Stage a home affordably can be accomplished by buying furnishings and home decor at thrift stores. Budget decorating is a great way to stage your home while saving cash at the same time. You may find many treasures at a thrift store, and often times people just get rid of their “stuff” when they are decluttering their home. You will find unique decorative items to stage a home affordably. While you find something that will be treasured at a thrift store, you will have to weed through a lot of other junk to find the unique item.

Furniture

When you are shopping for furniture at thrift stores to stage a home affordably, the merchandise is typically marked down significantly. It is an opportunity to get a pretty good deal on certain pieces of furniture. Should you happen to find furniture that are fixer-upper pieces that you plan to paint is especially a great buy at thrift stores. You may even find new pieces of furniture that have the tags still on.

An excellent tip if you are furniture shopping at a thrift store, be sure to ask a customer service representative about future potential sale dates and markdowns. There are certain Goodwill stores that may have specials on specific days and they may even be half off sales! This is a great opportunity to pick up a piece of furniture that will add to the room. Even if you have to sand and paint it, you will be adding to the room at a nominal cost. You may find small accent tables, mirrors to hang on the wall, coat racks, and much more!

Vases and Jars

Be on the lookout for any large vases or unusual jars. You may find unusually colored vases that will look beautiful on a sofa table or a large vase to be placed a fireplace hearth with other different size vases to add a focal point. Mason jars are another excellent find at a thrift store. You can fill the jars with various different items to add organization at a desk. Tall, clear jars and vases that are turquoise or teal in color will create a spring/summer vibe in your house. And remember you are finding these items for pennies on the dollar. You can purchase accent towels to bring it all together!

Frames

There is an art section that you can check out to see if you can find any frames that can be repurposed. Remember you can paint the frames to fit the theme you are creating in your home. Look for frames that already have art in them, but perhaps you don’t like the art, just toss that out and utilize the frame for something that will work for the room. If you can find a large frame and even utilize it to frame a mirror which will add light to a room as you stage a home affordably.

Trays and Baskets

There are generally trays and baskets found at thrift stores that can easily be utilized in your home. Trays are great assets to affordably stage your home.  Trays are perfect for displaying your favorite perfumes in your bathroom, organizing remotes in a family room, or storing craft supplies. You can utilize some of the jars you picked up to nest together on a tray for your coffee table. Baskets work great to store pet supplies and pet toys. You can also use baskets for towels in bathrooms which will create an organized look.

Kitchen Items

You may be able to find some attractive ceramic or stainless steel bowls to display on your kitchen counter to stage a home affordably. Utilize fresh fruit to put in bowls in the kitchen to create an inviting feel. Look for unique kitchen utensils that can be displayed next to your stove and display in a tall jar. You can also look for sets of utensils if you plan on “setting the table” and ceramic dishes. Serving platters are another great item that can be utilized in a variety of places to stage!

Utilizing Your Finds in Your Home

Depending on what you have found, you may have to clean it up. You may also need to sand and paint it. If you live near the water, and you are painting something metal,  it is recommended to utilize a Rustoleum type of paint to avoid it chipping or rusting in the future. The repurposed item will look great. If you have decided to paint an iron bed, then add some new linens that you can purchase at a discount store such as Marshalls or TJ Max. You can also find linens, throw pillows, blankets, and accessories online at a variety of places.

While creating an updated look in the home, and when you stage a home affordably, you will create a fabulous and uncluttered look. This will prepare your home for professional photography when getting ready to sell. You do want to take your time and ensure the home is put together as the first place that someone will see your home is online. And photographs and videos of the property will create a good first impression.

Final Thoughts

There are some great tips to prepare your home to sell, and staging most definitely is one. You don’t want to break the bank when you are getting your home ready to sell, and with a little time and creativity, you can stage a home affordably.

About the Author

The above real estate article “5 Things To Buy At Thrift Stores to Stage a Home Affordably” was written by Sharon Paxson of Newport Beach Real Estate. Sharon is a residential Realtor® with experience representing buyers, sellers, and landlords with their real estate transactions since 2005. We welcome the opportunity to share our expertise and guide you through the home buying or selling process.

We service the following Orange County CA areas: Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, and more! If you are considering selling your home, we welcome the opportunity to work with you and list your home with a top Newport Beach CA Realtor.