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Best Thrift Store Finds This Month: A Small Summer Haul

By Rachel

published 06/18/2026

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Are you ready for some summer thrifting?! Come see my best thrift store finds this month…it’s a small but mighty haul that you’re going to love!

Table of Contents

There is truly nothing like summer thrifting. The unhurried browse, no pressure, no rigid list…it’s one of the best feelings! During my summer thrift trips, I really urge myself to soften my pace and notice small things…the quality of light in the stores this time of year or the particular quiet of an early Saturday morning at your favorite secondhand shop. Along with that, summer invites a slower, more intentional approach to bringing things home. As you’ll notice in my best thrift store finds this month, it’s a small summer haul but everything in it I chose to curate my home in a meaningful way. Join me below to see what I picked up!

The Short Answer

The best thrift store finds this month prove that a small, intentional haul is far more satisfying than a cart full of things. Here’s what made the cut:

A vintage sunflower oil painting for $4.99 that anchors the summer mantel
Hobnail milk glass tumblers — rare and versatile for any season
Barn art and an antique blue book for just a few dollars each
A 1939 inherited cookbook that’s less of a find and more of a family treasure

There’s Something About Summer Thrifting

Summer thrift shopping is my absolute favorite! People are having garage sales, yard sales, and estate sales and whatever doesn’t end up selling gets donated. Yay for me!! I tend to find my all-time best vintage goodies during the summer months.

However, summer is also where I find myself bringing home one piece here, one piece there. Each item in the small haul that I’m sharing today had a reason for coming home with me. Intentional, purposeful, and mindful.

Because, well, this season especially, I want my space to be as clutter-free as possible to let the summer breeze flow through.

So, grab something nice to drink and let’s go thrifting!

Shop Favorite Vintage Summer Decor

Thrifted Goodies Vol. 49- Best Thrift Store Finds This Month: A Small Summer Haul

Hello, guys!

Welcome, or 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.

MasterPieces of My Life

My partner in this series, MaryJo, is sharing a post all about thrifty 4th of July decor. How fun is that?!

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:

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This Month’s Thrift Store Finds

I’m super excited to show you what I’ve sourced so let’s get into this month’s finds! For each item, I’ll share why I picked it up, how much I paid, and how I’ve styled it in my home for summer.

Vintage Sunflower Oil Painting

We’re starting with my very favorite find first today! And you guys…I haven’t found good vintage art, for a good price, in quite awhile.

As the story goes, I did one lap around my favorite local thrift store and had found a few things. Then, practicing what I preach, I did a second lap and that’s when I spotted this incredible vintage oil painting with the most gorgeous frame, on a shelf that I had spent a lot of time looking at during the first lap! Not sure if someone had it and put it back or of it was put out as I was on the other side of the store, but regardless, this is why you always do multiple laps!!

I mean…look at this beautiful thing.

From experience, old oil paintings are usually priced way too high for a thrift store, so I braced myself as I flipped it over to find the price. To my surprise, it was just $4.99!! YAY!!

For the summer season, I have this lovely piece of art hanging next to the mantel as part of the summer mantel display. It ties in perfectly with the aesthetic and matches the yellow theme while also adding a much needed pop of color to a dark corner. I’m SO happy this gets to live with me now!

Antique Cookbook

This next find actually isn’t a find at all! I inherited this extremely old cookbook after my grandma passed away back in January. This was my grandma’s mom’s cookbook, circa 1939!

Just look at the wear and tear on this pretty book…it has been THROUGH things…well-used and loved, as cookbooks are meant to be.

It’s totally and completely falling apart…the back cover is missing, the binding is coming loose, and all of the remaining pages are extremely brittle. But, I just can’t bear to throw this away! It has so much history…family history, you know?! I never met my great grandma Johnson but I can imagine her cooking out of this very book for her large family.

Just look at the black and white photos! It’s so neat…a bygone era.

Due to the condition of it, I don’t have this cookbook displayed anywhere…it’s kept safely on the bottom shelf of my curio cabinet with all it’s other book siblings. But, I can’t bear to part with it (at least right now) because it has such a close connection to my Grandma Dor and I’ve been missing her lately.

So, here it shall stay.

Barn Art

Yes…another piece of art! Isn’t that great?! AND it’s a barn!! I haven’t found barn art in so long.

This one, for only $2.99, is on the smaller side, which is totally cool with me because it’s easier to fit into many different areas. Smaller art is much more versatile than large-scale pieces.

I’m not sure if this piece is that old…it’s got at least some age to it, but Laura, wherever you are, you did such a great job creating this! 🙂

I have it hanging in the hall bath underneath a summer vintage vignette. The colorful hues in the painting bring happy color to the otherwise neutral wall. It adds whimsy to this more modern bathroom!

Hobnail Milk Glass Tumblers

At a new-to-me thrift store, I spotted a set of milk glass tumblers! It’s rare to find anything but milk glass vases at thrift stores these days so I was super excited to see these.

Not needing four, I chose the best two out of the lot to bring home with me. I knew I would either use them in my hutch or on my milk glass shelf, so spending $2.99 per cup didn’t seem too outrageous!

I have one styled with my milk glass collection, as seen above, and the other one is in the hutch to go along with the summer cottage theme.

I’ve said it time and time again…milk glass is one of the most versatile decor pieces that you can use in your home! It goes with any season, at any time of the year, and in any room. It’s wonderfully timeless!

Blue Antique Book

The last find for today is an antique book! Old books with pretty spines are getting harder and harder to come by these days, so when I see one that I like for a good price, I will usually bring it home. This one checked both boxes because 1) I liked the art-deco type lines on the spine and 2) the price was right at $2.99!

This hardcover book in a summery blue hue goes perfectly on the mantel!

Antique book stacks are my jam…on a mantel, across a shelf, in a hutch or cabinet, etc…Anywhere I can stack rows of books for seasonal displays has a beloved place in my home, and my heart.

Small Haul, Intentional Home

A small, thoughtful haul is, more often than not, much more satisfying than a cart full of things.

I’m at a phase in my life where slow living is the ultimate peace- choosing less, choosing well, and building a home that tells a story over time rather than all at once.

For me, that’s the main takeaway and joy of it all.

You see, thrifting doesn’t ask you to buy all the things, all the time. Thrifting is meditative in a way…slow, mindful moments adding up to one big story; the story that your home tells through the curated pieces you’ve thrifted, one at a time.

That seems much more special than an overflowing cart, filled with meaningless things that won’t stand the test of time, don’t you think??

Closing Tidbits on Best Thrift Store Finds This Month: A Small Summer Haul

That wraps up this month’s thrifted goodies! Whether you thrift with a list or go in open-minded, I hope these finds give you ideas to take and run with in your own home.

But, before heading to the thrift store, look slowly through your space. Sometimes, the most intentional act isn’t finding something ‘new’- it’s seeing with fresh eyes what you already have. Then, when you do thrift, you bring things home with more purpose and meaning…and that’s truly the whole point.

Be encouraged to thrift with a fresh perspective, finding ease along the way.

Wishing you a slow and intentional summer!

Leave me comment! What have you been finding this summer at the thrift? Do you have a best recent thrift store score? 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!

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FAQ’s About Thrift Store Finds

What are the best things to look for at the thrift store in summer?

Summer is a great time to find linens, glassware, art, and vintage kitchenware as people declutter and donate after spring cleaning. Keep an eye out for seasonal decor, vintage paintings, and one-of-a-kind pieces that add character to a home without a big price tag.

How do you know if a thrift store find is worth buying?

I always ask myself three questions: Do I love it? Do I have a place for it? And is the quality good enough to last? If the answer is yes to all three, it usually comes home with me. Condition, craftsmanship, and instinct go a long way.

How do you style milk glass in a modern home?

Milk glass is incredibly versatile. Group pieces together for impact, mix them with natural textures like wood and linen, or use them as simple vessels for summer flowers. The white tone keeps things feeling fresh and light no matter your decor style.

Are antique cookbooks worth keeping?

Absolutely… especially family ones. Beyond the recipes, they’re a window into how people lived, cooked, and gathered. They also make beautiful, meaningful decor stacked on a shelf or open on a kitchen counter.

How do you incorporate vintage art into a contemporary space?

Don’t overthink it! Vintage paintings and prints add warmth and story to any room. Lean them casually against a wall, group them in a gallery arrangement, or let a single piece anchor a vignette. The mix of old and new is what makes a space feel collected and personal.