Discover how to transform your garden with unique thrifted finds. Get inspired by thrift store vintage treasures and creative repurposing ideas.
I’ve always been drawn to the charm of old, well-loved items. They seem to hold stories within them. That’s why I adore scouring thrift stores for garden gems.
Each piece has the potential to add a touch of vintage charm to my outdoor spaces and garden rooms. Want to see what I’ve unearthed this time and how I’m bringing them to life?
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Challenges of Thrifting for the Garden
Thrifting for the garden can be incredibly rewarding, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Finding the perfect pieces often requires patience and a good eye.
Items may need some TLC before they’re garden-ready, and you might have to get creative with repurposing.
Also, in areas where gardening is popular, treasures can get snatched up quickly! But don’t worry, with a little persistence and imagination, you can create a truly unique garden space.
Since I live and thrift in northwest New Jersey, it is not the easiest place to find unique vintage finds. Stores have limited hours and there isn’t much close by where I live. So I make do with what’s near me.
I’ve actually found greater success more often when we are in Vermont so I try to go everytime we visit.
But wherever I go thrifting, I’m on a specific mission looking for cottage-style items that I can use either in my garden or decorate my home.
Unique Vintage Garden Finds from Thrift Stores
Because I’m spending SO MUCH TIME in the garden these days, I’m looking for thrifty vintage pieces that I can use in my gardens.
Whether I find them at the thrift store or at one of my favorite vintage shops, my garden needs some decor to add to the cottage garden charm.
Thrifting for a Cottage Garden: Challenges and Rewards
I have a soft spot for anything with a touch of vintage charm, especially when it comes to my garden. There’s something magical about unearthing unexpected treasures at thrift shops that perfectly suit a cottage garden aesthetic. Of course, there are challenges, but the thrill of the hunt makes it all worthwhile!
The bicycle I should have bought
I found this cool bike a few weeks ago at our local Habitat for Humanity Restore. And I really wish I bought it when I saw it because it was gone when I went back for it the next day.
Does that happen to you too?
I’ve started to overthink it in the moment so I talked myself out of it. But I should have just gotten it. Ugh. Cause it was gone when I went back a few days later.
Add a cute wicker basket and pot it up with some flowers and it would have made a great accent to my cottage garden. Ah well – next time!
The vintage outdoor seating I should have bought
Have you ever gone shopping with your spouse and they don’t want you to buy anything?
Well that happened to me with these vibrant yellow outdoor metal chairs! Wouldn’t it make an adorable seating area in my flower garden?
There were two at $80 a piece. My husband poo poo’ed them and so I reluctantly left them. But they haunt me to this day!
A Pretty Vintage Garden Print for the Mudroom
While I was shopping in my favorite local vintage store, I found this GORGEOUS print on reclaimed wood. It’s not really for my garden, but with all those pretty flowers, I had to have it for my home.
I wasn’t sure where it was going when I bought it, but isn’t it something? Those blooms get me every time I look at it. For now, I hung it in the mudroom so I would pass by it every day on my way out to the garden.
In addition to this amazing print, I found a vintage soil sifter. Have you seen one before? I thought it was so cool so I hung it on the wall and topped it off with this cute basket and faux greens.
Repurposed Thrift Store Finds for Your Garden
Don’t let appearances deceive you! Thrift stores hold incredible potential for your garden, beyond what you might initially see. With a little imagination and DIY spirit, you can turn the most unexpected items into charming garden elements.
A baby stroller
There’s something about a baby stroller that has always resonated with me for the garden. I love the vintage aesthetic of the wicker. I’ve seen a few vintage baby carriages and I finally decided to snag one!
They are really easy to flip into a planter too. All you need to do is grab a plastic saucer or dish and find a really big plant like this beautiful scaevola. I shared how to make this thrift flip planter in this post.
Isn’t it adorable?
A Vintage Urn
While out thrifting this month, I also found this cool container for $5. It didn’t look very pretty before, so I spray-painted it with an oil-rubbed bronze finish.
I may or may not plant it because I kind of like how it looks as it is for the moment. So for now, I’m going to let it sit there until I decide what I want to do with it.
Since the garden is just starting to leaf out and bloom, it takes me some time to figure out where to put things. But so far, I like it here next to my climbing roses. Now I just need to get some flowering annuals to plant around it.
Must-Have Vintage Potting Bench: Thrifted and Transformed
But my favorite find this month? This amazing vintage potting bench. Isn’t it so pretty?
It will make a great plant stand for my houseplants or would look amazing in one of the gardens to add more detail and create some height.
When I saw it, I thought I could drop it in one of my borders and add some terracotta planters or something on it.
But, I could even use it on the deck as a bar cart or small table. For now, I’ve been using it to pot up some of my annuals when I get home from the nursery. When I’m done planting annuals, I’ll find a final resting place for it.
What do you think I should use it for?
Bargain Thrift Store Vintage Finds in Vermont
When we head to Vermont, I love dropping by this awesome antique vintage flea market every weekend. I usually find lots of old vintage salvage items that accentuate my gardens. Like old jugs and milk cans to tuck in among the plants and flowers.
I found these beautiful jugs at one of the vendors but didn’t buy them because they were a little more than I cared to spend.
But I also found this old rusty milk can that I thought would be a fun rusty accent in the borders. It’s moved around a few times, but I love it in my backyard garden among the greens. As a side note, it’s important to add some drainage holes so it does not accumulate water inside.
I’ve considered planting the top too. As we thrift around, I’m hoping to find cool rusty things like these wrought iron gates and settee.
Wouldn’t they look great in my cottage gardens? Hopefully, I’ll find some cool stuff when we head up there.
More About Thrifting for Vintage Garden Finds
Do you love to bargain hunt too? I love finding unique items to display my plants and flowers. What do you love to look for? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Thanks so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xoxo
Want to See More Thrift Store Finds?
I’ve been sharing lots of cool items I found for our new home and garden.
Come thrift with me!
- 7 Fun Finds from the Thrift Store Near Me
- 9 Garden Treasures You Should Always Buy at the Thrift Store
- Prettiest Thrift Flip Idea for the Front Porch
- How to Decorate on a Budget with Thrift Store Finds
- How to Plant a Fall Garden in a Flea Market Find
- Thrift Unique Decorating Ideas
- My Thrift Store Vintage Finds for the Garden
Thrifting With the Gals
If you’ve been following along our thrifting adventure, my friends and I from all over the country shop for thrift store vintage finds.
Some of us live in areas that have a lot more thrifting opportunities than others, so it’s pretty cool to see what the options are and how different it is across the nation. Be sure to stop by and see what they found!
Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse
Ann from Dabbling and Decorating
Kristin from White Arrows Home
Laurie from Vintyetetc
