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Best Thrift Store Finds for Fall

By Rachel

published 08/29/2024

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Style your home on a budget this season with the best thrift store finds for fall!

Fall is in the air and with it comes the excitement of cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and of course, the hunt for seasonal home decor. As temperatures begin to drop, many of us turn to thrift stores in search of unique and budget-friendly pieces to add to our homes. Join me as I share some of the best thrift store finds for fall!

Thrifting for Fall Decor

Some may think thrift shopping is a daunting and overwhelming experience. But, the truth is, with a little patience and creativity, you can find some incredible treasures.

Table of Contents

Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or just dipping your toes into the world of secondhand shopping, this article will guide you through the best thrift store finds for fall.

From statement pieces to small home decor accessories, learn all there is to know about outfitting your home with thrifted items for the new season ahead!

Thrifted Goodies Volume 26- Best Thrift Store Finds for Fall

Hello, guys!

Welcome back to the blog and to the next installment in the ‘Thrifted Goodies’ series! If you are new around here, welcome!

This is a monthly series where my friend MaryJo from the blog Master’pieces’ of my Life and I share thrift hauls, thrifting tips, and general thrift shopping advice.

Every other month or so, we invite a fellow blogger who loves thrifting just as much as we do to share their expertise on the topic. This month, our friend Wendy from WM Design House, is joining the thrifting fun!

MasterPieces of My Life

My partner in this series, MaryJo, is sharing a thrifty post all about decorating with vintage and thrifted sheet music. After you are done here, head over to her post and say hello! You may find just the thing you are looking for.

MasterPieces of My Life Social Channels:

WM Design House

I’m so happy to welcome Wendy to the series this month. Wendy hails from the sunny state of California and has the most beautiful home. She loves to style vintage and secondhand items throughout her home as well as in her garden! You are not going to want to miss her post where she is sharing some helpful thrifting tips for beginners.

WM Design House Social Channels:

Thrift Store Shopping Tips for Fall Decor

Fall is my very favorite season to decorate for. Why? Well, simply put, it’s just plain cozy. People always refer to fall as ‘cozy season’ and I normally don’t hop onto those social trends but this one is actually true.

With cooler temps just around the corner, it’s a time of cozy transitions.

It’s a time to 1) Take down the summer decor to make way for warm and moody textures, 2) A time to switch our wardrobes out so that our favorite sweaters are at the front, and 3) A time to steady the heart and mind for a new season.

To help with this transition, I like to go thrifting to hunt for a few ‘new’ home decor pieces that I can incorporate into my fall decor. These pieces help to achieve an overall warm atmosphere full of grounding textures and cozy colors.

Thrifting for fall decor is also my favorite pasttime of the year. There is nothing quite like spotting a piece of vintage copper or crazed ironstone for just a few dollars! When I go thrifting specifically for fall decor items, there are a handful of pieces that I always keep my eye out for.

They include:

Shop Vintage Fall Decor

To be sure to get the most bang for your buck when fall thrifting, here are some helpful tips.

Go often…at least once a week. This ensures that you will see new merchandise consistently.
Choose items that can be used at other times of the year, not just for fall. Examples of this include milk glass, ironstone, copper, vases, baskets, platters, or plates.
Look for pieces that you can style in more than one room. I like to purchase items that I can decorate with in any space, regardless of what the item is (i.e. creamers or pitchers used in a bathroom, tureens styled in a bedroom, etc…)
Look down every aisle of the thrift store. You never know where you will find something amazing, in an unlikely spot, that another shopper put down!
Think about how else you can use a found item. For example, a plaid blanket can be draped over the table as a tablecloth or used as a base for a shelf vignette. Get creative and think outside the box!

How to Use Thrifted Items for Fall Decorating

Okay! With all that said, let’s get to this month’s thrift haul! I’ve found some super amazing things that I can’t wait to share with you. As always, I hope my found items encourage you to go thrifting and see what you can find that speaks to you.

Seasonal decorating is all about using timeless decor pieces that you love and thrifting is the best way to achieve that.

Let’s get into it!

Fall Thrift Find #1: Brown and White Vintage Dishes

The first thrifted find on the list today is this set of brown and white floral dishes. You know me and vintage dishes…I just can’t say no, especially with this pattern! The pattern of these dishes is called ‘Royal China Sussex’ and was manufactured in the early 70’s.

They can be found very easily online on sites like eBay or Etsy. But finding them thrifting? MUCH harder. I’ve only ever found three other pieces of this specific collection in all my years thrifting. So, needless to say, when I spotted these on the shelf, I couldn’t believe it.

I actually found these back in the spring but waited until now to share them so that they could be in context with fall. The teacups were $2.00 each and the sugar dish was $5.00. They were a tad more than I would normally pay but it’s totally fine. I’m so happy to have them and can’t wait to style them in my hutch for fall!

Fall Thrift Find #2: Vintage Copper Bowl

You guys…I haven’t found a copper bowl in SO long. Like…years.

I couldn’t believe it when I stumbled upon this vintage bowl, just casually sitting on the shelf at my local thrift store! It’s larger in size than my other copper bowl and I just love it.

Vintage copper has really gone up in popularity in recent years, meaning prices have, as well. But, I only paid $6.00 for this one!

If possible, I always like to show markings on thrifted pieces of decor. There is a stamp on the metal loop of this bowl, as seen below.

It’s pretty hard to make out what it says but I think it’s ‘ODI Made in Portugal’. Most other pieces of copper in my collection are marked Japan or Korea so it’s neat to add another country to my copper collection.

Currently, the bowl is hanging on the side of a cupboard in my kitchen.

For fall, I will take it down and style it into a vignette with other vintage decor. Copper bowls look especially lovely used as a vessel to hold faux foliage such as faux leaves or dried eucalyptus.

Fall Thrift Find #3: Wooden Cigar Box

I always have a running list of decor or things I’m looking for while thrifting or antique shopping.

One of the things currently on my list are small wooden boxes or risers that I can use for either adding those warm wood elements to a display or for using underneath things to add height.

Well, as luck would have it, on a recent antiquing adventure, I spotted this neat wooden cigar box.

It was exactly what I was looking for in terms of size and color and was only $3.00!

You will see this styled for fall, either on the mantel or in my hutch, in just a few weeks!

Fall Thrift Find #4: Copper Tea Canister

Yes, more copper! Isn’t that so cool?!

As I stated above, vintage copper is hard to come by these days because of its popularity. So, whenever I see a piece that speaks to me out in the wild, I snatch it up.

This vintage tea canister is without a lid but it’s no problem. I love it regardless! For only $2.00, this little piece is happily welcomed into my collection!

Right now, I have it displayed on top of my kitchen cabinets amongst all the other copper pieces. Honestly, for fall, it will probably stay right where it’s at because it’s just the perfect little spot for it.

Fall Thrift Find #5: Vintage Thread Spools

Next, and probably my most favorite find out of the haul, are these vintage thread spools.

I found some similar spools last year that I used in my fall decor and absolutely loved how they looked. So, when I came across this bag at the same antique store as the wooden box, I knew they were coming home with me.

Just look how moody and perfect the thread colors are for fall! There are endless possibilities when decorating with these old spools and, for only $3.00, it was a no brainer. I will use these in my fall decor for many years to come!

Some ways to use vintage thread spools for fall:

as a vase filler
in a bowl
inside a glass cloche dome
scattered across a shelf vignette
since they are round, use in place of pumpkins

Fall Thrift Find #6: Eyelet Linen

This next find isn’t necessarily fall themed but, as I stated earlier, I love to purchase items that can be used all year round. For me, linens, especially of the eyelet variety, are decor pieces that are used all the time in my home. Linens add softness and femininity to any space, decor display, or vignette.

And, can we just have a moment for this eyelet and ruffled linen?! I’ve never seen anything quite like it before…even the size of this linen is unique. I purchased it from one of my favorite vintage dealers for only $3.00!

Shop Eyelet Linens

I styled the linen in my hutch a few weeks ago while I still had my summer decor out.

But, because it’s the perfect size linen to fit on the shelves of my hutch, I will most likely use it here for fall, too.

So, my advice to you is to always check the linens while thrifting or antique shopping. You never know what special fabric you could stumble across for just a few dollars!

Fall Thrift Find #7: Watercolor Barn Painting

Finally, the last find of the haul is an incredible piece of vintage art. Again, not directly a fall themed item, but I use vintage art in every room in my home and at all times of the year, so I’m always happy to find more!

As you may or may not know, I collect vintage barn art. This piece is, by far, my absolute favorite one to date.

As the story goes, I was on my way home from an appointment and that thrifting voice told me to just stop and take a quick spin. And, when that thrifting voice speaks, the pertinent thing to do is listen, right?!

So, I did, and holy cow. I could not believe my eyes when I flipped through the first pile of art and this watercolor painting was the second picture in AND for only $4.00!! Like..what?!

It is an original watercolor, which is amazing. From the barn to the house to the vintage gas pump to the leaning light pole, everything about it I just adore. The way the artist painted this picture makes it feel very playful and ethereal, doesn’t it?!

I hung this painting in my bedroom on the wall opposite the bed. It deserved a spot where it can be see often:)

You truly have nothing to lose when it comes to thrifting for art. When you can adorn your walls for just a few dollars, why not?!

Closing Tidbits on Best Thrift Store Finds for Fall

With that, this wraps up the latest thrifting adventure!

It’s my sincere hope that you are eager to check out a thrift store or two in the coming weeks and see what you can find.

From experience, a home becomes that much more special when you take the time to hand-pick and curate your space, one thrifted find at a time. Embrace each found treasure as it comes to you.

Be encouraged to embrace each found treasure as it comes to you, finding a renewed sense of everyday living along the way.

Leave me a comment. Do you like to decorate with thrifted finds for the seasons? I love hearing from you!

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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!