10 Inspiring Thrift Store Makeovers – Before and After

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A closeup photo of a wooden wall curio showing just the painted drawers in a weathered aqua near a set of aqua sun faded book with a terracotta pot with a plant on it. On the shelf above the drawers is two tiny mugs in deep blue and red berry with tiny succulents.

These thrift store makeovers feature before-and-after transformations that turn overlooked finds into creative, repurposed pieces for the home.

1. Gun Rack Repurposed

I found this old gun rack at Goodwill. At the time, I had no idea what to do with it, but I’m glad I picked it up because I made two projects from it, a reindeer basket and a sign for Halloween! Find the full upcycled reindeer basket tutorial here.

Before photo of an old wood gun wall rack. This dated piece was destined for the trash but was upcycled to make a chic wall hook bar and a reindeer basket!
Before
Feature image of a square tapered wicker basket turned into a rustic reindeer basket with the addition of plaid red and green nose and ears and antlers made from an old vintage wall hanging gun rack. The basket is show here filled with a branch with small pine cones and branches of pussy willows.
After: Reindeer Basket with Repurposed Gun Rack Antlers
Ye Olde Broom Shoppe - this is a closeup of a handmade wooden sign for Halloween. The type is old English style with curved wood top and bottom pieces to add to the look!
After: Halloween Sign made with Repurposed Gun Rack pieces – top and bottom.

2. Thrifty Card Rack

Turn a louvered shutter into a cardholder! This simple display rack would be great in a home office or entryway, or use it as a retail display. Find the DIY shutter card holder tutorial here.

Three wood louvered shutters shown in a before picture. These will be used to make a card display rack.
Before
Closeup at a 3/4 angle of a DIY card holder made from old shutters. Here I filled it with vintage postcards and colorful, handmade 2x3 screen prints of vintage items like a coin purse that says ice cream money, a lava lamp and wrapped candy.
After: Upcycled Shutters Turned into a Card and Photo Holder

3. Spice Rack Propagation Station

I came across this charming vintage wooden spice rack that was missing its knobs, but I was drawn to those adorable little drawers. I knew it would make a great wall propagation station, so I gave it a fresh, new look with new pulls and a decorative appliqué. Find more plant propagation station ideas here.

Small wall mounting wood spice rack with two drawers at the bottom. This is the before picture. This vintage spice rack is missing the knobs and holds about six glass spice jars.
Before
Thrift store makeover of a vintage wood spice rack that hangs on the wall and holds six spice bottle and has two pull out drawers at the bottom. This dated thrift store find was a dingy wooden piece missing the knobs to the drawers. Shown here upcycled into a beautiful and useful propagation station and given a fresh coat of aqua paint and new pull knobs that are rings in brass. Also added was a decorative applique painted aqua and has ornate edges and a faux key cut out in the center. The spice rack propagation station is hanging on a white wall with four of the six bottle with pothos plant cuttings for propagation. Below are plants and a stack of books.
After: Spice Rack Propagation Station

4. Cutting Board Flag Holder

I was surprised to see this old, worn cutting board on the shelf at Goodwill. When I stumbled upon a grab bag of utensils with a metal flag holder, I knew they were meant to be together.

To add patriotic charm to this old board, I cut stencil film on my Cricut to stencil the stars and used painter’s tape to tape off the rest as color block areas. Once the paint was dry, I lightly sanded away some of the paint to let the weathered wood show through.

Supplies used in a thrift store makeover of a flag holder made from an old wood cutting board. Shown is an American flag, painters tape, paint and brushes along with a very weathered and worn wood cutting board with a crack in it.
Before
Wood handle cutting board shown hanging by a leather cord on a white wood wall. The cutting board has been painted white at the top with a red, white and blue star below. At the bottom is a red stripe across horizontally and below that the bottom portion is painted blue. At the bottom center is a metal flag holder with a tall United States flag in the holder.
After: Rustic Cutting Board Flag Holder

5. Mosaic Frame Serving Tray

Old wooden picture frames are everywhere at thrift stores and garage sales. See the step-by-step mosaic picture frame tray tutorial here.

DIY Mosaic Picture Frame Tray - supplies shown: handles, board, old picture frame and colorful blue and white dishes.
Before
Photo taken overhead of finished blue and white Mosaic Picture Frame Tray shown on a glass table with a succulent and two candles on the left-hand corner of the tray.
After: Mosaic Picture Frame Tray

6. Upcycled Wall Hook Sign

I was given an old dresser drawer and planned to turn it into under-bed storage, but water damage made that impossible. I was able to salvage the curved front, though, and turned it into a simple wall hook sign to sell in my antique booth. A French cleat on the back makes it sturdy and easy to hang, whether you buy one pre-made or make your own from scrap wood.

Horizontal photo of an old drawer before being repurposed into a wall hook sign.
Before
Horizontal photo of a finished wall sign with the working 'Mercantile' made from an old dresser drawer front with hooks for coats on a peg wall for sale in my booth.
After: Drawer Front Wall Hook Sign

7. Thrift Store Picture Frame Refresh

I couldn’t pass up this ornate square frame. A few light passes of mirror effect spray paint on the back of the glass gave it a softly aged, vintage-style mirror finish.

Before photo of a gold ornate square picture frame. This dated, gaudy frame will be upcycle to make a beautiful diy mirror!
Before
After photo of a square ornate picture frame painted white, antiqued with brown wax a mirror effect spray paint applied to the glass. Finished mirror hanging on a green wall with books and succulents on a table in front.
After: Vintage-Inspired Mirror

8. Wood Hanger Turned Jewelry Organizer

I repurposed an old wooden hanger to create a simple jewelry organizer. Small hooks along the bottom, a decorative appliqué at the top, and a fresh coat of white paint give it a clean, finished look. Vintage hangers work well, but new ones are easy to find too.

Horizontal photo of an old wood hanger with hooks added to the bottom and an decorative applique to be applied.
Before
Horizontal feature photo of a finished jewelry organizer made from a wood hanger.
After: Wood Hanger Jewelry Organizer

9. Old Drawer Turned Tall Table Riser

I was able to get two uses from this one shelf. A storage wall shelf for my paint supplies, and this beautiful table riser! Find the full repurposed drawer tutorial here.

Photo of the wood drawer removed from an old wall shelf. The wood knobs have been removed and it's sitting on the work bench.
Before
Photo of a finished repurposed drawer made into a long table riser painted an antique blue with vintage knobs and black feet. Shown here in an overhead side view filled with holiday florals, pots of white flocked greenery, a white candle and a vintage ceramic white sled with horse and carolers inside.
After: Footed Drawer Table Riser

10. Old Window Turned Into A Table

There are so many things you can do with old windows! I had two in my garage, and I bought a couple more at the flea market for specific projects. Find more repurposed window ideas here.

Photo of three old windows.
Before
Photo of a window upcycled into a side table, painted a light blue with glass gems glued underneath the panes for a colorful flower design.
After: Window Coffee Table

11. Frying Pan Planter

This worn frying pan is transformed into a planter by mounting it on a vintage base and finishing it with an aged patina and a simple garden accent.

Old flying man and a brass lamp shown.
Before
Vertical image of my finished Frying Pan Planter Upcycle on a cement step, filled with flowers.
After: Raised Planter

And one more—

This little thrifted curio just needed a little pop of color, so I gave the drawer fronts a sweep of aqua blue paint.

Shown is a pretty vertical wooden wall shelf three tiny shelves and a handle at the top that resembles a wood cutting board handle. The shelf holds six tiny colorful mugs with succulents. A terrecotta planter on a set of aqua faded books. This piece only needed a touch of paint for a little color pop. I painted the two bottom drawers aqua and sanded some of the color away for a more weathered look.
Star divider used has two hand drawn lines with a star in the center, used as a content break and signals new or different content below. This doodle style illustration is in a medium charcoal gray.

– MORE TO EXPLORE –

Furniture Upcycles + DIY Sign Ideas + Repurposed Yardstick Crafts

Photo of a red industrial console table with pipe leg. This table was made with a red narrow toolbox lid. The table has plants and books on it with a photo above it.
Round man in the moon sign - Vintage style stenciled sign with a black cat singing, sitting on a knotty branch with pumkins below. The moon man face take up more than 3/4 of the round sign with the cat in the left corner. The colors are light gray for the moon, darker gray for the man face on the moon and black silhouette style for the cat scene. This fall sign was stenciled using cut stencil vinyl cut on a Cricut Maker 3.
6 DIY Tiered Trays - Wood Yard Stick Tiered Tray - feature image with garden supplies and plants around it.
Photo of a red industrial console table with pipe leg. This table was made with a red narrow toolbox lid. The table has plants and books on it with a photo above it.
Furniture Upcycles
Round man in the moon sign - Vintage style stenciled sign with a black cat singing, sitting on a knotty branch with pumkins below. The moon man face take up more than 3/4 of the round sign with the cat in the left corner. The colors are light gray for the moon, darker gray for the man face on the moon and black silhouette style for the cat scene. This fall sign was stenciled using cut stencil vinyl cut on a Cricut Maker 3.
DIY Sign Ideas
6 DIY Tiered Trays - Wood Yard Stick Tiered Tray - feature image with garden supplies and plants around it.
Repurposed Yardstick Crafts

This Post Has One Comment

  1. SavePlus September 13, 2025 Reply

    Loved how creatively you transformed thrift store finds into stylish pieces! Such inspiring makeovers. https://saveplus.ae/

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