Beautiful colored glasses make great candle holders, bowls can hold jewelry and other trinkets, and plates look great hanging on your kitchen wall. You can also fill clear glasses with colorful beads, shells and other fun items.
Old mirrors make a fun statement all on their own. You can also find some really great frames! Even if the art inside is hideous, consider how you can repurpose the frame itself. Use it for your child’s artwork, a great photo or even to frame a homemade bulletin board. Even if the color of the frame isn’t something you love, you can always paint it!
These are just a few ideas and tips for finding beautiful home décor at a flea market or thrift store. As I said, the important thing is to go into it with an open mind. Look at items not as they are, but how they could be. However- and this is important- don’t buy something that needs a major overhaul unless you are dedicated to actually doing it! I bought a cute desk for $5 once that I said I would refinish. Never happened. It ended up sitting in a corner of my garage for ages.
Do you have any tips for finding home décor at flea markets and thrift stores? Tell us in the comments!
I love going to flea markets. They have a huge collection of undiscovered treasures!
These are beautiful photos to back up your fantastic ideas! I’ve never had much talent or eye for decor so this is really helpful to me.
Everything you just said here I back 100%. I actually wrote a post similar to this about how to decorate on a budget. Flea markets and thrift stores are some of my favorite places to find little trinkets.
I used to decorate with vintage cameras because I find them to be so beautiful. I need to start collecting them again.
I am one that grow up going to flea markets and thrift stores so I love them. You can really find beautiful decor for you home indeed that can be refinished etc.. I love what you did to them through pillows. You made them beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I have not been to a flea market in forever and a day, these are great tips thanks for sharing.
One needs to bring much patience when going in flea markets and thrift stores. However, as soon as you find great deals at a very cheap price, the feeling is rewarding. I love thrift shops!
I love going to the thrift store. You can definitely find a diamond in the rough! Love the old camera!
Flea markets can be pretty awesome. Crazy how much cool stuff you can find if you just dig!
My dad sells at flea markets of items he buys along the way. They are really fun.
Nice finds! I’ve always wanted to do more thrift store and flea market shopping but I don’t think I have the patience for it.
I love photography. Old cameras might be a really good idea for a decorating scheme in one room of our home. Thank you for the suggestions!
I just googled thrift stores in my area and there are way more than I realized. I’m going to have to spend some time visiting them all!
I am SWOONING over that glassware! It would go perfectly with my Fiesta collection! That purple! GAGA!
You can really find some awesome things at Flea Markets. I am always looking at the books…of course! If I see something that really is calling to me, I will get it. You just have to be willing to put a little work into some of the things you find there.
I love going to the Flea markets or thrift stores because you can really find great pieces for home decor. Thanks for these tips!
I agree, you can find the most charming things at a flea market or thrift store. Great ideas!
I love browsing markets as you never know when you will truly find something that is unique and different! I like accumulating different sort of things that express my home personality!
I love the pics of the old cameras. It is just the kind of thing we are looking for, for our son, who is getting into photography in a big way. Wouldn’t these make a great gift for him.
I really like going to flea markets to find old school video games but unfortunetly some places have started charging high prices because they label things as “vintage”.
I love going to flea markets and browsing around. I also visit several thrift stores too, there’s always a good deal or two. Another good way to find interesting things is at local auctions. I’ve also got some really good deals there too
I love shopping around at flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores. The stuff you find can be so unique! Love adding stuff to my décor, adds character.
I love flea markets, garage sales and auctions for finds!
I love browsing flea markets. Interesting post ~ thanks