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 Many bloggers provide helpful points for finding what you want at
thrift shops. For instance, Virginia, a blogger who does many DIY
decorating projects, provides many tips for decorating on a budget.
Among her tips are to "look for colorful accessories." She asserts,
"when it comes to accessorizing your house, it's all about waiting
for the right pieces and collecting things over time." Virginia also
says that if you are looking for these items at thrift stores, you
should "go often and be patient" and also find out what days [thrift
stores] put out new items."
For those looking for quality secondhand furniture, she suggests
that you "look for quality furniture in good condition, easy to
refinish." For items that may need a little extra work, she suggests
you repurpose or use spray paint.
 Manuela Williams, who writes a monthly blog called Home Sweet Frugal
Home, offers several recommendations in her "7 Tips for Successful
Thrifting." She offers, "Think outside the box!" As Williams notes,
"Spray paint will transform just about any home decor item. So if
it’s not exactly the way you want it you can change it. Think about
how you can repurpose/up-cycle it." She also suggests that you
select carefully, stating, "Don’t just grab everything you see. Be
choosy. Only bring home something you love or something you can use.
You don’t want your house just filled with cheap junk. You want
things that speak to you." Try to find an item that is just right
for you, fitting your own unique sense of style.
One tip to remember when shopping for specific items is to go often,
for some items are quickly snatched up. Furniture especially seems
to sell quickly with people often buying it the day it is donated.
For those interested in shopping thrift stores, there are several
local shops that provide quality home décor. Though these stores
have low prices every day, they also have special sales days when
merchandise is discounted even further.
Mission Mart on 119 North Sangamon is a good source for house wares,
décor, linens, and small furniture pieces. They have special
shopping almost every day of the week that are listed on their
monthly sales calendars and facebook page. For instance, yellow tag
and white tag items are marked down from 50 percent to 75 percent
off each month. A manager's special is offered on Wednesdays with
anyone 55 years or older receiving 25 percent off of all items in
the store. College students and military personnel can get discounts
every day of the month.
 Carla Mattingly, who works at Mission Mart, notes that sometimes all
these items need is a coat of paint to freshen them up.
Lincoln's Goodwill store often has couches, chairs, dining room
tables, linens, curtains, tablecloths, throw pillows, and many other
house wares available at a reasonable price.
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As for special days, lead cashier Jayme McAllister states that every week they
offer half off on the color of the week, which changes every Monday. In
addition, they offer 20 percent off for seniors on Wednesdays.
New Beginnings Thrift Shoppe, which recently relocated to 839 Woodlawn Road, has
dining room tables, entertainment centers, and hutches in addition to a variety
of house wares and home décor. They often have tag sales with items anywhere
from 25 to 90 percent off regular prices and sales on seasonal décor.
New manager Stephen Squaire reports they have upcoming sales planned. You can
also follow them on their Facebook page for updates regarding great sales and
events.
The recently renovated Pink Shutter Thrift Shop on 114 N. McLean offers house
wares, home décor linens, and seasonal decorations with new donations coming in
all the time.
In addition to tag sales, they have several buck a bag sales during the year.
Auxiliary volunteer Betty York noted that every Thursday, senior citizens
receive a 20% discount. Manager Jennifer Heidbreder states that sales are listed
on their facebook page.
By decorating your home with thrift store items, you can save a lot of money,
find unique items, and support local businesses and charities.
[Angela Reiners]
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