Thrifting has become a favorite past-time for me and David the past couple of months. We are amazed at how fun and easy it is to style a living space with thrifted finds! I have been crushing on all things vintage lately, so we are always on the hunt for cool items that fit that bill when we shop at our local thrift stores. After moving into a house literally double the size of our last place, we started thrifting to fill bare walls and empty space quickly without breaking the bank. We moved from a 2 bed 2 bath (in our case, master bedroom and office) condo to a 3 bed 3 bath house… which means we actually have a guest room now!
Even though we have been placing thrifted items all throughout our home, I’ll be mostly focusing on our guest bedroom in this post. This is the room that we essentially started from scratch, with no decor from our previous home. We wanted to make our guest room unique – a place that encourages creativity and makes for a memorable retreat for our visitors. It’s still a work-in-progress and will be for as long as we live here, but we were able to put it all together (for the most part) in just a month. The thrill of the thrift keeps us going! Surprisingly, the thrift stores in the Greater Palm Springs area have some really cool finds.
Looking to update your living space without spending a fortune? There are a plethora of things you can find at your local thrift stores to decorate with, while staying within your budget. If you don’t know where to start, below are some things David & I have been looking out for to create a homely space with plenty of character. I have to admit that at first, I felt rushed to buy everything quickly because I wanted to furnish the bedroom right away. It worked out in my favor that we happened to find a lot of things that worked in such a short amount of time. But, the key to successful thrifting is to take your time, be selective, and simply enjoy the process! When we first started out, we’d go thrifting nearly everyday to check out literally every single thrift store in the valley. Eventually, we narrowed down to the few that we felt best suited our tastes and would frequent those more regularly. Now, we thrift maybe 3-4 times a month just to make sure we’re seeing the new things that roll in weekly.
MIRRORS
Ever since staying at a very memorable Airbnb in NYC back in April, we were inspired to create a mirror wall in our guest bedroom. The cost of mirrors can add up quickly if you’re shopping at places like West Elm, Target, and Home Goods, to name a few. We were able to find some really awesome ones at thrift stores for anywhere from a couple bucks to around $35. Usually, the smaller ones are super affordable, and the larger ones are a bit pricier. But, imagine how much the big mirrors would be at a regular furniture store! Another thing I love about finding mirrors at thrift stores is that there are uniquely shaped ones that you wouldn’t normally be able to find elsewhere. It took us several trips to gather a solid collection of mirrors before we started hanging them up.
WALL ART
Part of what makes thrifting so exciting is that it allows you to get creative with wall art. Just about anything goes! I found some inspiration on Pinterest of a basket wall that peaked my interest, and since I was able to score pretty baskets at the thrift stores, we started a little corner by the desk. I don’t think we’re going to fill an entire wall with baskets, but every time I find a nice basket for a reasonable price, I add it to our collection! If you’re not into that type of decor, there’s also traditional wall art: paintings, posters, and the like. We managed to grab a few framed Parisian-style paintings that go beautifully in our bathrooms for around $3-7 each.
BOOKS
This is David’s favorite section at the thrift stores. He loooooves shopping for books, because our local ones have incredible classics for dirt cheap. By dirt cheap, I’m talking anywhere from 25 cents to a dollar most of the time! The quality of the books are often in good condition, if not like new. Needless to say, we’ve hoarded lots of books but haven’t gotten the chance to read even half of what we grabbed. Here’s to hoping our visitors love to read and will read for us. Just kidding… haha. We’re working on it! In the mean time though, the books have been nice props throughout the home, making us look scholarly. Ha!
ACCENT PILLOWS
I am a sucker for pretty accent pillows, and literally have a bunch from World Market and Home Goods sitting on our couch. I eventually learned that I can get accent pillows for a fraction of their retail prices at… you guessed it – thrift stores! As far as styles and selection though, it’s pretty hit or miss. If you’re looking for a very particular type of pillow, you may have to hold out longer until the time is right. Otherwise, there can be some neat ones out there. We got a majority of our accent pillows on the guest bed from Goodwill and a local chain thrift store called Angelview here in Palm Springs!
RANDOM KNICK-KNACKS
In addition to the above items we regularly look for, we also keep an eye out for other things that we either need or want, but don’t want to spend a ton of money on. For example, I recently developed a terrible neck pain, and we found a Kneading Fingers device in perfect condition for only $17 (over $200 on Amazon)! It’s pretty random and specific, but a lucky find that I put to use every night to alleviate my discomfort. We’ve also bought other things we like but not for full price, such as a retro Coca-Cola cookie jar which we now use as a treat jar for the dogs. It adds a beautiful pop of color in our kitchen. On our latest trip, we scored a vintage nightstand for $20 and an Indian Mandella in perfect condition for only $3.50 – I’m in LOVE! These are just some examples of what you can find at thrift stores that are either practical or can be home decor too. You never know what you’ll find!
I know some people who love to thrift clothing and accessories, but this is one category that I haven’t really dabbled in yet. We’ve mostly focused our efforts on home furnishings, but I have heard that you can get super lucky with designer finds at thrift stores, too! It’s my dream to come across an authentic vintage Chanel bag or something along those lines one day.
Are you a thrifter? What are some of your favorite things to look for when shopping at a thrift store?
64 Responses
I love those mirrors!! I feel like if I tried to do this is would not turn out good, but your photos looks so good!!
Thank you Megan! Haha we definitely had to collect a good number of them before starting to put them up – because otherwise the mirrors would look silly! Thanks for the love darling. Have a great week! xx
Super cute especially the wall of mirrors! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Susie! I’m glad you like how it turned out!
I can’t believe you got that Indian Mandella for such a great price! Those dream catchers are usually really expensive in boutique stores. Great find, and I absolutely love how you styled your space. Thank you for sharing!
I KNOW! I couldn’t believe my eyes too haha. Feels so awesome when you find something of worthy value at thrift stores for just a couple bucks! It’s like an accomplishment haha. Thank you Cassidy!
Those old school Parisian-style paintings are so nice! I could totally see myself hanging those in my bathroom too. It’s been a while since I’ve thrifted but the last time I did, I found some really cool chairs for our dining table for a great price. I’ll have to pop into Goodwill later this week to see what new things they have!
They were lucky finds indeed! I love that style. Glad you were able to find some chairs that you love to complete your dining set on your last thrifting trip! Hope you have just as great of luck this time around at Goodwill! Happy thrifting darling xxx
I love thrifting! The thrill and the hunt for a good find is so fun. It looks like you found some cool things. I wish I had better thrift stores near me!
I couldn’t agree more! I actually thought that the thrift stores here would be underwhelming because I live in such a small town but surprisingly we’ve got great finds here and there! 🙂 It’s all about going regularly to catch all the good stuff before they get snatched away haha
I love to go thrift shopping! It has been my new favorite hobby recently!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
Haha same here! So glad you’re loving it too!
I think you nailed it in terms of what to look for when it comes to decorating your own space. I can’t wait to call a place my own so I can look for items like you mentioned especially wall art and books!
Thank you Mariann! Means a lot to me 🙂 It is so much fun to decorate a home, I can’t wait for you to finally be able to do so! 🙂 xx
OKAYYYYY I love your guest bedroom! I, too, like to decorate with vintage mirrors! We once found this gorgeous, ornate gold colored vintage mirror at Savers for $10! We love having it in our home.
Thank you so much, Lauryn! You’re the sweetest! I have never heard of Savers – perhaps it is not a West Coast thing? Haha but that is AWESOME that you were able to find an ornate vintage mirror for only $10. What a steal! :O
oh my gosh, girl! your style is so eclectic & inspiring!!
thanks for sharing it with us!
XO | http://www.easilyinspired-blog.com
Thanks Mary! I’m so glad you think so! xoxo
Omg gorgeous! What a stylish, and homely feel to this room x
https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2018/07/21/Bride-Tribe-Beauty-Sleep-Kit
Thanks Bernice! 🙂 Appreciate it! xo
I love the vintage vibe! I can have thousands of accents pillows and I will never have enough lol They give the space a whole new sensation.
Candace
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
I am totally with you on that girl! Haha my collection keeps growing!
the bedroom is my absolute favorite!
Thank you Tara! Glad you like it! xo
Wow these look amazing! Especially the mirrors and how you are so creative with all this! Thank you for sharing these ideas❤️
Thank you Helena! 🙂 xx
These are all so cute!! I am loving the idea to use vintage books as decor!
Kileen
cute & little
Thanks Kileen! Yes, even better when they’re classics!
I love thrifting and I really love thrifting books too! I like seeing old books and decorating my home with it too!
Such an affordable way to decorate since books at thrift stores are so cheap 🙂 glad you like doing the same!
I don’t go thrifting much, but when I do, I love checking out knick-knacks. Thrift stores have the most unique knick-knacks, and they’re usually pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
Sockwun | http://www.extraextravagant.com
Haha I don’t know how you don’t get addicted! My addiction is real hahaha glad you are able to find unique knick-knacks that you like the few times you go though 🙂 xx
Beautiful house interior. I cant wait to buy a house and do whatever I like.
dreams do come through
Thanks Melody! Haha yes! Dreams do come true. 🙂
These are such great tips! Mirrors are great to use to style a space!
Thanks Adriana! They really are! Love me some good mirrors haha 🙂
I am trying to figure out a wall art right now! I love yours!
xo, Whitney
Thanks Whitney! Mirrors are a fun way to cover up empty wall space fast especially if you get a bunch of medium/large sized ones! They’re cheap at the thrift stores too 🙂
I was hoping to see something you found at Revivals thrift store. It wins Best Thrift Store every year and benefits Desert AIDS Project. Maybe next story….
Hi Steven! Thanks for stopping by! I’ve actually checked out the Revivals stores both in Palm Springs and Palm Desert but hadn’t found anything I liked just yet. Will definitely have to revisit and take a better look! Great to know that they benefit the Desert AIDS Project – I didn’t know that. Still relatively new in the Palm Springs area and learning new things everyday. Thank you for letting me know 🙂
You guys did a great job decorating your guest room! I love the personalized accents from all the cool thrift finds. I wish I had more patience to go through thrift stores but alas… Anyways, it was fun going through the photos, looks straight out of a magazine!
xo Samantha
Thank you so much Samantha! Means a lot to me. I’m really glad that you like how we decorated our guest room 🙂 Thrifting does take some time and patience but I think that’s part of the fun! A good stress reliever for me hahaha
Aww you found so many cute pieces, love your decorations.
xoxo, Rachel
http://rachelvogttrends.com
Thanks Rachel! xo
These are awesome finds dear! Those mirrors are gorgeous!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Thanks Jessica! Always on the hunt for unique vintage mirrors 🙂
I really need to get better about doing this! I shop at vintage markets but I need to start taking things home and making a place for them! I really love all your decor!
Denise | Fashion Love Letters
Thank you Denise! I’d love to see what kind of vintage picks you decide to bring home one day! xx
Still looking for a big vintage mirror! Hopefully one day lol. This is such a great list! xo, Suzanne
It can be tough but once you find one you like, it will feel so rewarding! 🙂 Thanks darling! xx
I love love love shopping second hand for furniture and home decor especially!! My dad is a top thrifter, he always finds the deals for me, especially on artwork!!
Omg that’s incredible babe! I will have to take my dad thrifting the next time he visits me and see how he likes it lol. I am hoping I can convert him to be an avid thrifter as well 🙂
This looks like a dream! I want to sleep there lol it looks so comfy and stylist! Love that you found it from thrifting!
Lol! You and Tom need to come visit us! xx
I love the idea of thrifting for home decor! My fiancé and I want a very relaxed, boho feel for our home when we get married, so we’re already looking at thrift stores for vintage pieces that add character to the space. We found the coolest lamp recently!
That’s what we’re doing with our home too! Vintage, rustic vibes! 🙂 Can’t wait to see how you both decorate your space!! xo
This was actually really helpful! I’m always looking for deco ideas. I love that the thrifted pieces gave your house that Palm Springs feel.
Thank you Insha! I’m glad that you recognize the Palm Springs vibe! 😉 hehe have a great weekend!
Oh I love the wall of mirrors! I would love to create a fun gallery wall and doing it with mirrors instead of frames is such a cute look! Plus then I don’t have to remember to periodically change out the photos. Ha. Thanks for the ideas!
Thank you so much Abby! You should totally try to go for a mirror wall! You’ll be surprised at how many cool looking ones you can come across at thrift stores 🙂
I love all the details in this space. I love how books can add a little touch of chic to any space.
Xx, Nailil
https://thirtyminusone.com
Thanks babe! Books definitely make a world of a difference! The best part is, they are super affordable at the thrift stores and often times you can find vintage classics!
This room looks AMAZING! Thanks for sharing tips and tricks on how to make a room look luxurious without paying luxury prices. Never imagined you could find such great pieces in thrift stores. Also, love that shot of the books, especially the two Neil Gaiman titles featured!
Thanks Jason! Glad you like how our guest room turned out. Are you feeling inspired to finish your novel in there? 🙂 Hehe thrifting is the best way to make a room look nice without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s so gratifying when you find something you love! David picked up the Neil Gaiman books for less than a dollar each I believe :O