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How To Decorate For Spring With Thrifty Finds

In: DECORATING, Thrifting

Have you tried adding a few thrift store or vintage finds in your home? It’s the perfect way to add character to your spaces. Let me show you how to decorate for Spring with thrifty and vintage finds

How To Use Thrifty Finds In Your Home This Spring

Ok, I have to admit that I have A BUNCH of thrifted, flea market, and vintage things that I have collected over the years. There’s nothing like that feeling when I spot a really great piece on the back of a shelf at the thrift store!!

When I am out shopping here are some of the things that I am always on the lookout for…

Metal buckets, pitchers, vases that I can use in a DIY, baskets, wood boxes & crates, and serving trays just to name a few.

So what do I do with these finds after I get them home? Well, I sprinkle them throughout my home. By just adding a few older items to your home you can create a more curated look than if you just filled your shopping cart up with all the latest from Target.

This post may include affiliate links; you can read my disclosure policy here.

Spring Decorating Ideas

Here are a few easy Spring decorating ideas and DIYs I have done using my thrifty finds.

Vintage Wooden box

I’ve had this box for years…so long that I can’t even remember where I found it in the first place!! I think it’s a recipe box. Not sure. It is antique by the way it is put together and the wood that was used. Regardless, it’s a cool piece!

I thought it would make a neat place for one of my plants to hang out in! Sidenote, January was bringing me down and I bought a bunch of new house plants to boost my mood!

antique recipe box

One of the plants I bought was a Silver Satin Pothos. I had been looking for one of these plants since last summer when I went to Waco and I saw the most gorgeous one on the counter at Magnolia Press…I was obsessed! When I was ordering too many dahlias from White Flower Farm I saw one on their website and had to have it.

All I did was pop it into the opened recipe box. The contrast between the green leaves and the grain of the wood box is so pretty!

On the top of a bookshelf in my living room, I put together a little Spring vignette with my new plant and a few other nature-inspired items that I already had.

This little wood bunny looks vintage but it’s not…I found it on Amazon for around 10 bucks. The light wood looks nice but I’m thinking that I might use my Rit fabric dye trick (you can see me using it here to stain wood beads for a wreath) and make it a bit darker.

On top of a couple of green vintage books, I added a DIY bird’s nest. This is a super easy craft…and so much cheaper than buying the premade nests (plus they look more realistic!) In my Spring Forsythia Wreath tutorial, you can see how to make them

wood bunny figurine
bird's nest decoration

To finish off the Spring vignette I leaned my Moss Wreath against the old window frame that is hanging on the wall.

galvanized pails/watering cans

One of my favorite things to hunt for at the flea markets is old galvanized pails and watering cans that I can use to use in my seasonal decorating and to use as planters. My ALL-TIME best flea market find was a vintage galvanized watering can that I scored for $2!! I giggle every time I see them selling for $40 or more…

A pretty Spring decorating idea is to fill an old watering can with tall Spring branches. This looks pretty inside or out!

On my Vintage Spring Porch, I filled the watering can with fresh pussy willow branches.

Here’s an idea for a vintage galvanized pail, pop a planter of fresh Spring flowers in it. I loved these red anemones. The old chair was from a local thrift store…2 chairs for 4 bucks!!

red anemones in pail

The great thing about having a stash of thrifty finds is that you can keep reusing them in different places. They are seasonless and work in all kinds of settings.

Once I was done using the vintage watering can and pail on my Spring porch I moved them out to my cutting garden on my DIY Potting Bench for the season.

upcycle diy potting bench


vase diys

At the thrift store, I’m always on the lookout for interesting vases, sometimes you have to bend down and look waaaayyy on the back of the shelf to find the good stuff!!

One of my favorite kinds of DIY projects is turning these thrift store finds into Pottery Barn-inspired vases.

Glass Thrift Store Vase
spray painting a glass vase

So I took these basic floral shop vases and turned them into these…

This Pottery Barn Inspired vase is one of the most popular projects on this site. I have it out somewhere in my house all year long. For the Spring just add some artificial greenery for a fresh look.

DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Vase

For the other glass thrift store vases, I did a two-toned effect and added a section of textured paint. Then I cut a few branches of Forsythia to bring indoors to force. Forcing flowering branches means cutting the branches when they are just starting to show signs of waking up in the early Spring, then putting them in water. Your warm house will trick them into thinking it’s time to start flowering.

What I love about doing this with Forsythia branches is that they will flower for weeks once they open…and it’s free!!

vases

pitchers

Keep an eye out for pitchers when you are out thrifting or at the vintage market. Pitchers are another versatile decorating piece to add to your decor. I found this aluminum (I think it’s aluminum) pitcher for just a couple of dollars at my local Savers thrift store. It has such a pretty shape and I loved the hammered details.

On my coffee table, I added a tray with the pitcher filled with white tulips…by the way those are fake tulips…don’t they look real!! Then I finished the tray off with a trailing ivy plant and my little DIY Cement Bunnies...now is the time to grab bunny figurines at the craft stores and give this DIY a try! I’m on the hunt for little chicks or ducks to do this year.

spring vignette

vintage planters

Always keep an eye out for interesting vessels that you can use as planters. Thrift stores and vintage markets usually have a good supply of them..but check the prices because I find that they are all over the map. Sometimes I find a planter that I think should be 10 bucks and it’s 50…and vice versa.

This pot of light pink tulips is from Walmart’s Valentine’s flowers. It was under $5…and now that I am thinking about it I should have gone back after V-day to see if they were marked down…this pink thrift store vessel was meant for them! The pot of tulips fits perfectly inside, I added a little bit of grapevine around the base of the tulip, these little details will make your grocery store finds look more like they came from an expensive florist.

pink vessel with pink tulips

Well, those are some of the ways to decorate for Spring with thrifty finds. So go check out your local thrift stores and vintage stores to see what you can find to use in your Spring decorating this month.

And let me know what you find and how you decorated for Spring with it… send me your finds and pictures and I will feature them in my weekly rewind post. Here’s my email: jennifer@cottageonbunkerhill.com

pink tulips opening

Today my friends Stacy and Kim also have amazing ideas for using thrifted finds in your decorating.

Stacy | Bricks N Blooms

Stacy from Bricks N Blooms just moved into the prettiest farmhouse in New Jersey and is taking us with her as she shops for pieces she can makeover for her new home. It was a fun shopping trip but what did she end up finding… Check it out for yourself as Stacy shows us all How To Decorate On A Budget With Thrift Store Finds

Kim | Shiplap and Shells

Kim from Shiplap and Shells lives in the Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sounds and I am obsessed with her cottage-style home and gardens! She finds the prettiest pieces when she is out thrifting and has such creative ways to use them in her space. Today she is sharing 9 Vintage And Antique Storage Solutions

I’m sure you will be totally inspired by both of my friends!! They are also amazing gardeners…so be sure to check that out when you visit them too!


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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group photo from influencer retreat

get to know me

here are a few fun facts…

  1. I’ve lived in New England my entire life! This is good because the beach is my favorite place to be…even in the winter, I love to go breathe in the salt air.
  2. I am an EARLY BIRD!!! I rarely sleep past 4…it’s my favorite time of day and those wee hours are my most productive. (plus, I LOVE coffee!!)
  3. The Gilmore Girls is my favorite all-time TV show…I’ve seen every episode at least 20 times!! “You jump, I jump, Jack” is my #1 favorite. (I.Y.K.Y.K.)

By: Jennifer Howard · In: DECORATING, Thrifting · Tagged: spring decor, thrift store finds

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy Munday says

    February 28, 2022 at 3:20 pm

    Hi Jennifer
    So many cute ideas!!! what I really need to do is go “thrifting” in my own cellar and shed!!! After 54 years of marriage, I have accumulated a gazillion things that my husband begs me to trash!! Uh uh……Thanks to you and Ann at Dabbling and Decorating, the ideas are flowing through my brain!! Hopefully, I can add some “new” old ideas to our home!!! Always fun to “decorate”!!! Thank you for all your suggestions!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      March 1, 2022 at 5:35 pm

      Oh, I understand that Kathy!! I just went down to my basement stash to see what I had to use for Spring. It all drives my husband crazy too!!

      Reply
  2. Kim Waldorf says

    February 18, 2022 at 10:43 am

    What a great post! I bought two galvanized buckets last fall and can’t wait to use them this spring! I love that pink container with the tulips! I just shared it! Happy weekend, friend!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      Thanks…I’ve had that pink container forever!!

      Reply
  3. Linda Johnston says

    February 18, 2022 at 9:01 am

    Love the porch vignette!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:27 pm

      Thanks so much Linda!! I can’t wait until I can get out there and fix it up for Spring!

      Reply
  4. Rachel Harper says

    February 17, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Jennifer
    These are all great vintage ideas.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      Thanks Rachel!!

      Reply
  5. Lora Bloomquist says

    February 17, 2022 at 3:47 pm

    Wonderful ideas. Now if I can just snap my fingers and make the winter and Valentine’s go away:(

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:29 pm

      LOL, I feel like I’m being fooled by Mother Nature because all of the snow is gone…it’s going to be gut punch if we get hit with a big storm again.

      Reply
  6. Kim | Shiplap and Shells says

    February 17, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    You are getting me so excited for spring Jennifer! I’m obsessed with the vintage table with the watering cans. That is so darn cute! You have so many great ideas.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      I can thank Chuck for that one…he mentioned to me last Spring that all the kids at UNH were moving out and he saw that there were piles of furniture by the dumpsters…I was there in 10 minutes!

      Reply
  7. Jen says

    February 17, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    So many cute and creative ideas, friend. Some day I need to come to visit so we can go thrifting together!

    Reply
    • Tammy says

      February 17, 2022 at 7:25 pm

      Jennifer, I am ready for spring. I love all of your thrift store finds. That pink planter is so pretty.

      This weekend, I will be out thrifting and cannot wait.

      Reply
      • Jennifer Howard says

        February 18, 2022 at 5:28 pm

        I’ve had that thing forever…so long that I can’t even remember where I found it!! I think it’s the only thing I have that’s pink.

        Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      Yes, we have such great spots up and down the New England coast!

      Reply
  8. stacy says

    February 17, 2022 at 8:02 am

    I love that vintage table with the watering cans you have in the garden! what a gorgeous piece! And now I’m inspired to decorate for spring – once my dining room is cleaned up its go time!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 18, 2022 at 5:33 pm

      That was straight out of a UNH dumpster!! There’s nothing better than a free find.

      Reply

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Hey friends, I'm so glad you are here! I'm a life-long New England gal who started Cottage On Bunker Hill as a hub to share all my DIYs, decorating ideas, budget shopping ideas and so much more!!

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