30 More Simple Thrift Store Makeovers (2024)

Welcome back, beautiful friends! A couple of years ago I rounded up 23 of my favorite smalls to share in one post. Today, I have 30 more of my favorite small thrift store makeovers from the past two years!

I recently shared my top furniture makeovers and my top decor makeovers from the past year, and two of my top posts were actually smalls posts! I love the smalls, and I know y’all do too, so I decided to do another large round up of them!

These are all mini makeovers from my Painting the Smalls series.

Like I said with the first batch…

WARNING: Lots of fantastically simple makeover ideas ahead that may make you want to run (not walk) to your nearest thrift store!!

You may even have pieces around your home right now that could use a simple update.

I used softer, coastal hues for most of my smalls since that is mostly what sells in my booth, but you can use any colors you like!

Find more details about each makeover by clicking the link I’ve provided below each after photo.

ENJOY!

Mini Makeover #1

First up is this ornate ceramic box that I picked up on clearance at the thrift store for $5.75 :

I’m not sure if this was the original intended finish or if someone did that to it, but painting it in this soft, Driftwood color and highlighting the details with white wax did wonders!

Painting the Smalls #15

Mini Makeover #2

I rarely pass up a good tray, and I loved the petite size of this tray I picked up for $3.75:

It was painted in Cotton white paint…

But the decoupage paper lined bottom is what brought it to life:

This paper is no longer available, but I have 60 decoupage papers in my shop HERE to choose from.

PAINTING THE SMALLS #16

Mini Makeover #3

Makeover number three is this spice rack I had held onto for years:

Cotton paint and this toile transfer (unfortunaltely no longer available) gave this little cabinet the lift it needed:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #16

Mini Makeover #4

Next up is this small box that I picked up for $2.98:

Tea Rose and silver Gilding Wax rescued this one!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #16

Mini Makeover #5

I love it when I find rocking horses. They just have a certain nostalgic charm to them. I picked this one up at the thrift store for $9.98:

A couple of coats of Cotton bright white paint did wonders!

What a handsome fella he is, and just a little sanding highlighted the details just enough…

PAINTING THE SMALLS #17

Mini Makeover #6

One item I always look for is lamps. I like them to light my booth, and they are typically good sellers.

This one was a great find at $9.98. I just loved the simple, elegant style of it:

The base got a simple update with Whitewash Glaze, but the shade I found for it needed a little something.

This transfer from the Floral Home Transfer (a set of four smaller transfers) was perfect!

And here’s a closer look at the Whitewash Glaze:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #17

Mini Makeover #7

This next piece is one I had had hanging around my garage for a long time also. I paid $4 for it:

I like to grab clocks too as they serve a function and function sells!

I went with Antebellum Blue and a little gold Gilding Wax highlight for this one:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #17

Mini Makeover #8

I loved this ornate little box I picked up for $4.98:

As you can see, I like to grab those too!

I chose Sea Glass for this one and once again, I used gold Gilding Wax to highlight:

Such a pretty combination!

And a surprise inside!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #17

Mini Makeover #9

Next up is this very petite teapot I found for $6.75 at the thrift store:

Cotton white and a Classic Vintage Labels mini transfer gave this a charming new look:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #18

Mini Makeover #10

I was so excited with how this next one worked out! I picked up this metal trash bin for $4:

As soon as I saw it, I had an idea to repurpose it.

After drilling a hole in the top, it became the perfect lamp shade for this lamp!

I used a 50/50CottonandVintage Duck Egg Blue mix on this one…

It sold almost right away!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #18

Mini Makeover #11

Up next is this basket I picked up at the thrift store for $3.25:

It wasn’t fancy, but it was sturdy.

Cotton paint and a spray painted stripe gave it a much more appealing, coastal feel:

The handle has no function, but it added some whimsy…

PAINTING THE SMALLS #19

Mini Makeover #12

Here is another clock. I found this one at the thrift store for $4.75:

I layered white and Savannah Mist for this one:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #19

Mini Makeover #13

Here’s another simple basket makeover. I picked this one up for $4.25:

Cotton white and a small sign with a Classic Vintage Labels mini transfer gave this one a whole new look!

I lined the interior of this one with black and white gingham:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #19

Mini Makeover #14

This next one started out as this picture I had been hanging onto for ages. It was $2 at the thrift store:

I just wasn’t very inspired by this one at all, but I decided to give it a simple chalkboard update with Savannah Mist while I was painting the clock above:

I added hooks for more funtion and some little doodads I had on the corners, but mostly, I love the sentiment.

PAINTING THE SMALLS #19

Mini Makeover #15

Mirrors are another thing I end up bringing home often. This one I found for $12 at the thrift store had a terrible silver spray paint job on it:

This one got a coat ofVintage Duck Egg Blue that I applied with myBest Dang Brush:

And I highlighted the details on this one using white wax.

PAINTING THE SMALLS #19

Mini Makeover #16

Up next is this dated looking metal candleholder I picked up for half off of $7.99 at the thrift store:

Not bad for $4! I used Cotton on this one too, and that is all it needed.

I paint a lot of white, but I love what it does for the most dated of pieces!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #20

Mini Makeover #17

Mini makeover number 17 is this ceramic box that was $3 at the thrift store:

Can you tell this one has been around a while? That green is almost back!

I primed this one with Slick Stick bonding primer and went for Cotton on this one too. White always makes for a perfect backdrop for transfers like this Vintage Labels I transfer!

And the inside got a pop of Blueberry!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #20

Mini Makeover #18

I loved this set of candle holders I found at the thrift store for $5.25 for the set:

Aren’t they so sweet?

They got a simple Sea Glass makeover:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #20

Mini Makeover #19

Here’s another funky painted piece that is hard to see beyond. I don’t even know what to call it, but I liked the shape and it was a good size for $6.95 at the thrift store:

Oh the power of white paint!

Much better!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #21

Mini Makeover #20

Up next is this perfectly good lamp I picked up for $8:

I felt like the shade was a bit small, so I swapped that out for one that I embellished with the Antique Damask transfer:

I also whitewash glazed the base:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #22

Mini Makeover #21

Shortly after redoingthese prints, I found this set at the thrift store for $4 each:

After painting them in Cotton, I used the Toile transfer to add fresh “art” to them!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #22

Mini Makeover #22

This next one is another small decorative box that I found for $3.99 at the thrift store:

I painted this one in Cotton on the outside…

But the inside got this gorgeous Secret Path purple!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #22

Mini Makeover #23

Silver plated pieces are in abundance at thrift stores, but this little tray I picked up for $4 was a bit unique:

It got the striped treament and another Classic Vintage Labels mini transfer:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #22

Mini Makeover #24

This next peice was a donation from a sweet neighbor, and I wasn’t sure at first if paint would save it…

But my tried and true white paint fixed it right up!

Right??

It sold almost right away in my booth. White paint does that!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #23

Mini Makeover #25

Would you believe I only paid a dollar for this next piece?

Vintage Duck Egg and a little sanding fixed this one right up!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #23

Mini Makeover #26

This frame was a $10 thrift store find:

I loved how chunky it was. I painted the frame in Cotton and then pulled out some leftover pieces of theChatellerault transfer to transform it and then added a chalkboard:

This is a great way to use up those transfer scraps!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #23

Mini Makeover #27

I find spice racks all the time and grab them when I do. I picked this one up for $5.99:

Stripes for the top and another mini transfer give this spice rack an updated look.

PAINTING THE SMALLS #24

Mini Makeover #28

Here is one more lamp that I found for $6 at the thrift store:

I used the leftover pieces from the Antique Damask transfer on this shade that I also scored for free from my neighbor:

I was able to update three shades with that one transfer!

The shiny metallic base was toned down with a wash of Dried Sage:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #24

Mini Makeover #29

This next one started out as this recipe book stand that was a steal at $2.50:

I did a dry brush of Sea Glass to give this one the faux patina look I love for these wire peices:

PAINTING THE SMALLS #24

Mini Makeover #30

And finally, this recipe box was a $3 thrift store find:

Secret Path and the Translucent Garden transfer worked some serious magic on this little box!

PAINTING THE SMALLS #24

And that’s 30 more simple thrift store makeovers!

I hope these super simple makeovers leave you feeling inspired to get creative in the new year!

Here is the first mini makeover round up I shared a couple of years ago. There are 23 more to see!

23 Simple Thrift Store Makeovers

I’ll be taking down Christmas and getting my workspace organized this weekend, but I’ll be back with my first brand new makeover of the year on Tuesday, this box:

UPDATE: Y’all know I love a box makeover! See this one HERE now!

Have an amazing weekend!

XOXO,

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