How to thrift for vintage and antique decor

If you are a thrifter like me, there is no better feeling than hunting for treasures. When I arrive at another destination, another thrift store, the excitement builds. What will I find inside this one? There’s nothing like it, walking in and scanning the shelves for treasures. The exhilaration of spotting a hidden gem no one has seen and I scoop it up. There’s some strategic element to treasure hunting at thrift stores and I always have a plan. Let’s explore the art or sport if you like, of how to thrift for vintage and antique decor to curate a cozy home.

Planning the day – Strategies for Successful Thrift Store Hunting

The best days are those where a full day is planned, visiting different towns or suburbs and their thrift stores. Here is my guide to planning your day:

1. In advance, I choose a particular direction to head from my home. I have several and rotate through them throughout the year. They could be local or within a 2 hour radius of my home so all up I can spend the whole day hunting for thrifted treasures.
2. Google maps: I use google maps to search for thrift stores (or op shops as they can sometimes be called) in the area I am visiting. It’s important to always check their opening times and which days they are open as some are only open on certain days of the week. The best days to visit are weekdays. It’s a quieter, slower pace and the shelves have often been restocked from being picked over on the weekends. 
3. Make a list: I create a list of the stores and their addresses I plan to visit and perhaps an order to visit them in. Sometimes I make a map and keep it for next time! There are often places I find on my journey that aren’t on google maps. These are the ones I note these for future trips. So I have my list printed out with me in the car and use siri to help get directions while driving.
4. Have a budget: it’s important to know what prices to expect and make a list of particular pieces I am looking for. Simple steps like this could mean fitting more stops in on my day out thrifting! I also take snacks to avoid unnecessary stops while searching for unique old decor, except coffee, I always make time for a coffee stop!
5. Discounts and coupons: some charity organisations people donate to, have incentives such as discount coupons or point systems. These can save me even more money if I take advantage of them. Therefore I make sure I have something with me to donate and to take any coupons or loyalty cards I have on hand.

How to thrift for vintage and antique decor – what to look for.

The thrifted treasures I am hunting for will depend on my personal style. There’s no one style that suits everyone. Some people even like a combination of decor styles or a collected look for their home. It’s whatever enlightens their soul and senses. For me I like to look for the following and the more I research thrifting, the more I learn what to spy. Here’s my list:

1. Vintage books (cloth ones)
2. Brass items eg candle sticks
3. Original artwork and tapestries
4. Cottage or farmhouse decor
5. Wooden boxes and other wood pieces
6. Metal pieces
7. Figurines of animals eg Japanese made ones
8. Old Mixing bowls
9. Copper anything
10. Stone bottles and pots
11. Old bibles (check for free ones!)
12. Anything that looks old and appeals to my home decor style

The best treasures are the ones that catch my eye and bring excitement. Maybe it’s a timeless piece I’ve been searching for for months. Whatever it is, it will resonate with me somehow so I embrace the thrill of the hunt and allow it to evolve as I search for treasures.

Benefits of Thrift Store Hunting 

At the end of a long day, it’s comforting to come home to my own gallery of timeless treasures. Where collected pieces that are chipped but dearly cherished tell their own story adding a warm cozy glow to my haven of rest. 

Besides that, thrifting for my own time capsule is cheaper than shopping at Kmart or TKMaxx. I am saving someone else’s unwanted items from landfill and I am supporting local charity organisations. 

Repurpose pieces in creative ways

Over time I have learnt to identify pieces that I can repurpose or upcycle. I may ask myself, can I paint this to give it a new look? DIY projects soon add to a unique collection giving them new stories to tell. I have no hesitation buying damaged pieces as they show age and beauty. The process of discovering, restoring, and incorporating these items into my home brings immense satisfaction. The old can be new again.

Styling or showcasing my finds on a bookshelf, a piece of antique furniture or the kitchen buffet, my thrifted treasures can stand pride of place in my curated home of original finds. It’s my own portal to the past.

Thrifting for treasure

They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and I couldn’t agree more. Owning a piece of history with all its chips and crackle and embedded with stories from the past brings an immense sense of joy. To me unique, one of a kind pieces are far superior in value than the latest mass produced trends at department or variety stores. So why not go thrifting with an open mind. And embrace the adventure of hunting for hidden treasures to uncover gems to add to your collected home.