Thrift Store Decor: 10 Staples for Shelf Styling
Shopping for thrift store decor is the easiest way to style built-in shelves on a budget.
If you know what to look for, your budget-friendly thrift store shelf decor will look anything but inexpensive. It’s all about knowing what to look for (i.e. sifting through the junk!) and knowing how to style it.
Today I am sharing my top 10 thrift store decor items that I am always on the hunt for when it comes to styling built-in shelves.
These are common thrift store decor items that I come across again and again.
If you’ve never been thrifting, take a trip to go treasure hunting at your local thrift stores. You never know what treasures you might find!
Styling built-ins on a budget with thrift store decor
Would you believe me if I told you that all but a few things on our built-in shelves came from thrift stores?
Decorating the built-ins in our new house felt like such a daunting task when we first moved in. We have built-ins on both sides of the fireplace that go all the way up to the ceiling. Needless to say, there are a lot of shelves to fill!
If I had gone out and bought all new decor from retail stores to fill them it would have cost a small fortune.
Instead, I headed out to my favorite local thrift stores to source what I consider to be shelf styling staples when it comes to thrift store decor.
These thrift store shelf styling staples will give any shelves a cohesive, timeless, and classic feel. These classic pieces transcend trends and will always be in style!
top 10 thrift store shelf styling staples
Here are my top 10 decor items I always keep an eye out for at my local thrift stores for perfectly styled shelves.
Silverplated frames
Perhaps the epitome of southern bookshelves: silver picture frames full of family photos.
Silver picture frames are a timeless bookshelf staple. Try grouping them together to add a personal touch to styled shelves by displaying your favorite family photographs.
Always check the thrift store picture frame section for silver frames. I can frequently find silver frames for just a dollar or two each.
You can see in the photo above that I found this 8×10 Godinger silver picture frame for just $1.99!
vintage ironstone
My favorite thing to hunt for, and something I never pass up, is vintage ironstone.
Vintage ironstone tureens, plates, platters, pitchers… if it’s vintage ironstone there’s a good chance it’s coming home with me!
Thrifted vintage ironstone serves so many purposes and is beautiful to display just about anywhere in your home.
Thrifted vintage ironstone is as functional as it is beautiful! I’ve been known to pull some of my thrifted ironstone down from my shelves and use it for entertaining 🙂
vintage silver and silverplate
In addition to silver picture frames, I also always keep an eye out for vintage silver and silverplate.
I found this vintage silver-plated tureen for $4.99 at our local thrift store.
It’s important to note that silver pieces will likely look very tarnished on the shelves of the thrift store. This is an easy fix! As long as they don’t have any damage or major scratches, they most likely just need a good polishing.
Many people don’t want to deal with the hassle of polishing real silver, but there is just nothing that compares to the beauty of real vintage silver! It’s more than worth some occasional polishing in my opinion.
accents and accessories
Always keep an eye out for unique thrift store decor pieces that can be used as accents and accessories. Sometimes this takes a little “out of the box” thinking!
These two thrift store pieces were $4.99 and thought they were unique and beautiful.
I still can’t figure out what they actually are, but I brought them home and use them as “bookends” for some of our family photo albums.
Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity to reimagine an object in a new way.
hardcover books
One section of the thrift store that I never skip past is the books!
I have found some of the most beautiful hardcover books at the thrift store for a dollar or two each.
The trick to finding beautiful books is to remove the book jacket and check out the spine.
Another idea for thrifted books? Cover them with fabric to give them a cohesive look!
I have done just that to all of the white books you see on my bookshelves. You can find the full tutorial of how to easily do it yourself HERE.
vintage tureens
Vintage tureens are something I always love to thrift for! I’ll never turn one down, even if I don’t have a true need for it 😉
Many of my tureens are vintage Pfaltzgraff. I love to group them together on my shelves, and they also make the most gorgeous vessel for a floral arrangement.
At just a few dollars each, I am not ashamed to admit that I have acquired quite the collection of vintage tureens!
Tip: see those scuffs on this tureen? Don’t let that discourage you. As long as there are no major defects, THIS miracle cleaner will remove almost any minor scuffs and leave your tureen looking brand new.
white ceramics
While I love vintage ironstone, I do mix in “new” ceramic pieces if I really love them.
(Yikes.. excuse my messy car. This must have been a brush the boys hair in the car, grab breakfast to-go on the way to school kind of days! Real life over here, y’all.).
This beautiful white ceramic tureen is anything but vintage. A big “Made in China” stamp is on the bottom, but I loved the size and shape so I brought it home with me.
Some of my white plates on my shelves are also “new” ceramic pieces mixed in with ironstone plates and platters. Can you tell the difference? 🙂
Vintage brass candlesticks
I’m always on the lookout for good vintage brass pieces, especially vintage brass candlesticks.
Every single brass candlestick on my shelves came from the thrift store, and for most of them I paid just $0.99 each!
Vintage brass candlesticks are also multi-purpose. I display them on my shelves but I also love to use them on my tablescapes for holidays or entertaining.
Like real silver, real vintage brass tarnishes and requires polishing. These brass candlesticks were so tarnished when I brought them home, but look how beautiful they are after giving them a good polish!
Similar to authentic vintage silver, nothing can quite replicate the look of authentic vintage brass. Sometimes the real thing is just better!
Vintage silver service
There’s no denying I am an old soul, but there is just something about a vintage English tea and coffee service set that I love!
I love displaying silver service pieces on my shelves to compliment and balance the silver frames and tureens. Repetition is always pleasing to the eye when it comes to shelf styling!
Mama has my Grandmother’s silver service set and still keeps it displayed in her home. I love hearing the stories of my great-Grandmother who was English and enjoyed a cup of tea every afternoon 🙂
My Great-Grandmother, Grandmother and Mother taught me that the only acceptable silver polish is Wright’s, so you better believe that’s what I use on all of my silver pieces.
picture frames
You can always find great picture frames at the thrift stores.
Some look beautiful just as they are, and some have great bones with great potential! Look past the outdated prints or the color of the mats. Instead look for beautiful frames!
It’s easy to swap out the artwork or update the mats by painting them a different color.
Every single one of the gold frames on my shelves are thrift store finds.
I spotted this set of four frames and knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. A full tutorial on these DIY Framed Intaglios is coming soon, but in the meantime you can see how I transformed them on my Instagram page.
Styling shelves with thrift store decor
So there you have it! My top ten thrift store “staples” for decorating built-ins and shelves.
Keep an eye out for these classic pieces next time you’re out treasure hunting!
I would love to know! Would you add any thrift store “staples” to this list? What are some staples you love to hunt for? 🙂
Happy treasure hunting!
Great post! Mine is any classic blue and white ceramic.
Beautiful job! I’m a long term thrifter and have found some amazing things for a very small price. I started antiquing years ago and think it developed an “eye”. Not everyone has that but clearly you do!
Jan💙
Your shelves are gorgeous!! I have LOTS of inherited pieces in almost all of these categories and been struggling with how to display them in a cogent updated way. I also have 2 sets of shelves, but in the dining room, so this is truly inspirational!
Beautiful! Thank you!!
I love this article and hope you will begin writing regularly on your blog. It’s beautiful. I am seeing a sneak peek of the drapes and of the furniture. I sure would love to see some rooms, even it it is a work in progress. It looks beautiful. We finished building our low country farmhouse 2 years ago, and It’s still a work in progress. I’m so happy for you and your family to have this land and special home you built.
What paint did you use on the shelves?
Your bookshelf is lovely. I believe your accessory you used for bookends are napkin holders. We used them for cloth napkins folded in triangles. They’re beautiful.
Beautiful styling and wonderful suggestions! Thank you so much!! I appreciate the cleaning product recommendations as well. I’m always at a loss on how to shine the older metals.
The silver $4.99 finds that you didn’t know what they are for are actually to hold your silverware stacked when serving perhaps buffet style.
This is exactly what I needed to help my situation. I recently bought a new home with floor to ceiling shelving on each side of the fireplace. I just didn’t know where to begin to create a pleasing look without spending a fortune. Thanks for the tutorial!
Now I wish I had my white plates back just like the ones you have on your wall. I gave mine away to theGoodwill years ago. They were my first set. They look so pretty in your home.