4 Steps for Curating your Home Décor Inspo from the Thrift Store

Finding the perfect home décor pieces at the thrift store can take time. Do you feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle to curate the perfect aesthetic? It happens to us all.

Here are my 4 steps to filling your home with pieces that bring you joy without breaking the bank.

Added bonus: thrifting your décor means you’re saving pieces from landfill, and will have unique pieces that you won’t see on the shelf in Target for the next three months.

In this post, I’m going to use the example of a lamp to illustrate each step. Keep reading to maximize your thrifting skills!

Intentional Mindset

Before you run off to the thrift store, get yourself into an intentional mindset. If you purchase with intent, you’re much more likely to love your new piece for years to come.

Ask yourself about:

• The Practical Purpose

  Are you struggling with eye strain when you’re curled up with a book in your favorite armchair? Maybe a lamp would be the perfect addition to that space. Now’s your chance to choose a lamp that fits your dream aesthetic.

• The Must-Haves

  Will a lamp fit on the table next to your armchair, or would that make things too cluttered? Consider the space available, and any colors or finishes that are a definite YES! or NO!

• The Open-Enders

  Some elements of your dream piece can be left to what I like to call Thrift Store Luck. In this example, I’m looking for a floor lamp, but I don’t mind whether the shade is round or square - so long as it has an overall Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Decide where you’re willing to compromise or be surprised!

Steal from Yourself

You never know, the ideal piece could be something hiding in your basement that you’ve forgotten you even own!

• Check your Donations Box

  We all have that box(es) of things that we’ve been meaning to load in the car and drop off to donate. I once re-found a long forgotten pair of pants in my donation box that were perfect for an upcoming event. While a floor lamp isn’t going to fit into a box, you get the idea.

• Check Other Rooms

  It’s refreshing to switch up the layout of your space now and again. Maybe there’s a floor lamp in the spare bedroom because that was the only place it would fit. Now you’ve rearranged the living room, you could bring the lamp through to that area instead.

Keep a Thrift List on your Phone

This is the big one. It has helped me so much over the years! With the notes app, keeping a thrifting list handy is easier than ever.

• Cut your list into sections

  As a starting point, you could split your list into Clothes, Home Decor, and Furniture. Use whichever criteria makes the most sense to you.

• Use the bullet point checklist function

  Notes (both iPhone & Android) now has this awesome checklist function that allows to you to mark off list items. This allows you to see, at a glance, what you’re still on the hunt for.

• Add inspo photos & drawings

  
  Copy & paste inspo photos right into your notes. I still have a silly little drawing of my dream reading chair hanging out in my Thrift Notes.

Be Patient!

Yes, I know: this is waaay easier said than done. Still, if you hold out until you find a piece you fall in love with, you know it will keep its place in your home rather than ending back up at the thrift store.

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That’s all for now. If you found this guide useful, why not sign up to the Gold Soul Newsletter? You’ll get Thrifting Guides, Upcycling Ideas, and Pop-Up Event updates right to your inbox.

Stay golden,

C xo