Occasion: A lazy Saturday morning thrift run.
Location: Around Richmond, visiting six favorite thrift stores with my husband and toddler in tow (our dog Burger wisely stayed home for a nap).
We love a good secondhand hunt, so we set out to do some window shopping and treasure hunting. Our first stop was Love of Jesus on Midlothian, a great spot for larger furnishings. Like most thrift stores, it’s hit-or-miss, but when you hit, you really hit: we’ve found pieces there before that we transformed for projects, including a $15 desk and a $10 headboard. That kind of find makes the whole morning worth it.
We were on the lookout for a buffet, sideboard, or dresser to convert into a media cabinet for the living room. There were several long, low cabinets that had great storage—six drawers each and only $30. They were a touch too low for what we needed, but still a fantastic deal for someone looking for extra storage or a DIY project.
While browsing, my husband stumbled across a bright yellow piece that looked like a small table or island. He joked it might have been medical equipment, but the cheerful color made it fun inspiration regardless. Bingo finds don’t always have to be practical right away; sometimes they spark a new idea.
We also spotted an old $5 chair with solid lines and good bones. Imagining it refinished in a rich stain or painted navy or emerald green and paired with a crisp white parson’s desk made it easy to see the potential. Chairs like that are inexpensive canvases for a little creativity.
John picked up a well-worn orange hardcover book that appealed to his love of maps and travel. It looked loved but didn’t smell musty or sticky, which is always a relief. It would have made a charming coffee table book, shelf prop, or even framed cover art. It was under a dollar—another reminder that small thrift finds can add personality for very little money.
We saw a row of metal lockers that would be perfect in a mudroom or playroom. They were inexpensive and painted a neutral gray, but they’d be easy to spray in glossy white, sunny yellow, or any bold shade to suit your space.
Next we stopped at Family Thrift on Midlothian, which I hadn’t checked out before. Prices there were hard to beat. A set of six dining chairs was marked at $75 total—about $12.50 per chair—and they had lovely lines that leaned a bit toward art-nouveau. With new upholstery and a coat of paint, they’d be fabulous.
Nearby, a few novelty items caught my eye, like vintage-style tennis glasses priced at under a dollar each. Cute, cheeky accessories like that are fun to tuck into a styled shelf or picnic basket display.
We then visited the Salvation Army Family Store, also on Midlothian. A $49 cabinet stood out for its unique hardware and solid look, but we passed since it didn’t match our current needs. A wooden rocker marked down to around $25 felt like a sweet find for a nursery—imagine it painted a soft white, celery, aqua, or buttery yellow.
One mannequin dressed in a quirky outfit practically called to us; it was surprisingly still there despite being very photogenic. Some thrift items sit for a while before they find the right home.
On the Northside near The Diamond, Diversity Thrift had an unusual doily stretcher for about $4. I bought it on the spot because it makes an interesting piece of wall decor—leaned or hung, it adds texture and vintage charm. I’ll share a clearer photo once I find the perfect spot for it at home.
That store also had a sofa with a handsome silhouette but dated upholstery. With fresh cushions, a couple of turquoise pillows, or a painted wood frame, it could easily be refreshed. There was also a small needlepoint scene that felt genuinely charming for about ten dollars—perfect for a curated wall of vintage art.
A printed faux-wicker yellow and white tray was half-off and cost only a dollar. I grabbed it for the guest room; it will be cheerful holding a pitcher of water, a stack of books, or a small bowl of treats.
Having my toddler Clara along added an extra layer of delight. Watching her respond to new things—she would exclaim “oooh” and “ahhhh”—made the trip feel even more special and family-friendly.
At Pass It On in the Lakeside Towne Shops near Lewis Ginter I admired a group of pieces that were slightly out of our budget but lovely enough that I hoped someone would give them a good home. At Consignment Connection, I ducked inside while Clara napped in the car because the shop was full of fragile items. I loved a sunroom table that had already been marked sold, and I couldn’t resist buying a colorful globe for Clara for $19. The globe was held up by a whimsical whale base—one of her favorite animals after a whale-watching trip—and it felt perfectly meant to come home with us. When she woke up and saw it, she was overjoyed, and the sales clerk admitted he’d hoped someone would adopt it.
Back at home, the whale-adorned globe now sits on our hallway console and brightens the space, though these pieces tend to migrate around the house as we find the right places for them.
We’ll share photos of the other thrifted treasures once they’re settled into the house—the doily stretcher, the yellow tray, and a small table we picked up at Love of Jesus that I plan to clean and restore. Thrifting is always a mix of immediate finds and future projects, and that’s part of the fun. Have you been thrifting lately? What’s the best unexpected piece you’ve found?
Psst—if you’re in a thrifty mood, there are plenty of past secondhand shopping trips to inspire you.