For today’s edition of Thrifting with the Gals, I’m sharing how to add Thrifted Vintage Gardening Decor Ideas to your backyard and outdoor spaces to create unique and interesting outdoor vignettes. In addition, I’m clearing up the mystery of what thrifted means.
Thrifting With The Gals
If you are joining Thrifting With The Gals for the first time, we are a group of friends who live in different areas of the country but share a love for thrifted and vintage finds.
We take you along on our thrifting adventure on Instagram stories and once a month we share thrifting tips and ideas with you here on our monthly blog hop.
Each month we have one thrifting guest with us and I’m so excited to welcome Lora from Lora Bloomquist Create and Ponder back this month.
If you are joining me from Kristin at White Arrows Home, Welcome.

What Does Thrifted Mean?
Since Thrifted isn’t found in the dictionary, let’s begin with the official dictionary definition of thrift which is the careful management, especially of money!
How about thrifty? Given to or marked by the economy and good management or thriving by industry and frugality: Prosperous
Therefore, when you purchase thrifted items, you are a good money manager, frugal and prosperous. I’ll agree with those definitions. LOL.
Therefore, any item that was previously owned and is available for sale at a much-reduced cost is considered thrifted when purchased by a new owner.
When you shop in yard sales, thrift or junk stores, donation resale shops, garage sales, or flea markets, most of the merchandise is gently used, although no longer needed by the previous owner.
It’s my favorite way to shop because I love to save money on home decor, tableware, clothing, etc.
Repurposed Thrift Store Chandelier with Dollar Tree Solar Lights

How Can You Use Thrifted & Vintage Gardening Decor?
Vintage Gardening Decor is an economical way to decorate your outdoor spaces. You can reimagine many thrifted items for your garden and landscape.
This vintage glider and garden chairs have been repainted with Rust-oleum paint for many years. The individual pieces have been collected from yard sales and thrift stores.

Add Thrifted Vintage Garden Decor Ideas for the Porch
The front porch is filled with Vintage Garden Decor ideas.
As you know, outdoor items may not last as long when exposed to the elements, such as dampness, rain, and sunshine. Therefore, I like to find cheap, thrifted items for the front porch.
This rustic primitive cabinet was a steal because the door was missing. However, it makes a perfect place to display other thrifted pieces on the porch.

I love Kennedy Rockers because they are comfortable and were originally manufactured in my hometown of Asheboro, NC. However, they are very expensive to purchase so I’m also looking for them at yard sales and resale shops.
This rocker was my latest find for cheap at the Habitat ReStore.
In addition, the side table is another thrift store find. It was very inexpensive, and a fresh coat of paint was all it needed to make a perfect side table for our rockers.

You may remember that I found two of these wrought iron sconces at two different thrift stores on the same day. How does that happen?
They are perfect by the front door of my workshop.

Vintage Gardening Deals
When out thrifting, I love to find old concrete planters and crusty old terra cotta pots. If they look new, I quickly use this DIY technique to age clay pots.
However, they are usually so much cheaper than new ones and you know I love the aged appearance so much more. The patina on an old concrete garden planter is hard to replicate.


Even the potting bench is filled with thrifted old clay pots and this cute used chandelier that has plastic crystals and no lights. However, you’ll not believe how pretty it looks at night, wrapped with a strand of solar light. The solar panel is above the light, attached to the roof of the outdoor kitchen.
The DIY Bird Houses are constructed from thrifted porch posts and reclaimed roofing tin.

Garden Statuaries and Bird Houses
Chippy and crumbling old garden statuaries always steal my heart, and I can’t resist bringing them home. Miss Bunny is one of my favorites because she was so cheap, and the owner was surprised that I wanted her. Who could resist her sweet crumbles?

Handmade Birdhouses are another weakness of mine. I rarely leave one behind.

Architectural Salvage and Dumpster Diving Treasures
Another fun Vintage Gardening Idea is using architectural salvage for your plants to climb upon.
These vintage iron porch posts received a coat of white rust-oleum spay paint and so did the rusty old iron bed frame found in the woods.

While diving into an old trash pile, I discovered this old wheel barrow that could no longer serve it’s purpose. However, it makes a perfect planter beside the greenhouse.

Stay tuned for more budget friendly shopping and DIY ideas coming this fall.
Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to check out my thrifting friends listed below. You will be rushing to the thrift stores after seeing their finds. Up next is Lora with her fabulous ideas for decorating with vintage suitcases.


Lora – Ways To Decorate With Vintage Suitcases / Ann – Summer Interior Heirlooms and Musings


Robyn – 7 Useful Fall Decor Items To Thrift For / Kristin – Lake House Vintage Must Haves
More Antique & Vintage Decorating in Modern Farmhouse
- How To Decorate a Modern Farmhouse with Antique Furniture
- Decorating with Vintage Baskets with Country Chic Style
- How To Use Vintage Decor in Outdoor Kitchen
- Modern Farmhouse Christmas Vintage Decorating
- The Best Vintage & Thrifting Decorating Ideas
- How To Decorate with Vintage Garden Decor
- How To Decorate With Old Candleholders
- How To decorate with Vintage Tool Boxes
- 9 Antique & Vintage Bedroom Ideas
- How To Decorate With Vintage Kitchen Decor
- 10 Ways To Add Vintage Charm To Your Bedroom Decor

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Nancy Brantley
Friday 19th of August 2022
I'm a shopaholic and love thrifting!!
Rachel
Saturday 20th of August 2022
Nancy, I do too. Thanks for stopping by.
Kyra
Thursday 18th of August 2022
Love your style! I got several new ideas from your post. I have a weakness for little vintage benches. I saw a couple in that one picture and nearly fainted! Thanks for the ideas.
Rachel
Friday 19th of August 2022
Kyra, I love those little stools and benches also. Thanks for Stopping by.
[email protected]
Thursday 18th of August 2022
Love that old doorless chippy cabinet filled with clay pots. So fun and versatile for display!
Rachel
Friday 19th of August 2022
Debra, Im so glad you like it.
Robyn Huff
Thursday 18th of August 2022
These are such great ideas, Rachel. I especially love the old garden statues! Currently hunting for a great pair of concrete swans!
Rachel
Friday 19th of August 2022
Robyn, thanks for stopping by.
9 Fun Ways to Decorate with Vintage Suitcases - Lora Bloomquist~Create & Ponder
Thursday 18th of August 2022
[…] follow these girls if you’re a vintage treasure hunter and decorator! If you’ve stopped by from The Ponds Farmhouse, I’m sure you enjoyed all of Rachel’s ideas for decorating your outdoor spaces with thrifted, […]