In the event you come throughout a chessboard at a thrift retailer, you would possibly decide it up, solely to place it again down after noticing a couple of scratches and an incomplete set.
For thrifting connoisseur Elizabeth Rooney, although, it’s a right away add to cart—not as a recreation board, and even as a espresso desk accent, however as a key hook. She’s additionally turned vases into countertop wine holders and classic brooches into fridge magnets (an ingenious approach to show these marriage ceremony invitations and vacation playing cards).
Because the creator behind lifewithliztoday, Elizabeth shares her creative “thrift flips” beneath the tagline Issues aren’t at all times as they appear. A video showcasing only a handful of those transformations has racked up over three million views—and that’s solely half one of many sequence. Her feedback are sometimes stuffed with individuals questioning two issues: How does she provide you with these things? And why doesn’t their native Goodwill ever seem like hers?
She’s no stranger to the hunt, continuously posting full vlogs of her thrifting journeys and even shopping for thriller seize luggage from vintage shops. However one take a look at her residence, and also you’d by no means guess that a whole lot of it’s secondhand. It doesn’t resemble a flea market stall or your grandma’s lounge—it’s curated, cohesive, and effortlessly cool.
Photograph by Elizabeth Rooney
Her model suits squarely into the rising ‘intentional litter’ motion: a development all about layering significant, well-loved objects in a manner that feels collected over time reasonably than completely styled.
So, is it simply luck when she finds these items? Or does she have an unimaginable eye? We caught up with Elizabeth to study extra about her course of, the place she seems, and her high 5 ideas for thrifting residence decor.
What are a few of your favourite items in your house proper now?
A few of my favorites, presently, are those I’ve altered and flipped. For instance, I took a bust planter pot and transformed it right into a lamp, a chess board and adjusted it to a key rack, a photograph carousel and flipped it into an earring rotator.
A few of my different favourite non-altered gadgets in my residence are those that spark pleasure inside me. These embrace my brass duck lamp, ceramic swans and my uncommon candle stick holders.
How do you create a cohesive look when incorporating varied thrifted gadgets?
I have a tendency to stay to a color palette when thrifting gadgets to make it simpler to include in my residence, whereas embracing many textures and tones for layering these items. However, I additionally don’t let the color of an object cease me. If I like the form of an merchandise, I like utilizing spray paint, rub and buff and altering an merchandise to suit myspace.
I have a tendency to stay to a color palette when thrifting gadgets to make it simpler to include in my residence, whereas embracing many textures and tones for layering these items
A number of time I draw inspiration from Pinterest. I prefer to problem myself after I see a design or photograph I like and actually dissect it and perceive what precisely on this photograph I’m occupied with. Is it the color pallet? a sure object or mild fixture? This has turn out to be useful to me in thrift shops to raised prepare my eye to see gadgets on cabinets that will not look the best on the shelf, however see it for the imaginative and prescient and potential it may have in my residence.
Photograph by Elizabeth Rooney
Why do you assume individuals are gravitating towards “dopamine decor” and away from minimalism?
I believe increasingly individuals need to embrace private variations and individuality, which could be tough to specific in a minimalist type. I actually love strolling into somebody’s residence and understanding a bit about who they’re and what they like by trying round their home. With dopamine decor and intentional litter, I prefer to view them as a hidden that means to who an individual is, a group of who they’re and the place they’ve been. It’s fairly an exquisite factor.
I actually love strolling into somebody’s residence and understanding a bit about who they’re and what they like by trying round their home
Photograph by Elizabeth Rooney
The place do you discover distinctive thrifted items, and the way can others do the identical?
I discover these items at many alternative thrift shops, vintage shops, classic shops and flea markets. A key factor to notice if you’re purchasing sustainably for these things is to take your time. These things weren’t all discovered without delay, it has been discovered and picked up over years and lots of journeys to many alternative thrift shops.
Elizabeth’s High 5 thrifting tricks to discover the very best residence decor
- Go Typically – Thrift Shops are always including new gadgets and restocking stock, so the extra usually you go, the upper likelihood you should have of discovering nice gadgets.
- Look Excessive and Low – Most of the time, the very best gadgets I discover are hidden on the again of cabinets, beneath gadgets, or on the backside. Don’t be afraid to get low and look behind gadgets on the shelf!
- Be Open Minded – Don’t set your intentions on discovering a particular merchandise (you probably received’t discover that precise merchandise). I discover that the very best finds are sudden. Be open to looking totally different sections and imagining methods you possibly can modify, repurpose, and create with these things.
- Test for High quality – You will need to examine the gadgets you discover on the thrift retailer, as these things are secondhand. Fastidiously search for any injury, stains, and heavy put on. Search for high-quality supplies and perceive the value of things.
- Have a Plan & Funds – It’s straightforward to get overwhelmed within the thrift retailer with the limitless quantity of things and clothes, so have a plan on what areas you’d prefer to browse (instance: I’m solely going to browse kitchenware and equipment at this time). Moreover, it’s straightforward to need to purchase the whole lot and something you want on the thrift retailer—this can be a slippery slope to over-consumption. Having each a plan and price range will enable you keep targeted and never get overwhelmed with each part of the thrift retailer.
