Weekend Thrifting

I feel like today is Monday since we had a day off from work yesterday.

It was awesome and gave me a little taste of the coming summer.  As usual, I spent it thrifting.  This post is going to have a little couch update and a thrifting disclaimer.

Couch first:

If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw this and y’all gave me some great advice on these!

I talked last week about our search for  just the right sofa.  I called it the epic sofa saga and that it has been.  I was texting with my friend, Jessica, on Friday night.  Her and her husband are major mid-century lovers and keep a watch on Craigslist and local thrift stores, so I was asking if they would watch for a sofa for us.  She said that finding the right sofa was a difficult journey and was sort of like finding your soul mate.  I laughed because she’s right!

Anyway, I must admit, though I am a HUGE believer in thrifting, I was doubtful that I could find the right sofa there.  I really just thought that was something we were going to have to pay a lot for.  Why?  I’m not sure.

So on Friday, we were passing a Rooms To Go and I thought, we should go in!  I didn’t think they would have anything.  But there were a few sofas that I liked for about $700.  I liked them, but just wasn’t sold.  They didn’t feel like “it.”

That evening, Chris said I should be looking for one on Craigslist or thrift stores.  I vehemently denied the ability to find a great, comfy sofa that I wanted there.  Why in the world did I feel that way?  I’m still not sure…

Anyway, he lit a spark and I spent the rest of the night scouring Craigslist.  I found two sofas that I loved the look of and price, but both were already sold.

So yesterday, I was headed to Home Depot and passed a Miracle Hill store that I’ve never been in.  It is the biggest I have EVER seen.  If you’re in the area, it’s on Pleasantburg.  Awesome thrift store.

I went straight to the couches and guess what?  They had two that I was interested in.

I went in knowing that if I found a couch on Craigslist or a thrift store, I would most likely have to reupholster it.  But if I got it for the right price, I could handle that cost.

The first couch I came across was this smaller one for $39.

Life of Splendor Couch Option

$39???  Yes, it definitely needed some new upholstery, but I liked the bones of it.  I sat down and it was  pretty comfortable, but might need some new foam in addition to new fabric.  So, more money, but still it was $39.  I measured it and it was only 5.5 feet long.  So I couldn’t even lay down on it.

I liked it, though, but kept looking.  This store had like thirty sofas!

A few rows over, I came across this one.  I didn’t completely notice it at first because of the stripes.

Life of Splendor Thrifted Couch2

But the more I looked at it, I fell totally in love with the shape of it and the wood trim.  The wood trim has a very mid-century vibe.

Life of Splendor Thrifted couch

It was listed at $180.  I immediately bucked at that because I NEVER spend that kind of money at a thrift store.  But I kept reminding myself that this was a couch we were talking about!  It was in great condition, just needed a new dress.

And nice surprise, this one was ridiculously comfortable.  I was sold.  Just not on the price yet…I wasn’t sure how much reupholstering it would be.

I posted on Instagram and asked for advice.  Every single one of you voted for this one.  Then a good friend of mine and fellow thrifter said I should ask for a better price.

How has a thrifter not ever tried to barter?  I didn’t really even know you could at a thrift store.  I definitely learned something new.  I gathered up my courage and went and asked.

Guess what they said!  It’d been there for three weeks, so they gave me $50 off!!!  I got this sofa for $130!

So happy and can’t wait to get her reupholstered.  I have some different fabric ideas in mind and I’ll be talking about that tomorrow.

I am super excited about my other two finds yesterday.  I rarely ever look at fashion or bags.  I usually just zero in on the home goods.

Thankfully, these two beauties were up at the counter in the cabinet.

Tory burch and Louis Vuitton Thrifting Finds

The Tory Burch is white patent leather with a shoulder strap and was $15.  The Louis Vuitton is a small cosmetic bag/clutch and was $25.  I’ll be using that one as a clutch.

Major thrifting love there.

And now for the disclaimer:

When I was posting these finds on Instagram and Facebook yesterday, many of you asked where I thrift, when I thrift, and basically how do I find stuff like this.

I posted here about how I thrift and there are still some good points there.

But here’s what it really boils down to: GO ALL THE TIME.

I thrift a lot.  And I know it seems like I always find stuff like this, but that’s just what I share.  Y’all don’t see the days when I go to ten thrift stores in a row and come out totally empty-handed.  I usually just share when I’ve found something exciting.  There’s no reason to waste a post on “I went to a bunch of thrift stores and found nothing.”  But I do see how that gives an unrealistic expectation and I’m sorry for that.

For example, I went thrifting on this past Saturday looking for a couch.  I went to seven stores and bought nothing.  Then, I go Monday to one store and find all of this above.

So, there it is.  I’m not a super thrifter.  I have no special skill.  I just look a lot.  Like a whole lot.  Like going to a store every other day a lot.

But that’s how you find the good stuff.  Usually the really good stuff goes pretty quick.  If you can see something right after it’s put out, you score big.

Last example…Saturday I went to our downtown Salvation Army and found nothing.  I went again yesterday and they had a 10×12′ Navajo rug in perfect condition.  I was so in love, but it was $180 and mainly yellow.  I loved the yellow, but couldn’t justify the cost when I didn’t have a place in mind for it.

This item was put out yesterday, I saw it that same day, and I would be surprised if it’s still there now.

See?  GO ALOT.

Okay, I’m done ranting about thrifting.  I’ll be back tomorrow with fabric ideas and choices for the couch.  I know I’ll need some advice!

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4 Comments

We’ll have to check out that Miracle Hill – I don’t think we’ve been there yet and we’re looking for a few different pieces for our study and entry way. Maybe once we finish our kitchen cabinets we’ll have time to leave the house on a weekend or evening after work!

Way To Go Girl!!!! Super cute, and so excited for you!!!! And your advice is right on about thrifting…………exactly what I tell people when they ask me! Can’t wait to see your transformation of the couch, and you didn’t have to go into debt to get it!

Thanks Jennifer!!! So true…it amazes me how cheap this couch will turn out to be compared to what I could’ve spent!