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10 Upcycled and Thrifty Home Decor Projects

In: DECORATING, DIY Decorating Projects, Thrifting

Are you looking for some easy, super budget-friendly home decor ideas? Well, I have a bunch of them for you today!

I love all the expensive catalog retailers as much as the next girl but even if I had a zillion dollars I think I would always prefer to try and make my own on the cheap!! There is a certain satisfaction with taking something from the thrift store and upcycling it into something amazing!!

Here are a variety of my favorite upcycled and thrifty home decor projects…


1. Thrifty Lamp Makeover

lamp makeover-adding highlights

You don’t have to spend big bucks on a new table lamp! Two places that I always check are the clearance section and the thrift store! Don’t get distracted by the color of the lamp…look for a shape that you like and then paint it! I found a $5 lamp at Walmart and with a little chalk paint upcycled it into a Pottery Barn style lamp!!

One thrifter trick I will let you in on..when you are planning on hitting the thrift or vintage stores pack a box in your car with a light bulb, measuring tape, and a towel.

  • Lightbulb: You can always run out and grab the light bulb to make sure a lamp works before you buy it (thrift stores are usually accomodating).
  • Measuring Tape: Never leave the house without a measuring tape (thrifting 101!!)…how many times have you been somewhere and aren’t sure it “will fit”.
  • Towel: The towel can be used for wiping off dust and also for wrapping delicate items for the ride home.
lamp makeover

2. Make Your Own Wall Art

DIY ABSTACT ART

Wall art can be pri-ceeeey!! Especially large pieces of art! I have a big wall in my living room and needed to find something large to hang. All the paintings I saw were all over 100 bucks…so what is a DIYer to do…make her own!!!

All you need for making your own abstract art is a large blank canvas (Walmart or the craft store), I spread joint compound on the blank canvas to create a textured look to mimic oil painting, a few different shades of acrylic paint that fit your decor, and if you want to make a simple frame you can find the wood at Lowes or the Home Depot.

home decor- coastal wall art
Abstract wall art

3. Step 2 Plastic Playhouse Makeover

Do you have one of these plastic playhouses in your backyard?? I was going to replace my Step 2 playhouse with a new wood one but then thought…wait I bet I can paint it!!

step 2 playhouse

I’m so glad that I tried using spray paint instead of opening my wallet for a new more updated-looking one!!

The most important part of painting a plastic playhouse is that you…have…to…be…patient and let each coat of paint dry for at least 24 hours for more durability!!!

kids plastic playhouse
plastic playhouse makeover

4. Juice Bottle Upcycle

DIY Vase

Next time you are ready to throw a juice bottle in the recycle bin why don’t you try and make a cute DIY vase out of it instead??!!

There are quite a few neat-shaped bottles for juice, lemonade, and iced coffee available at the market but I really like the shape of the Simply line of beverages (plus, aren’t they so good…especially love the Raspberry Lemonade in the Summer!!)

vase on a glass tray
juice bottle vase

5. From Dumpster to French Country

white vanity table

So I found this table by a dumpster when the local University was moving out for the year.

Actually, I have to give props to my husband who was driving home from coaching a baseball game when he noticed all the stuff being piled up at the dumpsters…and mentioning to me when he got home!!

I had been on Facebook Marketplace for a couple of weeks looking for some kind of a table that I could use as a potting table in the garden with zero luck..this vanity table was the first thing I spotted by the dumpster!

My husband was just happy my dumpster diving trip was over in less than 5 minutes….

upcycle diy potting bench
Upcycled diy potting bench

6. Pottery Barn Style Vase

Glass Thrift Store Vase

If you know me then you know that I haven’t met a thrift store that I didn’t need to check out!! There’s a great Savers thrift store near me in Newington, NH that has been a goldmine for me over the past few years!

My mission was to find a vase to use to create a Pottery Barn knock off…one of those cool pottery vessels that cost alot of $$$.

painting a vase

So for a couple of bucks, my handy tub of joint compound, and a little paint I created the look that I was going for!!

DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Vase
pottery barn inspired diy vase

7. Thrift Store Vases

spray painting a glass vase

Here is a super easy DIY to upcycle thrift store vases to create trendy two-tone vases! No special skills are required for this project…easy peasy!!

vases
thrift store vases


8. Upcycled Vintage Shutter

black shutter

A $10 shutter from my local antique store turned into a cute coastal patriotic decoration. Using red, white, and blue paint and starfish for the stars.

adding stars to flag shutter
patriotic shutter

9. Upcycle a Terra Cotta Pot

terra cotta bowl

This started out with a $3 terra cotta bowl from a local discount store.

Then using paint and a spray glaze I upcycled it into faux pottery!! What a little paint can do is amazing..it’s like the superhero of so many DIY projects!!

painting terra cotta planter
upcycle terra cotta planter bowl

10. DIY Bird Bath

terra cotta pots

Here’s one more idea using terra cotta planters!! Using 2 planter pots and a planter dish I made a mosaic birdbath. For this, I used my stash of sea glass but you could use glass beads or small mosaic tiles to create your own take!!

birdbath
sea glass mosaic birdbath
DIY bird bath

Well, those should keep you busy for a little while!! Remember, if you ever recreate any of my projects I would really love to see them so email a picture and I will feature it on my Weekly Rewind post!! It makes me so happy to see them!!

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Jennifer Howard

cottage on bunker hill

Thanks for stopping by today! Being able to share my projects, DIYs, and decorating ideas with you is amazing. Leave a comment below; I love hearing from you! Feel free to drop me a note here if you have any questions.

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By: Jennifer Howard · In: DECORATING, DIY Decorating Projects, Thrifting · Tagged: diy decor, diy wall art, thrifting

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Comments

  1. Kim Waldorf says

    April 20, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    I love your little Step 2 playhouse! Brooke would like to come over and play!!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      April 21, 2022 at 7:25 pm

      I’ll mail it to you!!

      Reply

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