Mimicking Magazine Products with Secondhand

Some time ago I was flipping through a magazine and kept seeing images of items that were beautiful and desirable - for your home, your closet, etc. What I noticed about most of them is that the price tags were NOT desirable - and that I had seen similar in thrift store hunting, or even in my own shop!

So I got to thinking - why not show that, no matter what your wallet situation may look like (and if it’s like mine it’s empty 99% of the time haha!), you CAN have your dream closet/home/event straight out of a magazine without breaking the bank? AND it would be sustainable, AND it would be unique to you? That to me isn’t only a thrift win - it’s a no brainer!

I’ll be showing different magazine flips throughout the upcoming articles but let’s start with some home decor. If you’re like me, you like decorative pillows for your bed, couch displays, filling corners and more. But those pillows can run for a pretty penny - so why not find something secondhand, give it a solid wash, and display it proudly?

Here’s a few examples of pillows I found at thrift stores that I used for corner styling. Sometimes in those small empty spaces it’s helpful to place a pillow as decor to quickly add some style without having ot spend a lot on new furniture. Each of those pillows cost me no more than $2 a piece, and the one on the right is from Pottery Barn! The two pillows with the candle is right on the landing of my bedroom - and it adds a cozy feel to the entrance. The right pillow I placed on a stool I scored for 99 cents and next to a lantern also from Goodwill. Just enough to polish off the corner of my dining room and not be obstructive (and the whole thing cost me less than $8!)

As far as the magazine goes, here is the image I came across - each of the pillows in the picture are all over $15 a piece (one of them is $40!)

Looking at those pillows, I realized I had very close replicas already in my home from previous thrift trips - it truly is amazing what you can find (or I can find for you) at your local secondhand!

Crazy, right?! Again they’re not exact - but the point is to show you can find similar items of decent quality to magazine featured styles without the magazine price point. Which is your favorite? (Fun story - I actually went to the store three times and kept passing on the pin tucked tassle, bottom right. It was only $1 and I kept passing it by - until I finally grabbed it!)

Think of those items you’re desiring for your space, from the stores that you wish you could style from - and then great creative with a secondhand mindset. No matter your price point, even if you can afford the likes of an Ethan Allen or West Elm, you can still find beautiful pieces and no one - read that again - NO ONE - will know where you bought them….unless you’re like me and you get pride of out saying “thanks it’s from Goodwill!” ;-)

Looking to restyle your space? Need help finding holiday decor, certain pieces, or just someone to come in and assess your space and give you some style ideas? Let’s work together - shoot a message to Second Look at secondlookroc@gmali.com or check out the Services tab and let’s get styling!

Have a look for your home from thrift store finds? Shoot me a message, I’d love to feature you on my channels!

Happy Homing!

Sarah