How To Style 12 Of The Most Common Items You'll Find At Thrift Stores In Your Home

Whenever you walk into a thrift store or a Goodwill or similar shop, there are certain items you can just expect to find. Most of these have some assortment of glassware, fabrics, artwork, and of course, furniture. While it's not like Target or Home Goods, where you know there are multiples of particular items and you can shop with a purchase in mind, part of the fun of thrifting is finding secondhand treasures that you can upcycle for your home. With that in mind, since there are usually staples (listed above) that you can find in almost any thrift store, a guide to styling these finds could be useful so you can always be on the lookout for supplies for clever DIYs. From homemade candle holders to newly framed mirrors made from unwanted artwork, there are a variety of ways you can give thrifted items a second life within your home.

Again, it's important to note that there's no comprehensive list of pieces you will come across at your local antique, thrift, or Goodwill stores. However, there are usually collections that nearly every store offers, and sometimes in abundance. Glassware, ceramics, books, and so many more unwanted or unused pieces sent to these shops can find a new purpose within your space, you just have to know what to search for and how to style it when you find it!

Glass bowls are a common find at any thrift store, so you shouldn't have to search too hard to find bowls. Making these into candles is one of the easiest and most stylish options that will elevate your surfaces with lovely cut or pressed glass that also reflects light. These can be small, single-wick candles or larger candle boats with three or more wicks. All you need for this DIY is some wax pearls to melt down, wicks, and essential oils if you want to scent your candle. You can even source your wax from old candles that have burned down and can't be used as-is. Place the wicks inside your (cleaned) glass bowl, and pour in your melted wax, let it set, and trim the wicks. When your candles get low, you can place your glass bowls in warm water to melt the wax down and start again with fresh ingredients!

Wicker baskets are another category of items you are likely to come across. These are great for storage, decluttering, and organization. Wicker not only looks more luxurious than a plastic tub, but it also matches a variety of aesthetics and themes, while adding depth, dimension, and texture. Bring a few home and add linens, pillows, toys, or even shoes to the interior to hide items while still keeping them accessible. You might need to tidy up your baskets before using them, especially if they have some wear and tear. In order to get your wicker back to its former glory, add linseed oil to help bring back its "shine" and coloring. If there are broken reeds, glue them or simply turn the basket so the broken pieces don't show.

Vintage and thrifted frames are always a good find. They can easily be given a new life. If you like the artwork or print inside, but the frame needs work, you can paint, sand, stain, or even decoupage it to restore the material. You can also remove the artwork and replace it with a mirror, which you can get specially cut and sized for your frame, or make your own with a clear piece of glass or plastic and mirror paint.

Almost every thrift store and second-hand shop has books. All of these are great for upcycle projects, and one of the easiest and most stylish ways to use thrifted books in your home is turning them into a knife block. Glue three to five books together for a more sturdy block before tying string or ribbon tightly around all of the books. You want this to be extremely secure so when you stick the knives in, so tie this tightly. Once your block is made, slide your cutting knives into the pages staggering them for a more edgy finish or lining them up for a tidy approach.

Teacups seem to be one of those "dime a dozen" items when you visit a thrift store. Antique painted mugs and chipped china litter the shelves, but rather than overlook these, add a few to your cart for the ultimate plant upcycle. Even those broken cups can be turned into small planters for your succulents, cuttings, and any other leafy friends you need a home for. If your tea cup finds come with a saucer, grab that too, as it can be a great water-catching dish. Drill or tap a hole into the bottom of the teacup gently, either by submerging it in water first or being very delicate so as not to break the china. Add soil and your plants, then place them on a saucer for the thriftiest planters around.

Jars are usually very common in thrift stores and secondhand shops and vary from standard mason jars to funky treasures of unusual shapes and sizes. Handy to have around your home for a variety of purposes, one of the most useful ways to repurpose old glass jars is as a refillable vessel to keep within your cupboards and pantry. You can fill jars with everything from dried goods like rice and pasta to flour and cereal or even spices. These also offer an aesthetic option rather than mismatched boxes and cans that add visual clutter. Swap out store-bought containers for thrifted glass jars, and line them up on your shelves. Upgrade them by adding cloth to the lids to pull a color or pattern through for a more cohesive design. 

Dishes, especially those with prints or designs, can be used as artwork on your walls, creating a gallery-style surface that adds dimension and color to your cooking area. You can search the dishware section for vintage plates that feature patterns, prints, or even hand-painted designs, mixing and matching these to build an eclectic wall of art. Don't be afraid to combine varying color palettes and prints, leaning into a funkier finish if you want a more dramatic layout. Combine different eras and even different styles from all over the world, and mix in different sizes, too. A set of plate hangers like the Rocky Mountain Goods wall plate hanger ($5.99 each for a medium-sized hanger on Amazon) is a great way to mount them on the wall.

You may not often find yourself in the toy section of your local thrift store or secondhand shop, but this is actually a great place to find small items for some very cute DIYs. Keep an eye out for little toy figurines. These can be used to upgrade dresser knobs to make your furniture more kitschy. You can glue these to drawer fronts, using spray paint to coat them in metallic gold or silver, or you can drill a hole into one side and super glue them to dresser knob screws. Lastly, paint over your toy animals or dinosaurs and glue them onto mason jar lids, painting the lid the same color so it appears as one whole piece, then display these on your aforementioned jars above for a more decorative approach to storage!

You may be thrifting and see a lamp that is in need of a little TLC, but then you notice the cord is just about ready for the rubbish bin, and rewiring lamps doesn't fall under your skill set, that's fine. Grab battery-operated lights like these Brightever screw-in puck lights from Amazon for $15.99 a pair. You can place these in the thrifted lamp to bring it back to life without the cord. When you purchase your light fixture, take it home and use a pair of scissors to trim off the cord at the base where it comes out of the lamp. This can be discarded safely, then you can pop a battery-operated light into the lamp and watch it shine again.

Jewelry might be a strange addition to your thrift store haul, especially when it comes to decorating with it. However, you'd be surprised the number of things you can do in your home with antique gems and costume jewelry. One of most genius ways to reuse old thrifted jewelry is to pin or glue stylish brooches to pillows and lamp shades, or even use necklaces and bracelets as ties for curtains and napkins. You can also use some of your most chic pieces to make wall art. Use a piece of cardboard and cover it with a fabric. Pick a simple design and glue your pieces to the fabric, making sure they are secure. You can add a frame around the jewelry art for a curated finish!

Should you come across old board games, especially chess sets, at your local thrift store, pick one up to repurpose as a unique item for your entryway. If the game pieces are still with the board, this is already a great find, and you only need some superglue (and maybe some paint) to get your hanging storage made. If you find a chessboard but it doesn't have any pieces, you can always order the Juegoal wooden chess pieces ($9.99) from Amazon. Lay the board flat, and begin gluing your pieces down across it. Allow this to dry, painting any items that need a little touch-up. Add a hook to the back of the board, and hang it on a wall to keep keys and other accessories, or even lighter clothing items.

Candlesticks are definitely worth picking up when you're out thrifting. Not only are these super simple to style, but they are great to have for special occasions and holiday decor. If you can find a candelabra, this can be added to your dining table or mantle with decorative candles. Single candlestick holders can be grouped together to make your own version of a candelabra, or if you find matching sets these make great "bookends" to a shelf or table. You can even take a set of completely mismatched candle sticks and spray paint them the same color: now they're an elegant set!