Furnishing and Decorating a Rental Unit with Thrift Store Finds

If you are like most first time apartment dwellers you may find yourself wondering what you can do to add a little decoration and personality to your new home. While painting is not always allowed in rental units staring at white walls all day can make you crazy. If you have a flair for the unique and unusual thrift store finds may be right for you. You can furnish and decorate an entire apartment for next to nothing by shopping at thrift stores.

Something you may or may not have is furniture. If you are looking for furniture head over to your local thrift shop and check out their selection. Remember to purchase items that are in good condition. Be thorough in your inspection and make sure you buy pieces that you are sure you can live with, at least for a little while.

While we are on the topic of furniture one of the best finds at thrift stores can be old dressers and chairs. You can use dressers for their original purpose, or you can give them a whole new one. Television stands, extra storage and buffet tables are just a couple of suggestions. Another thing you can do is remove the drawers and make open cabinets out of the rest of the dresser. You can keep shoes, documents, CD's, books and so on and so forth. The possibilities are endless.

With thrift store decorating you can often find multiple purposes for items. A good idea for the drawers that were taken from the dresser is to convert them into shelving. After you securely attach them to the wall you can fill them up with all kinds of things. Picture frames, boxes, books etc. Not only does this look funky and original, it's also practical and a great storage solution.

Discarded and unwanted chairs also carry a wealth of possibilities. An otherwise rickety chair can serve as a nightstand or even a place to stack blankets, books, boxes and many more things. If you find plain wooden chairs that have a unique shape you can paint them and give them a whole new life. Bright colors or pastels depending on your taste can make for some great looking seating and a good conversation piece.

Now that you have the fundamental basics down you can start the decorating process. Be sure to look for lamps and shades. Even mismatched ones can give your room an eclectic and original look. Candle holders, sconces, and vases are more things you can mix and match till they reach your liking.

Tin trays are a fun item to work with. You can use them as a tray, or to hold items on a coffee table. You can even decorate your walls with several trays, matching or not just to add some color to a room. Metal tins are also an excellent way to add charm and character to a room and double as storage space.

Thrift stores offer many items that can act as something else. Collect old picture frames, take out the glass and paint the remaining frame. A group of these on a wall or a bookcase creates an interesting visual effect. You can also use picture frames as serving trays when entertaining.

Another thing thrift stores are excellent for is finding glasses, plates, mugs and other dining related items. Once again you can use these for their original purpose or you can improvise. Glasses double as candle holders, storage for makeup brushes, pen holders and even a holder for your toothbrush! Coffee mugs can be used to hold and caddy silverware especially if you're pressed for drawer space.

Plates also have a variety of uses. Plates that were once used to hold tea and coffee cups can be a catch all type of container for keys, jewelry, change and any other item that needs an attractive home.

Another quick idea for storage is wooden crates. These can be stacked into shelving units or used singly to store items out of the way. They come in a variety of sizes and have many uses.

We have covered the basics of thrift store finds, now it's up to you to put your own personal touch on some old, new items. Remember to buy items in good condition or items that can easily be fixed. Don't rush into buying something just because of the cost, be sure you have an idea or use for it. Thrift store shopping can be fun, but it's often a hunt. You may not find treasure right away, but if you keep digging you are sure to come up with something perfect for you.