Thrift Store DIYs Archives - Southern Living with Chris

05/29/201606/30/2016

Porch Makeover DIY Project: Inexpensive and Easy Updates

DIY porch makeover remodel with newly spray painted chairs.

easy porch makeover with Rustoleum metallic paint — My easy porch makeover on my southern style back porch.

Porch makeover DIY project is a success! This project was very cost effective. In under $100 I created a porch makeover that offers a fresh look, and it took very little time.

Since moving to this house in Henry County, Tennessee, I have really wanted to enclose my covered porch to create a four season room. But the cost of the process is more than we can handle at this time.

Tired of looking at my old, outdated, and mismatched outdoor furniture, I decided to do an easy porch makeover that wouldn’t cost a lot of money.

My Easy Porch Makeover Tips

First of all, the best way to begin is with a good power washing. If you don’t have a power washer, it’s a great investment. We use it to clean our outdoor furniture as well as our vinyl siding. I already have a wicker loveseat and chairs, and they are not in bad shape. I quickly power washed them to reuse them in my porch makeover plan. I also power washed the outdoor dining set as well to prepare it for paint.

At the start of my porch makeover, my biggest eyesore was my 15 year old patio dining set. It is too comfortable to get rid of, but it was worn and a dull beige color. My newer wicker outdoor loveseat and chair set is an oil rubbed bronze color. I love the dark, rich color, so I decided to get a few cans of Rustoleum that would match to coordinate the design.

The home that we live in is sort of colonial /cape cod/farmhouse style. It is white with dark charcoal shutters. I decided to use red as my accent color in cushions and flowers for my porch makeover.

I power washed my old outdoor chair set, let them dry completely. Then I spray painted them with Rustoleum metallic paint in the oil rubbed bronze color. Luckily the paint was on sale so it helped to keep the cost down. I did have to buy 9 cans of spray paint to complete the job.

Before and after porch makeover using Rustoleum paint for professional look.

I was very happy with the way they turned out, my only problem was that the weather was not helping. When I started to paint it was dead calm, and half way through the job the wind kicked up to gale force and I had to quite for the next three days. Remember to check the weather forecast before you start the job. It will make it much easier. My problem is I get all charged up about a project and can’t wait to get into it and see how it will all look when I am done. I am trying to have more patience in my old age but its hard for this old dog to learn a new trick.

I already have materials for my next porch project. After thrift store shopping this past weekend, I was able to purchase a small wooden cabinet. I plan to remodel it and turn it into a potting table. I will keep it along the north wall of my covered porch and use it to keep my fertilizers, pots, and hand tools neatly stored away.

For me the thrill is in updating and designing DIY projects that look great and are inexpensive.

10/27/201407/03/2016

DIY Door Swag: a Refreshed Swag with a Southern Flare

This week I created a DIY door swag on a dime. My neighbor called and ask if I wanted to give her old faded door swag a little facelift. She didn’t want to spend a lot on the refurbish so I took on the challenge.

This is a king size door swag, measuring longer then 36 inches and bit sun faded and needing some help. I removed all the old faded fruit and green ribbons that cascaded down the length of it along with some willow sticks.

Unfortunately nothing could be salvaged but the basic door swag. In its day it was quite handsome. I definitely like the challenge and told her I would see what I could come up with for the fall. I basically wanted to do this with things I already had on hand and parts and pieces of other decor I might come across in my bag of crafts. This was a great way to keep the cost down.

It took me about one hour to redo the swag once I gathered all the goodies and ribbon.

I found a “Welcome” sign in the garage and the rest is history.

DIY Door Swag Result:

This is the final result, I think it worked out well.

See more ideas on my Pinterest wreath board.

https://www.pinterest.com/chrisjroman/wreaths/

08/14/201406/29/2016

Thrift Store Shopping: The Fun of Trash and Treasure

Candle holders bought while thrift store shopping.

Ever been thrift store shopping? I recently spent a beautiful day shopping in Kentucky. I like to go to Murray because it has some of the best resale and consignment stores in the area.

When I was working I loved to shop at discount stores for home decor. I have always liked using the dollar store for inexpensive crafting materials to use in DIY projects. But it wasn’t until I retired several years ago that I began to do regular thrift store shopping. If you’ve never been, it’s the most fun you’ll have with your friends in an afternoon.

Some days we have fabulous finds and some are just not as successful, but it is always fun either way and the search is as much a part of the fun as the thrift store shopping find. For the best results, buy what you love, it may not have any real value, but how you feel it is worth the purchase.

I have purchased a ceramic Christmas plate for $3.00 and later found out it was worth $50.00. I will not resell it, because I love it and it was a great deal. Have an open mind about what is available.

Sometimes looking for a specific item helps you to pass over something that is just sitting there waiting to be noticed. On one shopping trip, I saw a small set of dishes that I loved, and I talked myself out of them. When I got home I regretted not picking them up. When I went back to get them, of course they were gone.

The old adage ” One mans’ trash is another mans’ treasure” is true and some days there is nothing but trash. But oh! when you see that glass plate or silver bowl or wicker basket that you just can’t live without, the $1.50 you paid is the find of the week. This new thrift store shopping hobby I have found is great on my retirement budget. The fun is priceless.

Top 10 Tips for Thrift Store Shopping

Ask around for information on the best thrift stores in the area. You can simply Google “thrift stores near me” for results in your area. Be sure to ask around to find someone who has been to them to get their opinions on which ones are best. Most thrift stores these days have websites and Facebook pages. Be sure to follow their pages and subscribe to their email newsletters if they have one.
Find out when the best day to shop happens to be.
Go early. You want to be there when the shop opens to get the best finds, especially on days when they are re-stocking from shipments.
Pick thrift stores in nice neighborhoods for the best stuff.
Have an idea of what you want or need before you go thrift store shopping.
Know what can be re-purposed and have a vision for it while shopping. This is especially true for furniture pieces.
Keep a list of the items you are looking for and have it handy every time you shop. Sometimes it takes several trips to find the perfect DIY piece for your next project.
Remember that there may be additional discounts for seniors and coupons available. Just ask before you go or find out from your thrift store shopping friends.
Don’t be afraid to haggle for the price you want. It’s always worth a shot.
If it’s a yard sale or church treasure sale, go late. Often times the best deals to be had are in the afternoon on the last day, when unsold items have to be tossed or shipped off to the local consignment shops.