Thrifting Treasures: A Tale of One Day
If it were up to me, I’d be thrifting every week—coffee in hand, cart half-full before I hit aisle three. But let’s be real… life and budgets usually have other plans 😛.
That’s why I make the most of the treasure hunts I do get to take! In this post, I’m taking you along for one fun day of thrifting—showing you what I found, what I passed on, and why I believe the thrill of the thrift is always worth it. Let’s dig in! 🛒✨
It doesn’t take thrifting every week to find great treasures for your home. All it takes is one lucky day. I recently encountered one of those days.
I’ll be the first to admit—thrifting doesn’t always guarantee treasures. More often than not, I walk out empty-handed.
But not this time. Oh no, this was one of those magical, can-you-even-believe-it kind of days. Just wait until you see everything I scored—you might think I’m making it up, but I promise, it all came from one glorious day of thrifting!
Why Thrifting?
Before I get to my treasures, let me preface it by clarifying why I love to thrift and why our home is full of thrifted finds.
At the beginning of my thrifting adventures many, many years ago, it was out of necessity. We had four mouths to feed, and I was a stay-at-home mom. There were no extra funds for decor or even furniture.
The funny thing is, some of those treasures I found in the beginning are still with us today. I could never give them up. They are a part of who we are, and because they were vintage, they didn’t go out of style.
Have I painted or stripped them over the years? Absolutely. However, they are timeless and will remain with us. Plus, they remind us of beautiful moments and special memories.
Today, I thrift because I enjoy the challenge of locating hidden treasures that someone else didn’t want. Adding vintage treasures from someone else’s home brings character and soul to our home.
I’m not much of a betting woman, but I’d guess many of these pieces have lived in a few homes before making their way into ours—and honestly, that’s part of what makes them so special.
There’s something deeply comforting about the sense of history and character that comes with each thrifted treasure. I love imagining the stories they carry. And now, we get to give them new life and let their next chapter unfold right here in our home.
I have a blog post dedicated to the love of thrifting, Thrifting: How to Thrift and What to Look For Here, you will get a deeper dive into my love of thrifting, my why, and what to look for on your thrifting adventures.
My Thrifting Treasures
The Dining Room Thrifting Treasures
Here we go! Are you ready?
My best find of the day was this writing desk. I spent a little more than I usually do on a thrifting day but it was a primitive writing desk in pristine condition. I had to get it.
My only hesitation in buying this was the shiny top and I’m not a shiny furniture kinda gal. However, the rest of it was more matte so I got it. Maybe I’ll strip off the shiny but maybe I won’t. For now, it looks great and is not worth spending my time on.
This beautiful desk was a steal at just $80, and I knew right away—it had to come home with me. I instantly pictured the perfect spot for her, and sure enough, it brought that little corner of our home to life.
I styled it with some vintage books, a classic brass writer’s lamp, and the sweetest little brass candy dish—all thrifted treasures from that same day. I spotted the candy dish at Goodwill and it went straight into my basket—I couldn’t believe someone let that gem go!😱.
The vintage picture in the middle of the desk caught my eye at a local antique mall. The vintage frame and the vintage picture of the woman just got me. Could I replace that picture? Sure. Do I want to? No. I love her!
When it comes to the stack of books, I’m always on the hunt for vintage finds. I have a little rule—never spend more than $5 per book, and most of the time I snag them for just $2 or $3.
For our home, I gravitate toward books in earthy tones—greens (my favorite!), browns, tans, golds, and blacks. They add such a timeless, cozy touch to any space.
And this mirror—oh my goodness! Can you even believe I found it? The wavy glass gives it that dreamy vintage charm, and the frame has just the right amount of perfectly aged patina. I scooped it up at the same antique mall, and it was love at first sight!
The two pictures to the right were bought a few months prior at a local thrift store. I got them both for 5.00.
As for this wicker lamp…I felt an instantaneous pull to this lamp at the Goodwill. To be honest, this probably isn’t something I would have imagined would work in our home. But there was something about it that drew me to it.
The lamp was very inexpensive. I loved the texture. It sits in our dining room on a vintage trunk handed down to us by my husband’s grandfather. I added a shade I had in storage and, voila, perfection.
Honestly, most of our dining room is thrifted. I’m so proud of that fact. This hutch came from Goodwill several years ago. Believe it or not, I spent 15 dollars on it! I chalk-painted it, and it has been wonderful for holding and displaying my china.
Atop the hutch, you will notice a basket with a braided rope along the top edge. This was another find from my day. I love the texture and warmth it adds to the top of the hutch, especially as it sits alongside all of my thrifted brass candlesticks.
We collected these brass candlesticks for our daughter’s wedding. They have a special place in my heart.
This cutie little basket below is set on a bench under my gallery wall. It makes me happy. You can find the details for this thrifted vintage gallery wall in my post, How to Create A Gallery Wall. Discover how I pulled this wall together and how you can create one in your home.
And lastly, for my dining room, I fell in love with this vintage picture of a little boy. The colors and patina on this caught my eye, and it had to come home with me.
One of my dear friends texted me after I posted this on a reel and said she had that picture in her home for years. Maybe this one is hers!! 😘 You never know!
The Entryway Thrifting Treasures
See that cute little cross picture below. If I were to see that in someone else’s house, I’m not sure it would have struck me, but the patina, the colors, and the words behind the cross from Psalm 27 drew me to it.
The price was right at $2.50. I styled it in this vintage window box in my entryway, and it instantly felt like it belonged there.
Kitchen Thrifting Treasures
I discovered three charming treasures for our kitchen, and this copper teapot was one of them. Its perfectly worn finish gave it such warmth and character—I couldn’t resist. I immediately pictured it with a little plant tucked inside. Lately, I’ve been slowly bringing more live plants into our home, and this felt like the perfect addition.
I’m not exactly sure what this is below; some kind of bowl, but I loved the warm gold color and the patina. I’m pretty sure this is something new made to look old, but I still loved it, and it sits atop the hutch we have in our kitchen.
Looking for a fun makeover project with before and afters? Who doesn’t love a before and after transformation? You will want to check out my post, Modern Farmhouse Hutch Makeover
And lastly, in the kitchen, I grabbed this unique tissue holder. Again, I’m not sure it’s vintage, but it is so cute and the colors were perfect. I find my nose runs a lot in the winter, so placing this in the kitchen helps Mama when her nose is dripping.
Family Room Thrifting Treasures
I loved this heart candle holder. It fits a Yankee candle or a Village candle perfectly. It is brass and blends flawlessly with the little moments of brass throughout my kitchen and family room.
Guest Room Thrifting Treasures
Since our children are all grown and have their own homes, we have three spare bedrooms to decorate. This dresser was a Goodwill find a year ago, and I wanted to add to it.
I found three thrifted treasures to bring this space to life, and one of my favorites is this brass-framed picture of women surrounded by flowers. If you know me, you know I’m a flower lover through and through—and you might also know that Hello, Dolly! is one of my all-time favorite movies. Something about this picture instantly reminded me of it, and I couldn’t pass it up!
This fancy brass lamp was a steal, and I’m always a sucker for a vintage mirrored tray. It reminds me of my grandmother.
I called her Mimi, and she had one on her dresser with her favorite perfume, an antique brush, and a handheld mirror. I’ll be sure to pick up a set if I ever come across one.
And there you have it! I still remember the joy and excitement I felt the day I brought these thrifted treasures home. There’s just something about thrifting that stirs up nostalgia for me—it feels like I’m rescuing forgotten pieces, giving them new purpose, and adding warmth and soul to our home. It’s budget-friendly, meaningful, and full of charm—and that’s why I love it so much.
Happy thrifting and thanks for letting me share my adventures! 🥰
Much Love~Kim💗
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