Christmas Decor at the Thrift Store
What’s covered: Tips, ideas and inspiration for holiday decor using Thrift Store finds
When it comes to holiday decorating, many people head straight to the craft store. For others, it’s one of the big box department stores. There they’ll find the trendiest Christmas stuff to deck the halls, the porch or the front yard. At the most wonderful time of the year, impulse buys are off the charts. It’s really hard to resist. Especially when we’re all psyched up in the spirit of the season. It’s when we’re standing in front of the cash register that all those little things add up.
May I make a suggestion?
Have you tried your local thrift store?
Many of the things you’re buying new can be found at the thrift store for less than half the price! With the popularity of up-cycling and re-purposing, your holiday decor can be just as splendid, but you won’t spend nearly as much. And your decorating dollar will go further than you imagine!
caption: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Christmas decor at the Thrift Store
If you’ve never been to a thrift store, I guarantee you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find there. Maybe it’s been so long that you don’t remember seeing anything that appealed to you.
So, let me take you on a little tour of my local thrift store. We’ll discover some pretty, new ways to use things, and even find an item or two that sparks a happy memory. My hope is that you’ll start to see some possibilities you hadn’t considered before.
TIP: Just like the regular retail stores, thrift store Holiday items can sell quickly in the week or two when they first start appearing on the shelf. Right before and after Thanksgiving. That’s when the selection is best. Besides, everyone loves a bargain!
Brand new and gently used
This gorgeous dish and sparkly place mat is so festive!
For starters, thrift stores frequently receive newer, more modern household items. Chances are, these came directly from retail or discount stores. These are either seasonal items or older inventory swapped out for new. Retail stores get write offs, too when they send their goods off to a non-profit thrift store.
Spend less on the bag and more on the gift inside.
Gift bags are still popular for those who don’t like to wrap. It also means less wrapping paper all over the living room floor. Plus, they can be used over and over again! These are in like-new condition. Spend less on the bag and more on the gift inside. How’s that for Christmas decor at the thrift store?
These tree ornaments are still in the original box! There are numerous ways to use tree ornaments that don’t involve a tree. Here are two of my favorite decor ideas:
A pretty bowl of bright, red ornaments on the fireplace hearth creates a warm traditional look
Set a wintry theme with blue and silver ornaments, and a snowflake for accent
Need a tin? Here’s more than you can shake a stick at!
Most tins from the Thrift Store are under one dollar. Just think of how many more goodies you can give! Tins also make excellent containers to hold arts and craft materials, small toys and games and other odds and ends. I’ve even seen them stacked one on top of another to make a snowman. Get creative and thrill the people on your Christmas list!
Imaginative Christmas decor at the thrift store
If you wonder why I’m such an advocate of thrift stores, it’s no mystery. I’m a crafter who specializes in up-cycled art for the garden. Many of the things I make–like dish flowers– are sold at holiday bazaars. One lady admiring my things said: “How come I can’t ever find anything like that?”
The answer is, you can! Anyone can. Although it may take a little practice with patience to hone your sense of imagination. That’s why I started Make it a Garden in the first place!
With that in mind, here are some inventive ways to use the Christmas things you find at the thrift store.
“This into That” holiday decor
Baskets can easily be spray-painted Christmas green, shimmery gold, deep red, white or any color that goes along with your motif.
You’ll also find things like pine cones and those plastic snowflakes at the thrift store. The only thing I bought from the box store was the battery operated mini lights.
Sprinkle a little nostalgia into your Christmas
Making a little vignette (small grouping) for the front porch or entry way? You can never go wrong with teddy bears. They have a charm all their own. I see them used in vintage Christmas displays, like the one combined with an old suitcase below.
Ice skates don’t have to be vintage in order to look vintage!
You’re almost guaranteed to find Christmas garland at the thrift store. It’s very versatile for decorating.
Some final thoughts
I hope you’re a little more convinced to try the thrift store for holiday decorating. Even if you’re not on a budget, you’ll find very unique items that make one-of-a-kind Christmas displays. And you’ll be complimented on your creativity.
Before I started making crafts and collecting garden ‘junk’, I never went to thrift stores. I also didn’t really know what to look for or what I might find there. I’ve since learned how to have quite a good time! For front porch or outdoor displays, I don’t have to worry about expensive decor breaking in a bit of bad weather. And I’ve discovered, as you will, how much more I can do when I’m spending less.
That means you can decorate the front porch and include your window boxes too, very inexpensively. All of which adds up to a more festive looking home to welcome family and friends for Christmas gatherings. You’ll discover that a side-benefit is expanding your sense of creativity and imagination. Then, when it comes to the garden next summer, you’ll be all primed and ready to scout for happy finds at your local thrift store.
Kris, I love the idea of a bowl of ornaments and the basket with the pine cones and lights! Gorgeous! Very inspirational….going to hit a couple of thrift stores this week! ” )
Glad the article was helpful. I love to pass on ideas that are not just practical but beautiful. I hope you find some great stuff at the thrift store, too! When I first started thrifting, I had to train (yes train) my imagination to think of other ways to use something. As a child, ornaments were for the tree. If I didn’t have a tree, what good were ornaments? Over the years, I learned from others, and now it’s so much fun to see what you can find at the thrift store. Especially around Christmas time.
Many second hand and thrift stores also help those in need find jobs! A bonus for many others when you patronize them.
Yes, they do! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I still love the blue and silver bowl of ornaments! So pretty!
Thanks for your input. There are limitless ways to use those tree ornaments and best of all, they are in abundance and super cheap at the thrift store!