It’s almost summer and yard sale season is now in full swing. It’s hard to get up early on Saturday mornings and easy to get discouraged if you never find any treasures. I used to run a clothing store on Ebay (lots of work, little profit and not nearly as fun as blogging!) and would be out shopping/rummaging every weekend with the best of them. My yard sale time has been put on the back burner thanks to the kids’ Saturday morning schedules, but when I do get to go, there are certain things I like to always keep an eye out for. . .
Glass bottles and jars
It’s hard to go wrong with glass. Whether for decorative, storage or serving purposes, there’s always a use for it. Mix and match your pieces, and think of new ways to display every day items:
Baskets
I’m always seeing baskets. Some aren’t necessarily pretty enough to display, but they still make great storage in drawers and behind closed doors. And, there’s always the option to add a stencil or some paint.
Real Simple
Books
You know I love decorating with books. They instantly warm up a space. And, they make great (inexpensive) accessories when used in stacks. I always look for colorful spines or pretty pages to frame.
Decorative Boxes & Bowls
They say it’s all in the details. So, I like to look for small boxes and bowls to hold or disguise every day items around the house, like remote controls, keys or loose change. A pretty bowl or box looks great atop a stack of books or on a bedside table. Again, think of ways you can update them using a stencil or some painter’s tape.
(One of my latest finds now hides our remote.)
“Spray-Paintables”
I think I just made up that word. But, I’m always on the look out for small accessories or pieces that have a great shape and just need a fresh color. It’s easy to create a collection by buying lots of different pieces and giving them all a coat or two of the same paint. I’m also a sucker for a pretty lamp base, no matter how ugly the color may be.
Ginger jar lamps are some of my favorites. They look great in a bright color and with a fresh shade.
Bella Mancini Design via DecorPad
Another lamp I found for $3. It was a dull brass before I gave it a really red makeover:
Are you an avid yard sale shopper? Is there anything specific you always look out for?
YES to spray paintables!! Amazing what that little can can do! Great reminders on what to keep our open for while hunting that perfect little treasure!
ReplyDeleteI have been a garage sale adict since I was a kid- my mom took us every weekend. Now I'm lucky to live in Iowa where they start on Wednesday! I love looking for vintage furniture to redo.
ReplyDeleteoh yes... i look for pyrex everywhere I go!
ReplyDeletethis is a great reference for people that love to yardsale, etc!!! the only thing I'd add is looking for art and/or frames. sometimes the art sucks but the frame is awesome and vice versa :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love the term spray-paintables. This is a great list - I also keep my eyes peeled for great frames, even if it means popping out some ugly art. I guess technically they're spray-paintables too :)
ReplyDeleteI love garage sales! I need to make it a priority this summer! I've kept feeling behind every Saturday for some reason :) Now that soccer is over I hope to be out there. Great list! And I am forever going to use the term spray paintables now!
ReplyDeleteYes to all of these! Especially anything I can attack with spray paint. I love to look out for frames.
ReplyDeleteyes...I like to look for frames and always look for jewlery. I have found some amazing pieces, some costume and some sterling and real gold. You never know what may be tangled up in one of those fun little boxes picked up to hold remotes!
ReplyDeleteYes, I am all for the "spray paintables!". I pick up frames too!
ReplyDeleteI never remember spray paintables! What a great reminder.
ReplyDeleteI always look for art and mirrors.
Hope you are feeling good!
Elizabeth
I love stopping at Garage Sales, I'm always on the hunt for vintage Pyrex which is hard to find
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I look for these same things at the markets in Munich too...I'd only add some vintage linens to the list! This has inspired me to finally get organized and start exploring the markets around Seattle too.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I also look for mirrors and great frames (even with ugly art).
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the glass (and everything else too!). I garage sale almost every weekend during garage sale season here, I've found the best day to go is Thursday morning when most sales are opening. I have pretty little kids so we're up bright and early in the morning, and they love the freebie boxes. :)
ReplyDeleteI always look for pumpkins. I also always ASK if they have any kids clothing in bins in the house - most people do but don't want to deal with bringing it out!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Emily. I'm pick up candlesticks and picture frames at yard sales. Both items can be transformed with spray paint and both can be use in just about any area of the home. These are two of my yard sale staples!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. And I love 'spray-paintables'. :)
ReplyDeleteI look for baskets with lids, anything on a pedestal and trays. Love that red lamp! SCORE!
ReplyDeleteI love yard sales! Wish everyday was Saturday! Small pieces of furniture, frames, mirrors, pretty plates, shelves, silver, benches...
ReplyDeleteDid I say I love yard sales??
All such great tips, and nothing that you would get home and say "where do I put this". Perfect guide to get thinking about garage sale hunts!
ReplyDeleteLove this list, definitely the items to watch for. Here's hoping I manage to get to a few garage sales or antique sales this summer.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love to "treasure hunt" at garage sales and use my finds in design projects. In fact, I posted on my recent garage sale finds on my blog earlier this week! Most are in the process of being refinished to use in some of my interiors. Here's the link - enjoy! http://nicoleodettedesigns.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/confessions-of-a-decoraholic-5/
ReplyDeleteI'd always want to be upgrade on new content on this web page , stored to preferred ! .sandra
ReplyDeleteI love yard sales...but I need a partner...so much more fun with a friend. They really are the cheapest way to find good stuff because most people just want it gone!
ReplyDeleteThis is a super awesome post, Emily. I especially love the bit about the spray-paintables!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great guide! We're always poking around estate sales so this has certainly opened my eyes to some more possibilities of useful things we could be grabbing!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your lamp transformations! I was totally surprised at how gorgeous they look...I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for garage sales now!
ReplyDeletelove the vintage pictures inside glass bottles!
ReplyDeleteGreat one i love glass bottles and jars its very beautiful i like your sharing.
ReplyDeletebaby furniture fort worth
office furniture fort worth
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I just got done today with a day of shopping with my mom - we're definitely into glass! I'm into mirrors (especially with good frames), wood frames ("spray paintables"), good quality furniture at reasonable prices. I love yard sales and auctions too!
ReplyDeleteMugs are my great weakness. Well, and I'm always looking for kids' clothes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your tips and those gorgeous pictures! I saw your post as it was a featured one by "The Nester". I'm so glad that I got to see it...just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteExcellent list, Emily! I often forget about the glass bottles and jars, so thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteNew follower - found you via Nester.
I always watch for large picture frames and paintings. Nice hardwood frames are so expensive in stores.
All the best,
Dana
CookingAtCafeD.com
I love your list! Your yard sale ideas are great. I also look for a lot of those items, but I like your ideas for upcycling those lamps! One website I've started using to make my yard sale time a lot more efficient is http://www.yardsalesearch.com. It maps out all of the local sales for me, so it saves me a lot of time and gas.
ReplyDeleteThis would be my top 5 list also! As an avid yard sale gal, I am always on the hunt for storage containers like pretty baskets and catch-all bowls, etc.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I always look for are really unique frames or older artwork (can be ugly) with a gorgeous frame that I can paint or spraypaint, pop out the art and use as a corkboard, etc for my office. They cost a fortune brand new for the ornate, detailed types.
Great post from a garage sale addict from way back. I like to find household items I can repurpose to the garden. First visit to your blog and I'm loving it! Here's my garage sale post on my blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://lost-roses.blogspot.com/search/label/garage%20sales
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