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I’m a firm believer that a collected home = a cozy home. And that means: no shopping sprees at big-box stores to furnish your home in a weekend. But instead, thrifting, antiquing, and treasure-hunting — a gradual collecting and curating of things over time. However, I realize that thrifting can be overwhelming… and often unsuccessful.
If you want a cozy home on a budget but feel like you always leave thrift stores overstimulated and empty-handed, this is for you.
The Trick To A Successful Thrift Trip
Thrifting can feel overwhelming because of the sheer amount of random items all shoved in the same room. And if you’re trying to take in *everything*, you’re basically taking in nothing at all. It’s too much to process all at once.
That’s why I keep a thrift list in my phone. This way, I can quickly recall what I’m on the hunt for and what my home actually needs. Having a specific list puts a filter on my eyes so that I can scan through the noise and only spot the items I want.
To get your own thrift list started, here are my top 5 cozy items that are permanently on my personal thrift list. I never leave a thrift store without them (#5 is my favourite)!
1. Brass Candlesticks
You can never have too many brass candlesticks, in my opinion. They come in so many shapes, heights, and sizes. They look good tarnished or polished. Cute on shelves, desks, bookcases, table scapes, mantles. I dare you to find a place that a flickering candle in a brass candlestick doesn’t instantly improve.
These drippy, real wax, flameless candles by JOIONE are ~perf~ if you want candles on bookcases or near curtains.
2. Ornate Frames
The more it looks like a frame you’d see in the MET — the better. Instant art gallery vibes. If you’re in an antique store, be sure to look up towards the ceilings (they’re often hung high up on the walls), or sift through every frame in a bin. The gems are always hidden.
*If you’re thrifting in an online marketplace like FB or Kijiji — my most successful search terms are: “ornate frame” ; “vintage frame” ; “vintage mirror” ; “antique frame” ; “antique mirror” ; “brass frame” ; and “oil paintings” (because you can always swap out the artwork, but the frames are always incredible).
3. Woven Baskets
Thrifting woven baskets is better than buying new, not only because of the price and quality — but because of the weaving patterns. Old baskets have some of the most intricate, unique weaves to them that I’ve ever seen. Combine that with the fact that they’re a natural material: instant warmth and coziness for a space.
Great for catch-alls, laundry baskets, shelf styling, and accent pieces on gallery walls.
If you’re worried about them being dirty…you can wash them! They’re made of sticks and grass — plants that literally weathered the rain to grow in the first place, so don’t be afraid of getting them wet. Here is my favourite video on how to wash thrifted baskets properly.
4. Antique + Vintage Ceramics
There is nothing like old pottery and ceramics to cozy up a kitchen. Mugs, serving dishes, mixing bowls, pinch bowls — all adorable. I especially love old crocks for holding kitchen utensils. Dinnerware sets are worth keeping an eye out for too because buying new can be expensive (and often lackluster). If you can score antique dish ware, snag it. Even if things don’t match perfectly. Old pieces have so much personality to them — and a strategic mismatching can be incredibly charming.
5. Pretty Upgrades To Practical Items You Already Own
I know you have them: That cleaning bucket you needed in a pinch so bought at the dollar store. That ice cream scoop you popped out to Walmart for. Anything you needed to buy for its practical use, but that isn’t beautiful. I keep a running list of these eyesore-yet-practical things I own and keep my eyes open for antique or vintage versions that I can replace them with. It’s a long game of upgrading things over time.
The brass soap dish pictured above is so much more beautiful than the basic wooden one I had. The brass bucket is from the 1860s and makes my chores feel magical (something the bright orange hardware store bucket it replaced could never do). And this ice cream scoop from the 1910s is my pride and joy. These things have lasted 100+ years — they were made to last! I love being a part of their story and they bring me so much more pleasure than their non-pretty counterparts.
Preparing For Your Next Thrif Trip
This practice has made my own thrift trips 10x more successful, I swear. It almost feels like the things I’m on the hunt for magically appear for me when I have a specific list in mind! (One day I was looking for a brass thimble — and I casually found one in a random box in a massive 2-floor antique store…and it fit my finger! I feel I never would have seen it if I didn’t have my thrift list filters on my eyes.)
Next time you go thrifting, prepare a list of specific items your home could use to feel more cozy. Leave it in your Notes app on your phone so it’s always with you. Start with my above list if you need to, but then take stock of your own home. Write down 5 things you own because you needed them, but would love to replace with more charming, vintage versions. I just know you’ll find them on your next thrift trip. <3
More ideas to get your list started:
- soap dishes / caddies
- vintage lighters
- outlet / switch plate covers
- ceramic crocks
- small broom + dustpan
- oil lamps
- hooks (for towels, coats, etc.)
- hammers, screwdrivers, tools
