Transform Your Kitchen on a Budget with Amazing Thrifted Finds

Everyone loves a beautiful, well-designed kitchen, but not everyone can afford their ideal kitchen. Even so, there are ways to give your kitchen an economical boost with thrifted finds. Check out today’s collection of pretty kitchens that make great use of second-hand treasures.

First up is a bright and cheery kitchen that incorporates a colorful collection of fiesta ware on open shelves. Fiesta ware is an Art Deco style of glazed, ceramic pottery that first made its appearance in the early 1930s. Production took a hiatus from 1973 to 1985. Collectors typically prefer to get the earlier pieces, but recent fiesta ware is just as pretty, although it’s made from vitreous china and not semi-vitreous pottery. Vintage kitchen towels and a step stool complete the look.

Photo by Julia Chasman Design

 

A collection of pottery pieces adorns a white hutch in this charming, Oregon farmhouse kitchen. What’s great about thrifted dishes is they’re beautiful and functional at the same time. They’re not just for looks.

Photo by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

 

Have you ever turned to a flea market or second-hand store to find interior doors? This kitchen by Alison Kandler features a fun screen door to serve as a pantry door. You can find vintage screen doors like this all over flea markets. A lot of people purchase them to use as architectural elements in the garden. But look how great this yellow door looks in a colorful kitchen. When you find one, you’ll likely need to re-screen it and give it a fresh coat of paint. The end result is worth that extra bit of work, don’t you think?

Photo by Alison Kandler Interior Design

 

Lucky is the person who finds an industrial cart to serve as a kitchen island. It provides more character than a new island. I’m hoping to find a similar style cart (only smaller) for my own kitchen – one with wheels so I can easily move it around. Thrifted finds add so much personality to your home and make great conversation pieces when entertaining.

Photo by Rikki Snyder

 

Create an interesting and eclectic look in your kitchen with a second-hand table and chairs. In this pretty white kitchen, the owner mixed a variety of chair styles that surprisingly works. I love the mix of aqua and red.

Photo by Joanne Palmisano Design

 

Many of you will recognize the kitchen of Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you’ve ever watched the show, Fixer Upper, you know how clever the couple is when it comes to using thrifted finds in creative ways – from architectural pieces to furniture and knickknacks. Old signage is always a show piece in a kitchen and they’re relatively easy to find.

Photo by Magnolia Homes

 

Would you ever consider using vintage cabinetry in your kitchen? This one looks great flanked by pastel oil paintings of flowers. Some of these cabinets are over-priced, in my humble opinion. But if you’re patient, you can find one in decent shape with a small price tag.

Photo by En Vie Interiors by Melanie Bowe

 

Feel free to mix thrifted finds in your kitchen (or any room in the house, for that matter). Here, a pretty cabinet joins a vintage bentwood chair, collected pottery, old glass bottles, and more. Look closely and you’ll see that the doors incorporate chicken wire instead of glass. This is a great idea if you come across an old hutch that doesn’t have its glass intact and you don’t want to spend money to replace it. See how I added chicken wire to my dining hutch.

Photo by Kate Hansen Photography

 

We’re at the beginning of flea market season here in the Chicagoland area. It’s always fun to see what vintage treasure might be found, I hope this post gives you some ideas for using thrifted finds in your kitchen.