The Joy of thrifting

If you have been following us for a while on social media, then it comes to no surprise that we love thrifting/antiquing. Both of us enjoy incorporating vintage pieces we have found, into our homes. If you stop by either of our homes, you’ll find pieces scattered throughout that are secondhand, thrifted or vintage. There is just something about these pieces that speaks to both of our souls. Okay, so maybe “souls” is a little dramatic, but you get my drift. Ha!

Vintage/thrifted pieces can be incorporated in almost any style of home. There are different ways to do it that makes it appear seamless as opposed to just randomly thrown into your other decor. Everyone has different tastes, but I’ll share a few ways that I like to incorporate these pieces into my home.

Lamps! You would not believe how many great lamps we encounter on our thrifting adventures. Sometimes they are beautiful as is, and other times it takes a little creative eye to see past the baby blue base. I once shared on our instastories a beautiful marble lamp I thrifted for $12! Yes, you read that correctly. Pure marble, tall lamp base, $12.00. I was stoked. I bought the perfect black lamp shade with gold lining to go with it and voila, beautiful lamp. See my inspiration pic below.

Kirsten has also found great deals on lamps. She used black spray paint to cover a pink base, added a new lamp shade, and she got a whole new look. She also scored an adorable marble lamp as well and it looks adorable in her living room. #twinning

Another thing I love to look for when thrifting? Art. Now, this one can be a little tricky. But if you’re patient and you are willing to dig through some junk you just might find yourself some treasures. I scored some awesome vintage architecture prints that I hung on a little wall under a sconce in my hallway. I love the character that they add to the space and how they are a stark difference to the contemporary light fixture. I’m a big fan of mixing different styles as long as you keep the overall look of your home cohesive. I love pairing vintage finds in a modern setting. There is just something about it that draws me in every time. Check out this adorable bathroom by @JennaSueDesign. Notice the prints? They remind me of the ones I scored while thrifting and these go perfectly in this bathroom.

I’ve also slowly been collecting old seascapes/ship prints and have a really fun plan for them in the near future so stay tuned.

My last tip for incorporating vintage finds into your decor is through small decorative objects. This one takes a little bit of practice. Sometimes antique stores are well organized, but more often than not they tend to be a little chaotic. Okay, a lot chaotic. If you can get past chaos, often times there are hidden gems all over the place. I like to take somewhat funky decorative objects and use them for ordinary items in an unexpected way.

This little gold item? Instant tea bag holder that sits on my coffee bar? And the wire basket houses some cozy throws in our den. Sometimes I’m drawn to an object and I don’t necessarily know why. I don’t recommend buying random junk to fill your home, but sometimes a piece may really speak to you but you don’t know how you are going to use it. I challenge you to think outside of the box. Could it be used to store your favorite rings on a bedside table? Would it make the perfect spot for your loose change on your entry table? Or maybe that dated art print would look brand new in a new frame and housed somewhere special in your home. Thrifting allows one to think creatively, reuse/reduce waste by recycling old items and let’s be honest, it is also just really fun.

Kirsten and I have a blast thrifting and we’re always looking for our next good thrifting adventure. Estate sales often have some hidden gems as can some Goodwills. One place we always find goodies is at the store Finders Keepers in West Salem. The prices are usually very reasonable and they often have quality items. I (Molly) have personally had some good luck at the Salvation Army in La Crosse when I look in the furniture department. Donna’s Daughters in Coon Valley has some little treasures as does Thrifty Pickings in Coon Valley.

Make sure to drop a comment if you love to thrift or if you have any recommendations as to where we should venture to next.

-M