15 New Interior Design Trends that use Thrift Shop Treasures

For the past decade we’ve seen minimalist style on the rise. Move aside, minimalism, because there’s a new show in town! Lately, a trend called “Maximalist” is showing up in interior design, and it’s a style that’s perfectly suited to thrift shopping.  If you love being creative and expressive with the vintage clothes you wear, get ready to take that same experience into the sphere of home decorating. Here are 15 new design trends that use thrifted treasures. 

1. Metal Accents 

Metal accents are in, so try placing brass, iron, copper, or painted metal in key places around the room.  A mix of colors and tones is ideal! You can fake this look with a bottle of metallic spray paint from the craft store.

2. Statement Floor or Ceiling

This trend takes a page out of Victorian design, in which every surface area was considered fair game for adding frill and color. Instead of a plain Jane floor, you can now use colors and artistic designs, like in the picture above.  When thrift shopping, look for ceiling fans, chandeliers, and funky ceiling light fixtures, so that you can add some bling to that plane of your home. Check out the carpet aisle, too! An area rug is a great way to jazz up a space.

3. Add Texture with Blankets and Pillows

While minimalist style shied away from “extras” like pillows and blankets, lately we’re trending towards comfort, coziness, and all sorts of different textures. Have fun checking out vintage faux furs, or creating DIY throw pillows with your thrifted fabric finds. 

4. Handcrafted, DIY Furniture

Yay! Expressive, artistic furniture is in. No more stark white rooms… the new trend in design is to add splashes of color and beautiful art wherever you want to. The key is to surround yourself with furniture and accessories that bring you joy and make you smile. 

5. Wall Tapestries

Big, colorful tapestries are trending, probably because designers are attempting to personalize spaces instead of leaving them cold and bare. Jewel tones and natural motifs are the way to go. Get this look with thrift shop treasure finds by browsing vintage table cloths. If nothing strikes you as beautiful, consider buying up white cloths (for tables or bedding) and then creating your own design with fabric paint.  

6. Express with Artistic Details 

Like I said, the trend these days is to personalize spaces, and that means when we shop we can let our personal taste lead us. Have an obsession with jazz from the 20s? Pick up a record player and those black and white posters you’ve been eyeing. Forget the old rules of design, which said that those personal preferences had to be hidden from sight. Instead, put them on display!

7. Add some Color

Contemporary design for the last twenty years has favored neutral, light tones. Yes, those tend to make rooms feel airy and spacious, but they’re lacking in visual richness. Get that yummy sense of visual satisfaction by bringing rich, vibrant colors back into your rooms. Think plumb, fuchsia, and gold. Thrift shop furniture will be your friend, here, because you can always reupholster or paint what you find. Keep your eye out for furniture pieces that have the shape you want, and add the color later on. 

8. Make a Cozy, Comfy Space (Breakfast Nook and Bedroom)

Comfortable, cozy space are now considered stylish! That’s great news if you’re a bit of a pack rat, and love to cart home cool thrift shop finds, like duvet covers, area rugs, pretty candle holders, baskets, and trays. To some it might seem like clutter, but you knew all along that you were collecting items that could later be used to make your cozy little nest! It’s time to arrange all of the lovely items you’ve collected over the years, to make the perfect spaces for rest and relaxation in your home. 

9. Maximal Visual Art

Part of the Maximalist credo is ‘bigger is better’. If you have a space in your home that feels empty, experiment with some big wall art. Because wall art tends to become a focal point (especially if it is big and colorful) you’ll often find it in second hand shops. When it’s time to give a room a make-over, the artwork is often the first thing to go. After all, it’s easier to take a picture off of the wall than to redo the flooring! Take advantage of that by snapping up that second hand art. 

10. Office or Creative Space

Because more and more of the population is working from home, it’s become popular to turn a corner of the house into a home office. Good Will stores are a great place to find office chairs and desks. Tag sales are also a great option! 

11. More Plants

As a culture we’re beginning to value the earth and nature more with each passing year. While the eighties was dominated by consumerism and technology, we’re now swinging back around towards ideals like sustainability and nature. One result of that shift is that we’re seeing more and more plants incoorporated into design schemes. Instead of scattering plants around as an afterthought, try designing the room around a plant (like a tree, for example). Use thrift-shop pots in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

12. Cared for Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces are becoming more and more important. Turn a porch or patio into a happy place to chill or gather by paying attention to the seating. Is it comfortable and inviting? If you find lack, add in some cozy blankets, pillows, or even new furniture — all of which can be sourced from consignment shops, of course!

13. Natural Materials

Natural materials like bamboo, wood, and rattan are back in style. Over the past few decades, synthetic materials have been put up on a pedestal because they may last longer or be more durable when exposed to weather. However, there’s something really beautiful about pure natural materials. So mine your local thrift shop, looking for those natural materials that were discarded in favor of synthetic replacements. 

14. Emphasis on Sustainability

The cultural shift towards sustainability is great for those of us who love to be crafty and creative! Upcycle to your heart’s content, and then put your works of art on display. You can be proud that instead of being a consumer, you recycled something that would otherwise rot in a dump for the next umpteen years! 

15. Wall Art with Natural Themes

When browsing through discarded wall art at tag sales, estate sales, flea markets, or antique shops, keep your eyes out for pieces that feature nature. Flowers, leaves, trees, water, stones… these are the themes that are trending, as we all seek to bring a bit of the outdoors, in. 

Now that you know what’s hot and new in design, are you excited to hit the thrift shops in your area? Cold, stark minimalism is out, and expressive, cozy, colorful maximalism is in! What do you think of the latest trends in design? Let us know in the comments section, below.