Have you ever walked into a thrift store, looked around, and became completely overwhelmed? Well, with this exclusive thrift store finds list, you’ll know exactly what to look for when shopping!
These thrifting tips will help you find home decor with the most potential at the best price. You know what they say, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and these thrift store finds will lead you directly to those treasures!
You will never have to wonder how to shop for home decor at thrift stores again!
This post is all about the best home decor items you should never pass up when thrift store shopping.
BEST THRIFT STORE FINDS
1. Lamps
There is always a fairly good amount of lamps and lighting at any thrift store. The key is to find the right ones. Lamp shopping can include looking for full lamps, lamp bases, or lamp shades.
The main thing I recommend to look for when lamp shopping is to be on the look out for a good lamp base. Find a base that is large, shaped pretty, or has a good color. Bases are the most expensive part when shopping retail, but finding a good base at a thrift store can save you money! You can always go find a cheaper shade option to fit the top of your base at your local home decor store if needed.
Example: These brass lamp bases were a great thrift store find! And double points for a matching set! All they needed were some pretty shades to go on top which were easily found at the At Home store. The brass bases paired with black shades added the perfect touch to this dining room vignette.
2. Baskets
Next on the list is baskets! The selection of any and all baskets at a thrift store is huge! However, it is important to pay close attention to the detail of the baskets and be picky with your selection! Some can look old and cheap, while others can be a beautiful and practical addition to your home.
Sticking to wicker or woven baskets is a good rule of thumb. Some of the best thrift store finds when it comes to baskets are picnic style baskets, baskets with lids, handles, or stackable baskets.
Here is an example of using baskets for practicality. Using pretty wicker baskets with lids on your countertops throughout your kitchen are great way to hide any type of medicine bottle or pill. They’re still easily accessed but hidden away. Baskets are also great to put any type of mail or clutter that tends to always pile up in your kitchen space.
Here is another example of using baskets as home decor items. Wicker or woven baskets add character and layers to the space. Baskets are a staple in any collected home look!
For more insight on what exactly a “collected home” is, check out my 7 Best Tips For Creating A Collected Home post here!
3. Metals
Moving along to metals! Metals like copper or brass are a must to look for when thrift shopping. Metals can be expensive at home decor stores but they’re so affordable when thrifting! They are great home decor pieces to add to any room. Just like baskets, metals like copper and brass are staples of traditional decor for a collected layered look.
And surprisingly enough, they aren’t too difficult to find at thrift stores, Goodwills, or resell shops!
Here is an example of how to use copper decor pieces throughout your home.
4. Blue and White China
The next thing to never pass up when thrift shopping is the ever beautiful blue and white china pieces! Blue and white china is classic, timeless, and traditional. The best thing about it, is it looks stunning in any home.
Thrift stores are filled with blue and white china pieces so they are easy to come by. The best part about buying blue and white at a thrift shop is the price. You can’t beat it! You won’t find classic blue and white pieces for a low price at a store like Hobby Lobby or TJ Max.
I never buy blue and white pieces from home decor stores. There is so much of it to go around at Goodwills and thrift stores, there is really no need to look for it anywhere else. Some of my best thrift store finds include collectable blue and white pieces!
A beautiful way to showcase your classic blue and white is displaying it in an antique hutch. Look for plates, bowls, tea cups, trays, coffee cups, planters, vases, and ginger jars.
5. Old Books
Another great thrift store find to never pass up is old books! You get bonus points if they are a pretty color with a catchy title! There have been many times I have picked up an old book at a thrift store and immediately put it back down if it had a bad title!
The “hunt” for old books is so fun! What to look for when searching for old books at thrift stores: pretty color, catchy title, publishing year, and good binding.
Old books add character, charm, and history to your home! They are a great home decor thrift store find!
Here is an example of how to display your old books throughout your home. I love placing my old books on top of a coffee table or displayed in a bookshelf with other trinkets, heirlooms, and personal touches.
6. Wicker Bottles
Another classic thrift store find you should never pass up when shopping, is wicker bottles! Wicker bottles have recently gained popularity in the home decor department. Home decor styles like traditional, grandmillennial, and colonial are using this decor item throughout their designs.
Wicker bottles are great decor additions to kitchen spaces, dining rooms, or displayed in a hutch. This thrift store find is so affordable too!
Make sure to grab this home decor item on your next thrift shopping adventure!
7. Furniture
Next on the list is furniture! Thrift store furniture can be a hit or miss. But when it’s a hit, there’s nothing better! If you look closely and keep an open mind, you can find some real gems!
Rule number one when buying furniture from a thrift store – if it has drawers, make sure they are functional! Furniture is one of the easiest decor pieces to transform with some paint and new hardware. You can’t beat the price!
Almost every piece of furniture in my house is a thrift store find from our dining room table, to the dresser in our master bedroom, to our headboard, to our pine 3 drawer chest, and more!
The best thrift store find to date is this pine 3 drawer chest! A true treasure right here that will be hard to top! And the price… A STEAL!
8. Artwork
Another home decor item you should never pass up when thrift store shopping are pieces of artwork! This is another one you might have to keep an open mind about. If you’re iffy on the decision of whether you like it or not, imagine it with a different frame! A new frame or some sprucing up is all it may need to fit perfectly into your space!
Artwork can be pricey so finding great pieces at the thrift store is a great way to spend less!
I love finding different pieces of artwork with a similar aesthetic and creating a gallery wall. Artwork can transform a room and dimension. 
9. Nature
The last thrift store find item on the list is nature! Adding pops of nature into your space add a whole other layer to your home. Thrift stores are filled with great nature finds. Always keep your eye out for nature decor pieces! They are much cheaper at the thrift store.
Look for nature decor pieces like shells, shell boxes, drift wood, choral, antlers, or greenery/plants. Nature sprinkled out through your home creates a collected, warm, and timeless look.
Thrifted home decor helps move your home towards a collected look that is warm, inviting, timeless, and personal. I love walking around a home and see glimpses of who they are and what they love. Thrift store and resell shopping allows you to do that.
With a little digging and an open mind you can find treasures that you can’t get at normal department stores!
Many of the most requested, essential, and most expensive home decor items are waiting to be discovered at your local thrift store! Go find them – at a fraction of the cost!
I hope you now feel more confident when you enter a thrift store and know exactly what to look for. I hope this post filled with thrifted home decor items gave you some inspiration and helped you in your decorating process!
This post was all about thrift store finds you should never pass up when thrift shopping!
Shoot me a message or drop a comment about what you’re most excited to hunt for on your next thrift shopping adventure!
[…] is knowing what to look for. I have an entire post dedicated to this that you can find here – Best Home Decor Thrift Store Finds You Should Never Pass Up. The next step is mixing old decor with new decor. A home with character always has a well rounded […]