You know you’re obsessed with Ikea when you visit your friend’s places and start saying things like: ‘Oh, you’ve got a KALLAX too!’ or ‘I own that LACK in mint green!’
Don’t get me wrong, the Swedish furniture shop is the best for last-minute essentials, scented candles, cactus multi-packs and meatball cravings, but it does mean that you, and every person you know ends up with almost identical looking rooms. This is why when it comes to decorating your place uniquely and cheaply, thrifting and upcycling vintage items is the way to go. It means that every item is one of a kind and feels like a creative triumph.
One of my favourite places to thrift is the Battersea Boot Sale in London. It’s on all year round, costs 50p to get in and opens at 1.30pm on a Sunday, which is brilliant if like me you’re in no way a morning person (and really, who is on a Sunday?)
I also love to visit the pop-up vintage fairs at Spitalfields market, while Pop Boutique and Rainbow Vintage Home are great for finding retro fabrics. There are also some fantastic Instagram accounts to follow for second-hand treasures, such as Retrospectfinds, and if in doubt, local charity shops can be goldmines for homewares and bric-à-brac.
To prove just how worthwhile rummaging through boxes and stalls of old, dusty, (and yes, sometimes smelly) objects can be, here are five upcycling ideas to get you inspired.
1. Turn old ornaments into lamp bases
I bought this wally dog for £2 from a car boot sale. Due to the fact it already had a hole in the bottom, all it needed was the top of its head to be drilled (which did feel strangely cruel). The hole should be about 10mm, which should then fit a standard SES lamp holder with a plug attached. Lastly, all you need is a small, cute lampshade! I got mine from Ebay for about £5.
2. Turn a vintage mug or teapot into a planter
Sometimes a mug or a teapot is almost too good for tea — and that’s saying something. Whether decorated in old illustrations of whales or 1960s flowers and birds, they make super pretty planters with no effort involved (except the actual watering of the plants, of course).
3. Frame old fabric
Sometimes you find a beautiful piece of old fabric, but it’s just not quite big enough to do anything with. It’s still worth buying though, because you can frame it. The details in vintage fabrics are often so beautiful that they make an eye-catching addition to any wall. With the above fabric I had to layer the scraps, folding the edges over so that it fit the frame.
4. Spray paint everything
How do you turn strange little trinkets into a more stylish form of décor? Spray paint! Photo frames, lamp bases and other bits of old furniture are also given a totally new lease of life when spray-painted, though I personally chose to go for toy dinosaurs, just ’cause.
When it comes to colour choices, I strongly believe that you can’t go wrong with pastels and metallics. Metallics in particular add a definite dignity to things. That bronzed dinosaur could be on top of a posh mantelpiece and no one would bat an eyelash. NB: The addition of a bow tie is optional.
5. Make a garland out of old book pages
OK, I know it’s going to sound awful to kill a book for the sake of home décor, but sometimes you have to give old objects new destinies. If it’s a slightly musty smelling book, you’re onto a winner — these are perfect for giving your home all the romantic, poetic vibes. Simply cut out pages into hearts and then attach them together into a garland with string.
If you don’t fancy the idea of cutting up books, this works just as well with vintage fabrics.
So there you have it, a few really simple ideas of how to decorate your flat/bedroom/house in a way that’s personal and costs very little. All you need is a little patience for rifling through boot sales and flea markets, but it’s worth it for owning something that not only looks pretty, but has a story behind it too.
Like this? You may be interested in:
Cheap Ways To Decorate Your Rented Flat To Make It Feel Like Home
Follow Amber on Twitter @Amberlouiseb
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.