Fall Decorating with Plants and Thrift Store Finds

Want to start decorating with plants on a dime? Wait until you see these thrift store finds and how I used them to decorate with indoor plants and flowers for fall.

In the world of interior design, trends come and go, but some classics never fade. Two timeless elements that can breathe life into your living space are plants and thrift store or flea market finds.

Whether you have a green thumb or not, incorporating these into your home decor can create an effortless vintage look with a cozy vibe.

But the best part?

We can do it on a budget.

So, grab your gardening gloves (or some faux florals and stems) with a bargain-hunting spirit as we chat about ways to decorate with plants and thrift store garden treasures.

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Why You Should Decorate with Plants

If you’ve got a home that feels kind of lifeless or lacking personality, bringing the outdoors in with plants and flowers is a great way to cozy up your living spaces.

But decorating with plants indoors isn’t just about the aesthetic. Because there are so many more reasons to include them in your home.

Decorating with plants offers a wide range of benefits that can enhance your living space and your overall well-being.

Here’s why you should incorporate more indoor plants into your home decor.

• Improved Air Quality: Plants act as natural air purifiers by absorbing toxins and releasing oxygen into the air.
• Enhanced Mood: The presence of indoor plants has been linked to improved mental well-being. They can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, making your home a more calming and peaceful place to be.
• Increased Productivity and Focus: Studies have shown that indoor plants in workspaces can boost productivity and creativity. They can also help reduce fatigue and increase concentration, making them ideal for home offices, libraries, and study areas.
• Humidity Control: Grouping indoor plants together can help raise indoor humidity levels so the air is less dry.
• Natural Decor: Indoor plants bring the outdoors inside. They can complement various interior styles, from modern and minimalist to bohemian and vintage, adding a cozy, unique, and personality to a space.
• Sound Absorption: Some plants, especially those with large, dense foliage, can help absorb sound and reduce noise levels in your home, creating a quieter and more peaceful atmosphere.
• Connection with Nature: Indoor plants allow you to connect with nature, even when you’re inside which evokes positive feelings and a sense of well-being.
• Natural Aromatherapy: Fragrant indoor plants, like lavender or jasmine, can provide natural aromatherapy, promoting relaxation, and reducing stress.
• Aesthetic Appeal: They can serve as decorative focal points, adding texture, color, drama, and visual interest to living spaces.
• Low Maintenance Options: While some plants require more care than others, there are many low-maintenance indoor plants available. These are perfect for those who may not have a green thumb but still want to enjoy the benefits of indoor greenery.
• Educational Opportunities: Caring for indoor plants can be an educational experience, especially for children. It can teach responsibility, patience, and an appreciation for nature.

To me, indoor spaces look lifeless without some greenery and blooms. Incorporating indoor plants into your decor is a simple yet effective way to enhance your home’s atmosphere, and improve your health and overall well-being while creating a cozier living space.

How to Decorate with Plants If You’re Not a Gardener and Don’t Know How to Grow Things

Decorating with plants can be a wonderful way to add greenery and vibrancy to your home, even if you don’t consider yourself a gardener or have limited experience with plant care.

There are plenty of low-maintenance and hardy indoor plants that require minimal effort. Here are a few indoor plant ideas to get you started on your plant parenting journey.

• Pothos
• Aloe Vera
• Snake Plant
• Spider Plant
• Monstera Plant
• Pilea Plant
• Anthurium
• Christmas Cactus
• And so many more!

Faux Stems and Florals

But if you want to take a more set-and-forget approach to decorating, you can always go with artificial stems, flowers, and greenery.

There is nothing wrong with mixing faux among your real plants. And don’t be afraid to go all in on faux if you want to! Because there are lots of ways to make faux plants look more real too.

There is no right or wrong way to decorate YOUR home.

Because that’s what it is.

Your home.

I do a mix of both fresh and faux because I bring my indoor plants outside for summer vacation. If I had ONLY live plants, my house would look pretty bare in the late spring through early fall.

Artificial flowers and stems fill in the gaps when I bring those plants outside in summer. So I incorporate faux greens and florals to complement my indoor plants.

By choosing faux plants that look authentic and real? No one knows the difference. Half the time my husband asks me if something is real or not. LOL!

Tips for Decorating with Plants

Plants are more than just pretty faces; they’re living, breathing works of art. They not only freshen the air but also add a sense of calm and beauty to any room.

If you are looking for some plant room ideas, here’s how to make the most of them.

Choose the Right Plant for the Right Location in Your Home

Before decorating with plants, the types of plants you include should depend on your space and care abilities. If you’re a novice, start with low-maintenance varieties like snake plants or pothos.

You want to have success growing plants and not overwhelm yourself with a bunch of fussy plants that will succumb if you look at it the wrong way.

Whatever you choose to grow, consider the light conditions before placing it somewhere. And keep plants away from excessive heat, cold, and drafts.

Play Around with Planters

Select planters that complement your decorating style. Don’t feel boxed in by what you find at department stores online. They can get pretty pricey and are mass-produced to boot.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you can get a more unique look by thrifting around for other items to use as planters.

Flea markets, thrift stores, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace have the best stuff that makes incredible planters.

You just have to be patient and shop around.

Look for things like vintage pots, colorful ceramics, milk glass, or even repurposed containers like old tin cans, crocks, and jugs that can add a touch of personality.

But that’s not all.

Look at things in different ways to see if you can repurpose them as a planter. I made the cutest planter for my front porch with a vintage baby stroller I found in the thrift store and a beautiful outdoor planter for fall from a copper boiling pot.

Create Plant Groupings

Clustering plants together in varying heights and sizes creates a visually appealing display. (It also adds a little humidity to the room when you group them together).

Place indoor plants on shelves, or tables, or even hang them from the ceiling for a dynamic look. Just make sure they get the appropriate amount of light for that plant.

If I have a shelf or something that doesn’t get much light or I don’t want to risk water spilling on it, I go with a faux plant for easier care.

Like my vintage china cabinet and hutch in the dining room. I love to add plants on the top and the shelves but it gets zero light up there and it’s hard to water. So it’s the perfect location for faux greens and flowers.

Experiment with Plant Stands

Get your plants up off the floor. Elevate plants by placing them on decorative plant stands, end tables, or stools.

Plant stands can be sleek and modern or rustic and vintage, depending on your preference.

I don’t know if you’ve ever shopped around for plant stands before, but they can get pretty expensive and some aren’t made very well.

I find better plant stand options when I’m bargain shopping at the flea market or thrift store. If I see something that will work as a plant stand, I grab it!

Behind the living room sofa, I have a few plants sitting on vintage stools that I bought recently at the flea market to raise them up off the floor. They are the perfect height and are very sturdy.

So think outside the box when shopping around for plant stands.

DIY Terrariums

Get creative by crafting your own mini ecosystems in glass containers or cloches. They make for captivating centerpieces and conversation starters.

I have to admit, I don’t do much with terrariums. I just never got into it. Maybe some day.

What to Look for When Thrifting Around

Thrifted finds can effortlessly add character and a unique story to your space on a dime. I love a piece with some history whether it’s the period it was made or how you found it when shopping around.

There are so many garden treasures to be found at thrift stores and flea markets that would make great additions to plants and flowers.

Follow these tips for scoring the best vintage items.

• Research and Explore: Before you hit the flea market, do some research. Know what you’re looking for and have a budget in mind. I tend to go with a set amount of cash and decide I’m not spending more than that. Shop often and visit multiple markets to increase your chances of finding the perfect pieces for your home.
• Embrace the Imperfections: Vintage pieces often come with imperfections, and that’s part of their charm. Whether it’s a distressed dresser or an antique mirror, these blemishes tell a story of their own. Go with it!
• Mix and Match: Don’t be afraid to mix different eras and styles. Combining modern furnishings with vintage finds can create a striking and unique look.
• Repurpose and Upcycle: Get your creative juices flowing by repurposing old items. Turn an old ladder into a rustic bookshelf, flip a stroller into a planter, or transform vintage suitcases into side tables or unique storage solutions.
• Personalize with Paint: If you find a piece with potential but the wrong color or finish, don’t be afraid to refinish it with a fresh coat of paint like I did with this fluted bowl and fireplace mantel. Opt for colors that complement your overall decor scheme.

Bringing It All Together

Now that you have your green friends and flea market gems, it’s time to put them both together.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when styling your thrifted finds with your plants.

Watering

The number one way plants die is from either overwatering or underwatering. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so you give your plants the proper amount of hydration.

If you are using thrift shop finds as a planter, make sure there are drainage holes in them and a way to catch the water if it’s on a table or something. You don’t want to risk water damage on a beautiful new piece!

But if you are using something like a crock?

You can drop a nursery pot with a plant right in or fill it with water and arrange flowers.

When you water a plant in a crock or similar, pull the whole nursery pot out and water it in the kitchen sink or bathtub. It’s not good for the plant to sit in a bucket of water for more than an hour or so. It’s important that water drains out.

As we move into the colder months, your indoor plants will go into winter dormancy and need much less water than they did during the growing season.

So it’s really important to not overwater them. You can either use a moisture meter like this or do the cake batter test to determine soil dryness.

Know Your Light Conditions

Always keep in mind the light conditions of home your home before placing plants with vintage items in a particular space.

Read the plant tag or look it up online to determine what the plant needs so you can style it in the right spot.

Because it isn’t just the piece you are placing if a plant is going with it. It’s really important indoor plants get the appropriate amount of light in order to thrive.

Here’s what you need to know!

• South side of your home is high light.
• North side of your home is low light.
• East and West are generally medium-light areas in your home.

If you made a flower arrangement, keep it out of direct light so the flowers stay fresh for longer.

Balanced Placement

Ensure your plants and vintage pieces are evenly distributed throughout your space. Avoid overcrowding, which can make the room feel cluttered.

Maintenance

Regularly care for plants by watering, pruning, and cleaning their leaves. Dust and clean your flea market finds to keep them looking their best.

Personal Touches

Cozy it up and make it your own space by adding personal touches like family photos, artwork, or sentimental items to make your space truly your own.

Enjoy the Process

Decorating with plants and thrift store finds is a journey, not a destination. Take it slow and enjoy the process of finding new additions and rearranging your space as your collection grows.

Incorporating plants and flea market finds into your decor can turn your home into a lush and inviting oasis filled with unique character.

So, go ahead, and let your creativity bloom and your vintage treasures shine. Your home will thank you with a fresh and vibrant ambiance that’s uniquely yours.

Happy fall decorating!

More About Decorating with Plants and Vintage Finds

What is your favorite thrift store find? Do you enjoy mixing your plants and flowers with thrift store or flea market finds? What is the best garden treasure you’ve found while thrifting? Do you enjoy decorating with plants too? I would love to know more in the comments below.

And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind-the-scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it to the blog. Would love to see you there too!

If you prefer to binge-watch Bricks ’n Blooms on TV, we go more in-depth with tours and posts on my YouTube channel. Would love to hang out with you there!

Grab my FREE Fall Gardening Guide Ebook where I share some fall gardening tips together with a handpicked selection of must-have gardening tools, supplies, and all the other things that will make your garden life easier.

And… If you’re catching up on blog posts you may have missed, be sure to sign-up to get my newest posts via email to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here on the blog and more.

Garden Supplies I Use

I’m often asked about the garden supplies and tools that I use most. From pruners to deer repellents, here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

• I like to use a good-quality, potting soil, garden soil, compost, and perlite when planting.
• I have used this deer repellent with great success. But now, I’m all about this deer repellent that is systemic instead of topical. This means the plant takes it in as opposed to it just smelling bad.
• Hands down this is my favorite hand-weeding tool. You can use it to get underneath roots, and loosen soil, and it cuts down on the weeding time because you work much faster.
• But I also love this long, stand-up weeding tool to really get around roses from afar.
• I like to use THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER for roses because the blooms are more prolific and it’s organic.
• You’ll need a sharp set of pruners when working with plants and flowers. I buy a few so I can stash them around.
• I use these garden snips to deadhead and cut flowers from my gardens.
• Where pest and disease problems are concerned, if I need to, I generally use this insecticidal soap or neem oil to help control infestations depending on the issue. When using, only apply when pollinators are less active.
• This is my favorite set-and-forget slow-release fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, and container gardens.
• Whenever I stake my peonies or other plants, I generally use these grow through garden supports because they work really well and keep the blooms upright.

Let’s See What My Friends Found Thrifting This Month!

My good friends Jennifer and Lora also went thrifting this month to decorate their home and garden spaces.

Wait until you see what they found!

My good friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill found some cool things this month that she is upcycling to make gorgeous fall decor.

Wait until you see what she found and how she’s decorating with them!

And, my good friend Lora from Lora Bloomquist Create and Ponder shared some fun mantel styling ideas for fall using finds from her latest thrift store adventures.

Wait until you see her unique mantel decorating ideas for fall.

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