Most thrift stores are sorted into loosely curated categories, including toys, clothes, and home decor. Despite most thrifting connoisseurs ideal recommendation of scoping out an entire thrift store during your visit, factors like time, priorities, budget and personal energy often make this a difficult goal. That’s why I’ve assembled a list of five essential thrift-store sections that you, my dear creative, should venture on your next second-hand excursion.
The Wood Section
The items in the Wood section, more often than not, do little to disappoint our artists in need of a solid project base. Often filled with shelves, vintage jewelry boxes and plaques of all varieties, the Wood section is a great starting point for our painters, sculptors and mixed-media creators out there. In an era where plastic is in abundance, it’s nice to return to Mother Nature’s tried-and-true (and more eco-friendly) material. The items in this section also often range from extremely-detailed to basic, giving creatives free-range when it comes to inspiration. With that being said, this is a wonderful section to start the next time you go to the thrift store!
The Craft Supply/Office section
This seems like a blatantly obvious choice, but it needs to be said that our creative business owners out there shouldn’t sleep on the Office/Craft Supply section. Although most thrift stores I patron keep these categories in separate sections, there seems to be an inevitable overlap where sketchbooks and spiral-notebooks tend to share a home. There is no difference between printer and pastel paper at the second-hand store! Regardless, I definitely recommend shopping this section if you're looking for inexpensive ways to fulfill your artistic endeavors. I personally love saving a used, yet still very usable sketchbook filled with blank paper from a landfill. Likewise, fellow art-business owners can find relatively cheap office supplies, which is a welcomed cost-saving measure in today’s economy (am I right?). Whether your motivations are purely artistic, administrative or somewhere in between, I consider the office/craft section(s) a must-visit destination.
The Wall Decor Section
This may be a puzzling choice (literally, because there are framed puzzles in this section), but I hope you don’t sleep on the Wall Decor section for several reasons. Most often filled with “artistically-fulfilled” wall pieces and larger empty frames, the Wall Decor section is largely intended for those wanting to “skip” the making process when adorning their walls… or is it? A popular (and somewhat controversial) trend I’ve seen on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok is to add their artistic touch to already existing paintings/wall decor items. When I purchased abandoned paint-pour canvases undoubtedly inspired by the 2015 paint-pouring fad, I joined in on the art-salvaging and repurposing trend. I do my research, however, before deconstructing a potentially valuable wall-decor item (and recommend other shoppers do the same!). Although some art purists may disagree with the trend, I personally find giving wall decor new life through one’s own artistic vision a great utilization of time and resources. Furthermore, you can also find larger, more ornate frames for your completed artworks. Vintage frames in particular can add a unique touch to your canvas, Bristol board or other 2D media. Even if you use this section as a free way to get visually inspired, the Wall Decor section should be shopped floor-to-ceiling during your next visit .
Figurines
I consider the Figurines section another place with untapped artistic potential. For my frequent thrifters out there, they already know the figurine section can be one of the most visually interesting thrift aisles. Often littered with someone’s abandoned Precious Moment’s collection, broken Josef’s Originals or- to put quite frankly- bizarrely ugly miniatures, I can’t help but feel sorry passing through this aisle and seeing the same “undesirable” figurines remain on the shelves. I think these unassuming figures are great canvases for those creatives, like myself, who want to make something old into something new. I’ve upcycled several figurines, including some Precious Moments, into new works of art- and you can too! So the next time you visit the thrift store, take a gander down the figurine aisle and (possibly) receive your next creative project.
Any Section with Bags
Finally, we have the spot for my fellow creatives out there who like to take a gamble: literally any section with bags! If it’s been a minute or two since you’ve entered them, thrift stores big-and-small often display at least one wall full of bagged items. These items include things that are often too small and cumbersome to display on a shelf. Primarily, one reason I recommend shopping this section is that it feels most like a treasure hunt to me. Some bags contain similar items while others are a literal grab-bag of random assortments. This randomness often leads to creative inspiration, which is the second reason I peruse the Bag sections. I invite artists who love upcycling to find a bag with items you like and think “Ok, how can I use the rest?” Not only is that my mindset when I purchase from the Bag sections (because we all have limited home space and budget), but it also challenges me to utilize all the items, thus reducing waste. Take a thrifting trip, bag some bagged items and see what you create for your next piece.
Creatives can find inspiration in all corners of life, and the thrift store is no exception. However, I hope this list helps my thrifty artists out there who want to purchase materials for their next project. At the thrift store, artists can find inspiration, purchase materials, save money and reduce landfill waste. Have your creative cake and eat it too, my dear artist, the next time you go thrifting.
