Thrift shop decorating

The alarm blares at 6 a.m. I jump out of bed in the dark, pull on my friendly old jeans and warm sweatshirt, and walk my bare feet over to the bathroom sink. I splash my face awake, brush my teeth, and pull a comb through my hair. A look into the mirror reveals a scary sight, but that's okay: It's flea market day.

Every couple of months, our local Kiwanis holds its fundraising flea market. The line of people waiting to grab the best deals stretches halfway down the block for hours before doors open. Everyone knows a good deal is waiting on the other side of the tall metal gates. With shopping bags and coffee, people wait in the cold morning, chatting with other hopeful shoppers about the great finds they picked up at the last sale. Then, the gates open.

Thrift shop decorating is FUN!

Let's face it: Whether we're talking flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops or estate sales, everyone loves a bargain. Add in the current economy, and thrift shopping bargains become even more appealing. You might find a wall mirror for $10... a table for $35... an old trunk for $65. Now, take bargain shopping to the next level by incorporating the item into your home with some cheap, yet chic decorating touches.

Use your creative eye

Thrift shop decorating requires looking at items from a whole different perspective. Use your creative mind's eye to visualize the hidden potential of the item. How would it look refinished? Painted? With the legs cut down? Can it be a planter or a wall decoration? Will it look great in the living room beside the sofa or on your back patio near the door? Train your eye to see what it can be, rather than what it is. Then, assess the estimated cost of supplies for repair and your creative work to determine if the result will still be worth it.

Thrift shop items with potential

• Tables -- They come in all styles and sizes. Have some fun with one. A little paint or a refinishing can work wonders. Cut down the legs of a tall table and make a coffee table. Love the legs, but the top is a mess? Cover the top in decorative tiles, or decoupage it to match your decor and protect it with glass. Now, show it off in a special place in your home.
• Containers -- Jars, vases, baskets, boxes... They're all fun. Use the container the way it is or paint it, add a pretty ribbon and voila! You have attractive container for an interesting silk flower arrangement that will look beautiful anywhere.
• Picture frames -- Frames are always smokin' deals at thrift shops, garage sales and flea markets. They're usually dusty with an ugly picture inside. A blink of your creative eye sees the frame cleaned up, painted and with some pretty pressed flowers under glass. Not bad for a frame that may have cost only $5!
• Lamps -- The poor thing looks absolutely beastly with its tattered and stained lampshade! But the base is the right color and is kind of "funky." Give that lamp new life and some personality with an inexpensive lampshade from Target or Walmart. It will look perfect on that bargain table you just refinished and placed behind the sofa.
• Wrought iron -- Once in a while, you may come across an interesting piece of wrought iron with no particular function. Clean it up. Paint it. There's a wall somewhere in your home begging for a splash of iron art!
• Mirrors -- Table mirrors, wall mirrors, or floor mirrors -- who doesn't love a mirror! And they do so much to brighten up our homes. If you're lucky, you'll love the mirror just as it is. Otherwise, use your magic wand to add shells, dried flowers, glass tiles or whatever creativity you can dream up.
• Chairs -- Find that one special chair, stationary or rocker, that "speaks" to you. Sit in it and bond with it. Then, take it home and create your masterpiece. Colorful chair cushions and covers can help give the chair a new look and are available at local department stores at reasonable prices.
• Unique furniture pieces -- A rolltop desk, glass cabinet or old sewing machine table can be refreshed and brought back to life as a lovely focal point to any room. Don't let these special finds pass you by.
• Additional room accents -- Old steamer trunks, three-panel room dividers, Oriental rugs, coat racks, and ceramic planters are only some of the many unique rooms accents to catch your creative eye while thrift shopping. Use your talents to visualize their transformation into cheap, yet chic accents to your home.

The thrill of the hunt

It's a jungle out there! All the big cats stalk their prey (of tagged items), come in for the kill (on the prime choices), pounce (to be first to grab it) and then drag the prize home for the family to enjoy. Ahhh, the thrill of the hunt! Ahhh, the satisfaction of thrift shop decorating! Go ahead... Let the fun begin.

More cheap tips and bargains:

The art of dumpster diving
10 tips for a successful day of yard sale shopping
Decorating with what you have
Chic walls on the cheap