DIY Home Decor Thrift Flips: Designer Inspired Holiday Decor for Less
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Today I am excited to blog through this fun journey of DIY projects – a fun thrift store challenge where my goal is to repurpose discarded treasures and give them a DIY designer inspired look. In this installment, I'm injecting a touch of Christmas spirit into these transformations, making them versatile enough to adorn your spaces year-round. Let’s get started!
Supplies
Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint SAND BAR
Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint MUD PUDDLE
Stir sticks
Dixie Belle Gel Stain AU NATUREL
Hearth & Hand Cedar Stems
Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint CAVIAR
Head to the Thrift Store
Going to the thrift store looking for home decor is always a treasure hunt. I love the thrill of finding an item I know could easily be repurposed to look high end for cheap. From elegant vases and a timeless lamp to a petite side table, the potential for reinvention is so exciting! Let's get into the fun process of elevating these thrifted gems I found. The total spent to purchase all of these items was only $50!
Revamping Vases
I started my DIY’s with an oversized vase. My objective was to achieve the sophisticated look of a Pottery Barn's vase that retails for hundreds of dollars. I chose Dixie Belle Paint in the color Sand Bar to get a beautiful terracotta appearance.
I diluted the paint with water to ensure seamless spraying with the Wagner Flexio 3500 and applied a thin coat to my vase. After the paint was dry, I applied spackling for texture, transforming an ordinary glass vase into a stunning, high-end centerpiece. The final step after the sparkle was dry was to dab some paint on with a paper towel to add depth and make the texture pop.
I styled this vase with some stems from Target and staged it in my dining room. No one would ever know this was a discarded vase I found at the thrift store. Mission accomplished!
Lamp Love Affair
Lamps are a personal weakness of mine, so when I found this $8 gem I couldn’t resist another lamp makeover. Lamps are one of the best home decor items to thrift because they are fairly easy to makeover and buying lamps at the store can set you back hundreds of dollars! My biggest tip is look for lamps with a classic shape like this one and be sure to test it out to ensure its in working condition before buying.
I applied a coat of Dixie Belle Paint in the color Caviar with my paint sprayer and once the paint was dry, I smeared on some spackling with my hands, creating a convincing stone-like finish.
Once the spackle was dry, I did a light application of Dixie Belle Paint in the color Mud Puddle using some paper towels to add depth. The result? A sophisticated piece that looks very much like my inspiration lamp sold at Pottery Barn for hundreds of dollars.
Christmas-Themed Artwork
I spotted these four flag art pieces and thought the texture and the shape would be perfect for some Christmas inspired artwork. I opted to spray them with an off white shade of Dixie Belle paint.
I used my Cricut to cut out some festive shaped to apply inside each of the frames. I chose a gold vinyl for the transfers and opted out of using transfer tape so that I wouldn’t ruin my paint job.
My final touch was using gold gilding wax on the star to add a bit of glitz and glam to this holiday art set. What an easy way to create your own affordable custom Christmas decor!
Textured End Table Makeover
This end table only cost $7 and I absolutely loved the cane detailing on the top. I set out to modernize this dated piece with a glazing technique to make this fake wood end table look like real wood.
I started by giving the entire end table a good scuff sand to help my paint adhesion. I then applied a base coat of Dixie Belle Silk paint in the color Sand Bar. Next I meticulously added a dark brown glaze to the entire piece with a paint brush and then used a dry brushing technique to get a faux wood finish reminiscent of high-end furniture.
My last step was to apply topcoat to seal the glaze and give the table some extra protection. The result? A modern masterpiece that seamlessly blends thrift and sophistication.
Cane Decor Box
This small $2 box caught my eye, and with a few fixes, it became a beautiful home accent. First I made one minor repair to a chip on the box and lightly sanded it smooth.
I then replaced the glass with some leftover cane that I had in my shop. Lastly, I applied a coat of natural water-based stain, to complete the look. This small box is perfect for bookshelf or mantle styling and it was only $2!
This thrift store adventure showcases the transformative power of DIY projects. I love that we can save home decor items from the landfill by repurposing them to look like high end pieces. The best part is that these are makeovers that anyone can do to add to the decor in their home without breaking their budget. You can watch the full video featuring these thrift flips here.
Which makeover resonated with you the most? Share your thoughts below as we celebrate the repurposing thrift finds and infusing new life into forgotten items. Until next time, happy DIY’ing!