Why I love thrifting and how I found a passion for it
“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is a philosophy that I’ve come to know and appreciate over the years. I grew up garage sale-ing with my mom in the summer months. It was always an adventure to drive from town to town digging through other peoples ‘junk’. In my teen years, my mom and I started refinishing and reupholstering furniture and selling it at a local consignment shop. After college and in buying my first home, I rediscovered my love for thrifting and began incorporating second hand home decor and furniture into my own home. There’s something about giving life back to old, well used pieces that sparks joy in me. And, let’s be honest, I love finding a good deal! I want to help you find a love for this past-time, too. By thrifting you find items you love, to make your house a home, for a fraction of the cost.
Kierstyn’s Tips & Tricks for thrifting
1. It’s easier to shop if you have a clear goal in mind of the items you are hoping to find, otherwise it can be overwhelming! Make a list on your phone, and collect items as you go.
2. Don’t expect to find everything you’re looking for in one visit, thrifting and finding the perfect pieces takes time. Many thrift stores change their goods daily or weekly, if you don’t find what you’re looking for one day, try again in a few days or weeks!
3. Always carry a tape measure with you, you never know when you’ll need to measure something!
4. Know the difference between second-hand, vintage and antique. Second-hand means that the goods are not brand new, but rather previously used or owned. Vintage and antique are often confused, but are distinguishable by age. Vintage refers to goods that are at least 20 years old, while goods that are 100+ years old are considered antique.
5. Check labels! If you’re on the hunt for vintage (NOT Hobby Lobby) always check labels for knock-offs. Or, if you’re not sure about the quality of a piece, look up the band or manufacturer to gather more information before buying (especially for furniture!)
6. Don’t rush yourself, take time to dig through shelves and racks of goods. Sometimes your mind will block out things that you’re not specifically looking for, but the best finds are ones that are unexpected!
7. If you love it, buy it. The worst is buyer’s remorse and missing out on something that you wish you would have bought! It likely won’t be there the next day or two, and if it doesn’t work out, you can always resell it and most of the time for the same cost (if not more!) than what you bought it for.
Favorite thrifting sources
– Your local Goodwill
– Local vintage or antique shops
– Local garage sales or flea markets. Summer is the best time for this! Look out for city wide garage sales or monthly flea markets. Stillwater Flea Market is a great local source.
– Some of my favorite IG thrifting/vintage goods accounts to follow: @haustheory @stylesociety.
Staple home items I’m always on the hunt for when thrifting
– Books – Goodwill is the best source for old, unwanted books for only a few bucks! Often times if you remove the paper cover from a hardcover book, you can find really great styles and colors of books to use for home decor.
– Anything brass – candle sticks, trinkets, vases, etc.
– Vases – They are perfect for shelf styling, table decor or just to put some fresh flowers in! If you find a shape you like, but think the color/texture isn’t right, try my quick and easy DIY!
– Lamps – both floor and table lamps are a great item to thrift for! Often times lamps will be missing lamp shades, but find a lamp base you like and add a shade later. (And don’t be surprised if you come home with a lamp you love and it doesn’t work when you plug it in. Speaking from experience, ha!)
– Artwork and frames – What one person thinks is ugly, another might think it beautiful! Artwork is a great item to thrift, whether its photography or an original oil painting. Frames are also a huge staple, and great for making gallery walls with digital artwork.
– Mirrors – old wood framed mirrors are my favorite to find!
– Bowls and baskets – these are so versatile and can be used for so many different things, from bookshelf styling to storage.
– Small furniture pieces – chairs, side tables, bookshelves, coffee tables, etc.
My favorite thrifting finds to date
– Green velvet bench cushion, free from FB marketplace from an old church pew (plan to use it as a bench cushion for a built-in dining bench in our home).
– Wood cabinet, $3 from a garage sale (how stunning is that piece?)
– Turkish vintage rug from @edenloom
– DIY faux white terra cotta vase thrifted from Goodwill – see it here!
– DIY designer look-a-like table lamp for less – watch how here!
There’s my hodgepodge blog full of tips, tricks, inspiration and more so you can start thrifting, too! If you ever have any questions, need help finding your perfect item or just general tips, give me a follow @kierstyn.timmers and message me there. I’d be happy to help!
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XO,
Kierstyn & the Interior Impressions Team
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