Posts on theantiquedjourney.com may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. You can read the full privacy policy and disclosures here.

The Secret to the Best Cheap Fall Decor: Thrifting!

By Rachel

published 09/25/2025

Share this post. Share the Journey!

Wanna know the secret to the best cheap fall decor? It’s thrifting, of course!

We’re in the heart of fall…the very best time of the year! As the days grow shorter and we start to spend more time indoors, you might be looking for ways to create a cozy fall home without the high price tag. Because, let’s face it…seasonal decor can get expensive quickly! But, I’ve got you because this blog post has the solution. The secret to the best cheap fall decor isn’t buying new but heading to your local thrift store, instead!

Thrifted Fall Decor for Under $30!

Thrifting is THE BEST! It not only allows for unique and low-budget decor, but also enables a more personal approach to fall decorating. The items found while thrifting are usually one-of-a-kind, which offers endless possibilities for styling home decor.

This post will cover topics such as why thrifting is the best option, some tips on what to look for, a recent thrift haul for under $30, and easy decorating ideas to make your cheap, thrifted finds look chic.

Table of Contents

Despite what retailers say, you truly don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on fall decor to make your space look beautiful. I’ll show you how!

Thrifted Goodies Volume 39- The Secret to the Best Cheap Fall Decor: Thrifting!

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 with tips on how to navigate a thrift store. How great 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:

Shop Favorite Vintage Fall Decor

Why Thrift? The Answer to the Best Cheap Fall Decor and Beyond!

As you all know, thrifting is one of my very favorite pastimes and a hobby that I truly enjoy. Here on the blog, you’ll see me thrifting mainly for vintage home decor and special pieces to add to my beloved collections. However, I also thrift most of my clothing, needed home wares, craft supplies, and various other items because why not?! It’s just so much cheaper, and, in my opinion, way more meaningful!

Below are a handful of other reasons as to why I think thrifting is the best way to go about sourcing goods:

Low-Budget: Thrift shops are the ultimate destination for cheap fall decor. You can find decor items, almost brand new, for just a dollar or two!
Character & Authenticity: Secondhand items add a unique story and timeless character to a space that mass-produced items can’t.
The Thrill of the Hunt: Have I mentioned that I LOVE thrifting?! The sheer joy of finding a thing that speaks to my soul is THE funnest, and one of the most rewarding experiences, in the world. You just never know what’s going to be on the shelves!
Eco-Friendly: Wanna know the best reason to thrift? Through thrifting, you are reusing and recycling goods that are already made, which is such a sustainable way to live.

Styling Your Finds: How to Make Cheap Fall Decor Look Chic

Maybe you’ve already found a haul of fall decor from the thrift store to decorate your home for the season, but are wondering how to put it together? Like, how does one make super cheap fall decor look like it didn’t cost .99 cents?!

Great question! Here are a handful of thrifty styling tips that I turn to season after season.

Stick to a Unified Color Palette

The easiest way to make thrifted finds look intentional is to stick a similar color palette. Choose between 2-4 main colors that you can use consistently throughout your home.

Colors for fall can include creams, browns, rust or copper, olive green, or deep burgundy. By limiting the color hues used, you are then able to create a cohesive look that ties even the most random thrift finds together in a beautiful way.

Elevate with a Quick DIY

Most times, all a thrifted find needs is a little love.

A simple DIY can completely transform an item and make it look like you paid a lot of money for it. Things like a fresh coat of paint or stain, some rub n’ buff, or even just tying a pretty ribbon around a find can do wonders!

Style with Natural Elements

Incorporating free, natural items from nature is my favorite way to make thrifty decor look like a million bucks! Stick a few branches of fall leaves into thrifted bottles or pile a handful of acorns into a thrifted copper bowl.

These natural touches bring in lovely texture and an authentic autumn feel that complements any found item!

Focus on a Single Collection

Instead of scattering your thrifted finds all over the house, try styling them as a collection. Focus on one type of item, such as brass, ironstone, brown transferware, or milk glass.

By grouping a collection together, the display feels bold yet curated and intentional for the season at hand.

The Secret to the Best Cheap Fall Decor: Thrifting!

With that, let’s get into this month’s thrift haul! I’ve found some incredible things and cannot wait to share them with you.

And, I even sourced some of my finds from a brand new antique store! A small town in the southern part of Minnesota turned an old roller rink into an antique mall and it’s now my favorite. SUCH a cool vibe with incredible inventory!

Thrift Haul: What I Thrifted and How I Styled My Finds for Vintage Fall Home Decor

For each find, I’ll share how much I paid, why I bought it, and how I’ve styled it in my home for this season. Wahoo!

1. Small Ironstone Pitcher

The first item on the list today is this cutie ironstone pitcher! I saw it sitting on the shelf at my local thrift store for just $1.00 and instantly knew it would look so pretty in my hutch for fall.

The weave pattern around it reminds me of a basket…isn’t it so lovely?! I’ve never seen this element on ironstone before.

It is marked on the bottom ‘Nikko Ironstone, Japan’. I think I have maybe one or two Japanese ironstone pieces in my collection, so I’m super happy to add this one to the mix!

2. Antique Books

If you can believe it, I’ve scored not one but TWO antique books over the past month.

This first one, titled ‘Frontier Life’ with the most gorgeous brown cover, is the first book I have in my collection that has an embossed design!

Last month, while at the Minnesota State Fair of all places, I stumbled across the only vintage booth in the entire place (of course I did :)), and the lady had the most beautiful displays. She had a plethora of antique books for sale, for REALLY good prices, and I chose this one for just $5.00!

For the fall season, I placed it at the end of a row of books on the mantel. I love the cover so much that I wanted to be able to see it often!

This just goes to show you that you never know what you’ll find on any given day, and in the most random of places. Even if you don’t think a place or store won’t have what you are looking for, go in and check anyways!

The second antique book dons the most AMAZING yellow-ochre color.

Have you ever seen a book with this hue before?! I sure haven’t…it just about took my breath away when I saw it nestled amongst some other vintage wares in the new antique mall I shared above.

For a stunning of a book as it is, I thought for sure it would be priced much too high but nope! Only $3.00!! Again…such a stunning book cover!

I styled this book on the wall shelf in my living room. Paired with a handful of other old books, some amber glass jars, and pieces from my milk glass collection, the golden color is so striking and I just adore it!

3. Syracuse China Plates

Next up is this pair of vintage restaurant ware plates, Syracuse china to be specific!

On a weekly trip to my local thrift store, I found a whole stack of these pretty plates priced at $1.99/per. Now, you know me and vintage dishes…I love them and they speak to my soul and I want to buy them allllll. But, here at The Antiqued Journey, where minimal living is what I practice, I can’t have all the plates. So, I went through the stack and chose the best two.

The dainty scalloped detailing around the edges is just adorable and the dark tan color is perfect for fall! As you can see, I styled them in my hutch with various other vintage and thrifted finds.

In this photo, my heart soars with happiness! Because, well, just look at the deep brown crock sitting on top of the tan plate…the juxtaposition of colors is SO pretty!!

Here, you can see those more natural elements that I used to pair with the thrifted finds. Eucalyptus dries in such a beautiful and imperfect way, making it my favorite fall stem. I use it all over the house!

4. Milk Glass Compote

And, yes, we end the haul today with one of my all-time favorite items to collect…milk glass!

I haven’t thrifted a milk glass piece since the beginning of summer, so it’s been a little while. It’s getting harder and harder to find actual, authentic milk glass that’s not reproduction. And, also, my milk glass collection is getting quite large, so I’m being picky. I only purchase pieces that are unique or that I don’t see often.

Well, this cutie little compote dish checked all the marks for me when it comes to sourcing milk glass! It’s authentic (I checked for the ring of fire), I’ve never seen this pattern before, and it was a good price at just $5.00.

For the fall season, I styled it on the bottom shelf of my hutch alongside its milk glass siblings. I adore the look of rust colored accents paired with the white!

You CAN Do Cheap Fall Decor Beautifully

Through thrifting, you can totally find cheap decor to use for seasonal decorating but make it look super high end!

Here’s my advice:

Buy the things that speak to you, it doesn’t matter what it is.
After you get your find(s) home, take a day or two and think about where you might want to style them. Nothing is a hurry.
When styling the newly thrifted pieces, go with what feels and looks pleasing to YOU. Let your creativity shine and try not to fall into the comparison trap.
Accessorize your finds with ribbon, linens, stems or florals, or anything else you might have around the house that complements the decor.

As with anything, new skills take practice. So, if you don’t feel like you are ‘getting it’ or ‘achieving it’ right away, please don’t give up. It has taken me years to get the point of being able to want to share my vignettes and thrifty styling tips with the world.

I promise you can do it, too!

Closing Tidbits on The Secret to the Best Cheap Fall Decor: Thrifting!

I believe that thrifting is the answer to just about ANYTHING! With a little creativity and resourcefulness, a trip to the thrift store can lead you to stunning fall decor on the cheap.

Spending hundreds of dollars on seasonal decor is silly and so un-necessary. There is truly no need! Thrift shopping allows for just as beautiful of decor, sometimes even better, for 75% less. What’s not to love?!

Be encouraged to go on a thrifting adventure and enjoy the process of decorating for the season, all without the stress.

Leave me a comment! What’s your best thrifted fall find?? I love hearing from you!

PIN the image below to save it for later!

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!