Autumn is my favorite time of year, and I enjoy styling my home to capture the season’s warmth and comfort. Still, purchasing fresh autumn decorations annually can become costly. That’s why I create DIY fall decor by giving thrift store treasures a new purpose. Not only does this help me stay within budget, but it’s also an enjoyable, imaginative way to bring a personal feel to my home.
Thrift store treasures can also be transformed into autumn-inspired centerpieces with a little creativity. I enjoy discovering vintage vases or jars and filling them with seasonal accents such as dried blooms, pinecones, or even tiny gourds. In general, making DIY fall decor from secondhand pieces is an excellent way to cut costs while creating a cozy and welcoming home for the season.
DIY Fall Decor From The Thrift Store
I always get excited about decorating my home for every season. As summer begins to fade away, I’ve been visiting my nearby thrift store, searching for pieces I can use in my fall decorating.
Lately, I’ve made two especially successful trips and discovered countless hidden treasures on the shelves at my Savers thrift store!
Whenever I enter the store, I have two categories of items in mind: 1.) wonderful pieces I can use just as they are and 2.) items I’d like to transform through a makeover project.
The best part of repurposing thrift store finds is the ability to design distinctive fall displays that you won’t see in regular shops. On top of that, you can uncover some truly amazing things!
Benefits of Using Thrift Store Items
These are the three main reasons I enjoy shopping at thrift stores for home decorations.
Eco-Friendly
Using secondhand pieces for my fall decorating is appealing because it’s an environmentally responsible way to style my home. When I reuse items that might otherwise be sent to a landfill, I lessen my impact on the planet. I also appreciate knowing that I’m not supporting the need for newly manufactured decorations that consume significant resources to produce.
Budget-Friendly
A further advantage of choosing thrift store pieces for fall decorating is their affordability. I’m able to discover plenty of distinctive and appealing items at a small portion of the price of new merchandise. As a result, I can prepare my home for the season without overspending. Best of all, many pieces are already in excellent shape and only require a little care to turn into lovely fall decor.
Unique Decor
What I enjoy most about decorating with thrift store finds is how they help me create a look that feels personal and unlike anyone else’s. One-of-a-kind treasures can bring extra personality and charm to my home. I can also experiment with different ways to use each piece The options are limitless, and searching the thrift store feels like a fun challenge to see what treasures I’ll discover.
All in all, decorating with thrift store finds is an enjoyable and satisfying way to style my home. It’s environmentally conscious, economical, and gives me the freedom to develop a distinctive personal aesthetic.
Finding the Right Thrift Store Items
How to Choose Items
When searching for thrift store pieces for DIY autumn decorations, I try to stay receptive to possibilities. Rather than focusing only on how an item looks now, I imagine what it might become with some creative attention. A few of my favorite things to search for are:
- Wooden frames or artwork
- Ceramic vases and bowls
- Woven baskets
- Metallic candle holders
- Vintage books
Keep in mind that every item won’t suit your project perfectly. If something doesn’t match your idea or is in bad shape, feel free to put it back and move on.
Give It A Onceover
Although having an open mind is helpful when selecting thrift store pieces, checking their quality is just as essential. Examine each item for significant cracks, chips, or other flaws that could interfere with turning it into decor. Still, sometimes those little imperfections are exactly what make me adore a piece!!
Whenever I examine a potential find, I be sure to look at:
- The item’s general condition
- Whether the handles and other attachments are secure
- How clean the item is (certain pieces may require thorough washing before use)
Spending a brief moment examining your thrifted find can prevent the frustration of discovering a problem after you arrive home, since some thrift shops do not accept returns.
Fall Thrift Store Finds
Let me show you some of the wonderful thrift store treasures I brought home and the ways I have repurposed them. Since the season is still just beginning, I am gradually transitioning my decor from Summer to Fall. I am not quite ready for pumpkinpalooza yet, but I would like to give my home a warmer, cozier atmosphere.
Over the last few weeks, I enjoyed 2 highly successful trips to the thrift store and came home from both with a carriage packed full of treasures!! My earlier Summer visits had been disappointing, so these great hauls certainly made up for those unsuccessful outings!
Among my thrifted treasures were 4 pieces of wall art, several vases, a faux flower arrangement with a cement urn, and plenty of other items that I will use for decorating another time.
Transforming Thrift Finds into DIY Fall Decor
Before I begin decorating, I usually decide on a color palette and overall style. For this early Fall arrangement, one of the vases I discovered at the thrift store became my inspiration.
Vase
I am beginning with this brownish-red ombre ceramic vase and using it as the foundation for a Fall display. I will combine it with thrift store treasures from my latest hauls, along with a few pieces I found in past years.
For this space, I want to design a rustic Fall arrangement while sharing ideas for combining thrifted pieces to create a distinctive style in your own home.
To maintain the rustic, organic feel, I placed thin brown dried wheat inside the vase. I found it at Hobby Lobby, which has an excellent selection of dried botanicals this Fall!
Wall Art
While browsing the thrift store, I was fortunate enough to discover a set of beautifully crafted art prints! Each one cost $7.99 and came in a glass-and-real-wood frame with a mat. They looked incredibly pricey and also had a charming vintage character.
For Fall, I removed my collection of Hearth & Hand botanical prints and
As you decorate your home, feel free to combine different textures and patterns to develop a style that is uniquely yours. With some imagination, your thrift store treasures can become beautiful fall decor as well!
-Jennifer
Flower Arrangement Upcycle
The moment I spotted this arrangement on the shelf, my attention went straight to the container! It was cement, with a wonderfully aged patina. Since it had no price tag, I asked the friendly gentleman working at Savers whether he could price it for me. I decided that if it cost less than $10, it would be coming home in my carriage. He returned with a price of $5.97…sold!
To repurpose the container, I first had to remove the artificial flowers. This piece was exceptionally well constructed! Judging by its craftsmanship, it was probably originally created at a florist or a high-end decor shop.
I saved several of the flowers and botanicals for today’s Fall display, including the fall berries, pear, and preserved leaves.
Wasn’t this an amazing find? It resembles something you might spot on the Terrain website.
I added some greenery to it. Although I am decorating for Fall, I enjoy including plants in all of my designs.
Vintage Books
A simple decorating trick is using old books to fill empty areas. Thrift shops and vintage markets are excellent spots for discovering books to include in your DIY decorating.
I own books in a range of colors that I incorporate into different vignettes throughout the seasons. The vintage books shown here were actually free last year at the Todd Farm flea market. A vendor included them with a vintage garden hod while packing up for the day. Their colors already have a distinctly Fall-like feel.
To embellish the books, I wrapped a velvet ribbon around all 3 and tucked in a quail feather.
Thrifting Tip: While browsing thrift stores, look behind the book’s dust jacket to check whether there is a beautifully colored cover underneath.
Glass Cloche
I found this thrifted piece last year and paid $4.99 for it. Initially, I assumed the cactus on the base was ceramic, but it turned out to be a sticker that came off easily.
To create this Fall arrangement, I placed a small dried gourd, tiny pinecones, and a berry sprig from the thrifted floral arrangement inside.
Dried Gourd Display
This is an easy, budget-friendly method for making a magazine-worthy Fall arrangement. It offers a rustic vintage look and took me only about 2 minutes to assemble.
I chose a vintage wicker picnic basket as the foundation. Watch for these while thrifting, since they are incredibly versatile and work wonderfully as risers.
I placed a metal tray on the picnic basket to introduce a different material. For the arrangement, I used 2 dried bottleneck gourds that I grew in my garden last year and left to dry over the winter. To complete the tray, I added a large pinecone along with several artificial botanicals from the thrifted floral arrangement.
Thrifted Hand-Drawn Artwork
The final piece I used to occupy some of the empty space on this console cabinet was a $2.99 thrifted find. It features a hand-drawn corn stalk, making it ideal for Fall!
Upcycled Thrifted Fall Display
This is the complete upcycled Fall thrift store arrangement! It is an ideal way to ease into Fall. I estimate that everything pictured cost approximately $50, including the lamp, which I bought on clearance for $5 and painted. The felt acorn garland hanging across the artwork is a simple DIY Fall project.
Together, all of the thrifted pieces form a unified arrangement with a classic vintage atmosphere. The artwork’s brown shades and organic accents, such as the gourds, give the space a thoughtfully styled appearance.
Small details, such as choosing dried botanicals over faux flowers, can give your fall decorations a more refined and fashionable appearance. The dried wheat is also more affordable than purchasing a few artificial stems!
Wrapping Up
That’s everything! I hope you’ve enjoyed these DIY fall decorating projects made with thrifted pieces as much as I did. Keep in mind that preparing your home for autumn doesn’t need to cost a fortune. With a trip to the thrift store and a few items you already own, you can design beautiful, one-of-a-kind decor that gives your space a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
DIY projects are wonderful because they give you the freedom to showcase your imagination and personal style. Feel free to play around with various hues, materials, and aesthetics to achieve a look that feels completely yours. If you’re running low on inspiration, browse through Pinterest for ideas!
Most importantly, remember that DIY crafting should be enjoyable and relaxed. Whenever you start feeling irritated or overloaded, pause for a moment and think about what inspired you to begin. (I had to pause for an iced coffee & Facetime break midway through decorating because I couldn’t decide on something!!) Whether your goal is to cut costs, show off your creativity, or simply enjoy yourself, the finished project should leave you feeling proud and pleased.
Go ahead and try out these DIY fall decorating projects. You may even uncover a new pastime or interest in the process!
xo, Jennifer
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