Thrifting Tips for Creating Cottage Style Decor

This article provides you with my top thrifting tips for creating cottage style decor, including what items to look for and how to use them.

If you are new to this blog: Welcome! My name is Anna and I share information on collecting antique/vintage items, refurbishing furniture and making small crafts/projects. The purpose of this blog is to show you how to use creativity and antiques to make your home beautiful. In addition to information on the blog, you can also follow me on the following social media accounts Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

Back Story

Most people don’t have thousands of dollars readily available to decorate or re-decorate their homes. Further, as time passes, tastes, styles, colors and needs for your home change. Over the years, I have found you can affordably decorate your home by buying thrifted items.

People have asked me – how do you know what to buy when thrifting? What qualities should I look for in thrifted items?

Today, I am going to share some of the home decor items I purchased while thrifting and how I gave them a new look to suit my cottage style home decor. These are my tops tips for deciding what items to purchase and how to use them.

Thrifting Tips for Cottage Decor

Thrifted decor not only saves you money – these items add character to your home decor. They offer a sense of history and patina. Older items have soul and bring a room to life.

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Color Palette

First and foremost, it is helpful to define a color palette for your home. What colors you do you routinely use? Do you have a color you want to integrate into a certain room? It has been helpful for me to have 5-6 colors that are used in my home. I keep photos of these colors in the notes app on my phone.

You can also take screenshots of colors you like and save it to your notes app on your phone. Similarly, you can take a photo of items in your home that have a color (s) you want to match.

A quick note, I do not use the precise color but generally look for thrifted items that are in that color range. For example, I have some mustard tones in my home and I find brass items are consistent with that color. Similarly, I have a dusty blue and I find old thrifted canning jars are in that color range.

Having a color palette helps to guide me when buying thrifted items to ensure there is harmony with my existing decor.

Solid Wood Furniture

If you are looking for thrifted furniture, I recommend buying solid wood furniture. Avoid furniture with veneer or pressboard. Older furniture, made prior to the 1970s is usually made from solid wood. Solid wood furniture can be painted any color you need to match your decor. Similarly, it can be stripped and sanded for a raw wood look. When buying thrifted furniture, avoid any pieces that need repairs.

Painting a piece and changing the hardware can give it a whole new look. The oak dresser below was purchased for $30, painted green and given new brass knobs.

Repurpose Items

When thrifting and considering whether to purchase an item, see if it can be repurposed or upcycled. For example, some pieces could be used as a plant stand. Fabric can be repurposed as curtains. Jars can be repurposed as vases. Boards can be repurposed as shelves. Old frames can be repurposed as mirrors or the art work can be changed. Small drawers can be used as trays for small items.

The large candy jar below has been repurposed as a vase for hydrangeas. The jar was purchased for $5 because it was missing the lid.

For example, this garden tool rack was originally the backing on an old dresser. This tool rack was free since I re-used the wood from the back of an old dresser. The dresser was purchased for $40.

Look for Hidden Potential

The next tip is a bit tricky because it doesn’t come naturally to some folks. If you are looking at a thrifted item, try to see the hidden potential. If the item were a different color, reupholstered, turned upside down, or otherwise modified – would it have a useful place in your home?

For example, I purchased this solid wood outdoor table and bench from an outdoor market but originally they were brown with a terrible paint job. Knowing the set was solid wood and made for outdoor use, I knew it had hidden potential.

Similarly, I have purchased sofas or settees for less than $100 and reupholstered them. With the new fabric along with sanding or painting the frame, they were given a new look. If you aren’t up to the task of reupholstering a piece, you could simply buy a slipcover.

Measurements

Along with knowing your color palette, keeping a list of measurements in your phone is essential. This will help prevent buying thrifted decor that doesn’t fit into a space. Also, take a tape measure with you. These small retractable tape measures can be kept in your purse. I have one in my purse and carry it with me at all times.

Using the notes app on my phone, I keep a list of measurements. These include, the length of the wall in the living room, the length of the sofa, the height of the table, the size of the bathroom vanity, the size of a bookshelf etc etc.

The plate rack below was purchased for $20. I had measurements in my phone when I purchased it so I knew it would fit on the wall in my dining room.

Brands, Labels, Back-Stamps

Another tip is to look for known brands or marks/stamps/labels. There have been many pieces of china and ironstone I purchased for a few dollars. By simply flipping over the piece and studying the mark on the underside, I knew whether or not it was a good buy.

For example, this ironstone water pitcher was purchased for $7.

This knowledge can be applied to a wide variety of thrifted items including furniture, baskets, blankets, light fixtures, and fabrics. Some common cottage style brands, labels, back-stamps to look for include:

• Ralph Lauren textiles
• Johnson Bros china
• Homer Laughlin china
• McCoy pottery
• Light fixtures from School House Electric, Pottery Barn, Rejuvenation, RH
• Furniture by Ethan Allen, Nichols & Stone, Pottery Barn, RH

I have a post on collecting blue transferware and the back stamps to look for.

Summary

The best part of thrifting decor for your cottage home, is the hunt! Finding that one of a kind piece or item that fits perfectly in a room. Wishing you lots of success on your next thrifting adventure.