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    Home » Home Decor And Tips

    Fall Home Decor: Thrift Store Style

    Published by Pam Kessler | 797 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article. - 13 Comments

    Welcome to my fall home decor tour - thrift store style.

    I thought I'd do something a little different today and instead of just showing you what I am decorating with this fall and yammering on about each item, I thought I'd also give you some ideas of what you can commonly find at thrift stores, flea markets and estate sales (maybe even your own basement) that can double as fall decor items.

    Looking around the house here, probably 90% of my fall decor is thrifted (inexpensive) and most of it is used in other ways during the other seasons (less big plastic totes to stores)!

    Fall home decor using thrift store finds

    So enjoy the photos while I discuss some of my favorite things to find at the thrift store for fall decor.

    BTW, the photos are in no particular order and just randomly intermingled with the tips (thought I'd add that just in case you thought I had been sniffing too many pumpkin spice candles and got confused). 


    Using thrift store finds as fall home decor.

    5 Fall Home Decor Items To Find At The Thrift Store

    Plaid Stadium Blankets or Throws

    Plaid just shouts FALL and nothing is more plaid or cozy than a vintage stadium blanket or throw.

    Toss one over the arm of a chair for instant fall decor.  They can also be used for tablecloths or runners, pillow covers or to keep yourself warm at night while watching TV with the cats.

    Can't find one you are in love with? If you are wanting something just for looks, run to Joann fabrics and grab a few yards of their plaid flannels to stuff in a basket for the stadium blanket look without the "stadium" or the "blanket" parts.

    The "blanket" hanging out of my picnic basket . . . yep, just a piece of fabric.

    Vintage stadium throw for fall decor

    Felt flower wreath for fall

    Fall home decor flea market style

    Fall home decor flea market style

    Thermoses

    A little thermos of hot cocoa or hot buttered rum is always welcomed on a chilly fall day. Although honestly, I never actually drink out of my thermoses, but use them as whimsical fall decor instead. Vintage thermoses come in all sorts of colors and patterns including orange and black stripes and different varieties of plaids.

    They can be grouped together as a vignette or placed around the house as simple decor. One of my favorite ways to use them is as vases for fall flowers.

    I try to have at least one or two (or twenty) thermoses on display for each season. They're good for fall, winter and summer. Spring seems to be a stretch, because I don't remember the Easter Bunny ever carrying around a thermos full of carrot juice or anything, but the rest of the year is thermos time.

    Vintage thermos and picnic basket used as fall decor

    Rustic fall home decor

    Fall decor in the breakfast room

    Rustic fall decor

    Vintage kitchen cabinet with fall decor

    Vintage fall home decor

    Picnic Baskets

    You might think picnic baskets are more of a summertime thing, but the colors and patterns go so well with fall also!

    Especially the wooden Redmon picnic baskets. Picture one sitting in the back of a station wagon at a tailgate party with a thermos and stadium blanket poking out of the top.

    Fall perfection!

    Rustic fall entryway

    Vintage fall decor

    Did everyone's grandma have one of these squirrel candy dishes on her coffee table? And was it filled with those hard peanut shaped candy that got all stuck together?

    Vintage squirrel candy dish

    Vintage squirrel salt and pepper shaker

    Vintage suitcases (or instrument cases - mine are clarinet cases)

    Vintage suitcases tend to come in great colors for the fall. Lots of muted browns, blacks and burgundys.

    The "suitcases" shown in these photos are actually clarinet cases though. Same look, but their smaller size is great for just tucking in places.

    And they are GREAT to store stuff in too!

    Vintage suitcases used in fall decor

    Slightly funky vintage home decor pieces

    A quirky old owl statue, a ridiculously rusty old scale that you can't even read the face on, even that somewhat tacky squirrel candy dish that used to be on your grandma's coffee table. They all have a vintage charm that will add a bit of quirk to your fall decor.

    Because if there is one thing that fall decor is NOT, it is not at all stuffy and serious! Your fall decor deserves a little bit of the unexpected or else you might as well go to Target and stock up on aisle 1.

    Not that's there's anything wrong with Target, I love me some Target, but if you are going for a thrift store decor look for fall, you'll need to think outside the box (or circle in Target's case).

    Vintage wicker covered Bacardi bottle

    Vintage fall vignette using white milkglass

    Vintage fall vignette using white milkglass

    Vintage wicker covered Bacardi bottle

    More fall decor items to pick up:

      • Wicker anything
      • Amber colored anything - bottles, candy dishes (have you seen my vintage candy dish turned cute as a button candle) and 1970's chotskies
      • Wooden boxes and crates
      • Milkglass - because it goes amazingly well with pumpkins
      • Pitchers to use as vases

    Vintage orange and black pitcher

    Other Posts You May Enjoy:

    Transitioning The Porch From Fall To Halloween

    Late Fall Home Decor

    Making Faux Caramel Apples (For Fall Decor)

    « Upcycled Wooden Wall Sconce Vase
    Homemade Stovetop Potpourri »
    234 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina Woodcock

      October 18, 2019 at 9:12 am

      Everything is beautiful Pam! I especially love the thermos it is adorable!

      Reply
    2. gina

      October 18, 2019 at 10:42 am

      I love that green basket! Also, yes I have that squirrel dish - I might have commented on that last year. Its in my china cabinet a the moment...wonder what its worth? Also, the orange pitcher and the white owl statue - LOVE those! Good tips - I sure miss thriftting but it seems I have zero time for that any more...

      Reply
    3. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      October 18, 2019 at 11:41 am

      A girl after my thrifter heart! Love all of your ideas...and how great to just use a piece of fabric instead of a blanket! I've got some great thrifted fabric sitting around...

      Reply
    4. [email protected]

      October 18, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Hi Pam, Great finds! I love the thermos. I have been on the hunt for one! Happy Friday! laura

      Reply
    5. Mirjam

      October 19, 2019 at 8:44 am

      I have the same plaid collection ,blankets, picnic basket, that were my parents. Love all your ideas, whatever the season.

      Reply
    6. Nana Diana

      October 19, 2019 at 10:08 am

      Pam= You do such a nice job of decorating for each season. Your tips are spot on and for many of us that have thrifted over he years we look for like items.
      I am absolutely in love with that green basket. Out of everything you shared here-that is what grabbed my heart.
      Have a wonderful weekend-Nana hugs to your son~ xo Diana

      Reply
    7. Sandy

      October 19, 2019 at 3:49 pm

      Pam, love your fall decorating ideas ! Dollar Tree has squirrel salt and pepper shakers , I picked up. Not old but still cute and only $1 !love your green stool too ! You have such a fun blog !!!

      Reply
    8. taryterre

      October 21, 2019 at 5:53 am

      love everything. you have a wonderful sense of style. happy autumn.

      Reply
    9. Melinda

      October 22, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      Looking very festive.
      Fun stuff all a round.

      M : )

      Reply
    10. Melinda

      October 22, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      Looking very festive. Love all the colors.
      Fun stuff all a round.

      M : )

      Reply
    11. Katie Mansfield

      October 26, 2019 at 9:58 pm

      Great tips. I love stadium blankets, thermoses, and vintage seasonal collectables. Your squirrels are adorable!

      Reply
    12. Dawn Pinnataro

      November 01, 2019 at 11:09 am

      Autumn... my #1 fav season of the year, followed by Xmas, then Easter... summer's okay, and I love a beach day and picnics (but not when it is 100+ degrees, thank you). And I use my thermoses year round in my decor, and will especially think of you come this easter when I use the 2 new vintage thermoses I got in pinks! PERFECT for EASTER, lol.

      Reply
      • Pam Kessler

        November 01, 2019 at 11:53 am

        I would love to find a vintage pink thermos! One time I found a rusty old pink cooler at an antique mall, but it was SO expensive. I still sort of kick myself for passing up on it though!

        Reply

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