My absolute favorite way to shop is secondhand. I love giving items new life by pouring just a little bit of love into them. These items are just waiting to be appreciated and valued again.
This lamp just might be one of my best finds. $4.99 per lamp, one can of spray paint (that I already had) and voila. Good as new! Actually, better than new, because it was $4.99. 😉
Check out the before below. Just a tiny difference, right? Kidding. Honestly the difference is kind of shocking. It took me 10 minutes to transform two of these lamps. Waited for them to dry, new shade and there you have it.
Lamp – Before
Lamp – After
SO easy and super cute!!!
Why Thrift?
A big reason that I thrift is for the budget benefits. However, I will say that I really do enjoy the hunt. It’s thrilling and I get pumped over finding a good deal.
But even if you have the money to buy something brand new, checking secondhand first (FB Marketplace, thrift stores, Mercari, etc) can totally help with the eco-friendly factor.
Buying brand new everything increases the demand for more things to be produced, and therefore creating more pollution, plastic, etc
There are so many benefits to thrifting, besides just saving money (in case that doesn’t feel like a good enough reason).
Vase – before and after
I saw this vase for probably $1 a few weeks ago. I loved the shape, but not thrilled about the color. As we learned above with the lamp… that’s not even a problem.
I scooped up this vase, took it home, set it up outside and gave it a new coat. It’s super pretty now and I love it.
Before
After
Look how cute! It came so far with minimal effort. Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box a little in order to find items you really love. This vase has texture and a cute shape, so I knew for sure that it would look great spray painted. And now it has a new, happy home with us. (Anyone else feel sympathy for inanimate objects? Just me..?).
Thrifting Tips
If you plan on thrifting and spray painting items often, stock up on spray paint to keep on hand. It makes these small projects feel very in reach and quick.
Finished products
Look how good they turned out! If you didn’t know, you’d have no idea these were thrift store finds. Just wait until you see my next set of lamp projects. Pottery Barn? Nah. Thrifted, $10 total 😉
Thanks for reading, friends! I appreciate it always. Pin for later below, it helps so much!
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