Thrifted Decor Ideas

Thrifting has been something of a disappointment lately. I would attribute some of that to my more exacting standards, but I know others are having similar experiences and we’re not all holding out for that perfect pair of Rick Owens leather pants, if you know what I mean. While I have been finding a few gems here and there, it’s taking a lot more effort and a recalibration of my focus. Instead of clothes, I’ve been spending more time looking at home wares and accessories. So, today, I’m going to talk about some of the home décor projects I’ve been working on, thanks to thrifting.

Glass Rainbow

I love being surrounded by colour, as anyone who has ever visited my house can attest. I am the person who has 4 pieces of living room furniture (sofas, chairs and the like) in 4 different colours. It’s not for everyone, but if it is your jam, this rainbow glassware collection might be a project you’d enjoy. This wasn’t an original idea on my part, though I was surprised by how few examples I found online; maybe I didn’t use the right key terms in my searches. This was my main inspo:

Colorful glassware abounds in my local thrift stores, and pieces tend to be reasonably priced – under $5 per item. For me, the key was to find a good variety of shapes and the right colours; the quality of the glass wasn’t a major consideration. I did end up with a few finer items (including some Fenton glass) but that was mostly by accident. The beauty of this project comes from the grouping of items, not necessarily from the aesthetic appeal of any individual piece; keep that in mind when sourcing.

I was initially planning to use 2 top shelves of my living room built-in unit to house my new collection, but ultimately expanded to 3 in order to give it full effect. I re-arranged some shelves and moved some books around to make room. Bookcases and displays are evolving creatures at my house, so this is not unusual. Even if I love a particular display, I usually end up tweaking it or completely changing it over time. To me, a house – like life in general – isn’t meant to be static. In fact, I am waiting to move my old teacup collection to a new location (and/or downsize it a bit) and then I will be working on the second iteration of my glassware rainbow using the corner shelves. Somehow. We shall see. For now, this is what my rainbow looks like:

I love how cheerful this looks, and how much “lighter” the bookcase appears. I would like to do a bit more “layering” on the 2 wings of the rainbow – by adding a few more pieces at the cool end of the spectrum – but it’s looking pretty sharp as is. If you’re looking for something to brighten up a space that doesn’t get a ton of light, I would definitely recommend this idea. It’s simple and relatively inexpensive, and makes a big impact.

Japanese Pottery

My other new obsession is Japanese pottery. I love its scale – pieces tend to be small but with interesting shapes – and the colours – muted and earthy. [Yes, I especially like the muted colours – a big contrast to the rainbow glassware. What can I say, I am a woman of contradictions.] Somehow, they make great companions for my plant babies. There isn’t an abundance, precisely, of these pieces at thrift stores but they do regularly pop up, and tend to be quite inexpensive (usually under $5). So I always keep an eye out for them, and have managed to get a little collection going.

Again, as with the glassware, part of the aesthetic appeal comes from the grouping itself. I was inspired in large part by the display shelves at a pottery studio off Whyte Ave; there was something so lovely about all the pots and vases of different shapes and sizes, all in harmonized tones, lined up in a row. I am especially drawn to asymmetrical and “slightly off” shapes – things that look (and usually are) handmade and imperfect. I don’t have the time or resources to pick up pottery-making as a hobby, so collecting is my next best option.

Are you in the habit of thrifting home decor? What have been some of your most favourite projects?