These Are The Outdoor Patio Finds You Should Never Skip At Thrift Stores

If you have an outdoor patio, odds are you want to add things to it, whether it is outdoor furniture or garden accessories. However, you'll come to learn quickly that these items can cost quite a bit, especially when it comes to bigger items like furniture. Instead, make your bank account happy by stocking up on outside decor, planters, and other outdoor patio finds you should never skip at the thrift store.

While you will be putting these items outside on your patio, it is important to know what issues to look out for while bargain hunting as well as safety and cleaning. Common signs that you should say no to a piece are major stains, rust issues, water damage, bug damage, and odd smells. These pieces are more effort than they are worth even if you plan on refurbishing them. Since you don't know who originally owned the item, you should always be wary about safety and cleaning. Any items that need electricity should be tested before purchasing used, rewired properly once you get home, or still new in the box. Broken or old fixtures can be a fire hazard. Further, clean and sanitize your items with mild soap and warm water or anti-bacterial wipes.

Decorative pillows and cushions can easily cost you a pretty penny brand new, so save some money by using thrifted ones. By walking the aisles of your local resale shop, you'll come to find loads of pillows but not every cushion will do. When looking, you'll want to find durable materials that are UV-resistant, mildew-resistant, and water repellent. Polypropylene is an optimal outdoor material option. However, don't forget to store away pillows or cushions to prolong its lifespan from weathering, pests, allergens, and sunlight when not in use.

You should check out the thrift store for your next plant stand because they have awesome deals at low prices when it comes to their stool collection. Your local secondhand shop may have a load of eclectic or unique metal, ceramic, and wood stools that work perfectly as a plant perch on your porch. You can find stools in many different heights, colors, and designs as well, giving you more chances to find a piece that matches your overall exterior look. Don't have a plant? Use the stool as a small outdoor side table. 

Secondhand stores will have a plethora of items that work well as unique pots, planters, and hanging baskets for your patio. While hunting for these containers, check the bottom of it to see if there is already a drainage hole. If not, look to see if the item is sound enough for you to drill a hole into it. If you find a container that you absolutely love and you don't think you can add any drainage holes, try adding fake greenery or a low-maintenance plant that doesn't require much soil care.

Outdoor statues are one piece of decor you should never overlook in a thrift store. Whether they are big or small, these stone statues and figurines are great statement pieces for any patio. Some popular looks you'll find are angels and animals. However, it doesn't only have to be stone or ceramic statues. Instead, any fun plastic, metal, or wood pieces statues would look just as amazing on your porch. If you keep your eyes open, you will find a load of statue options in different sizes, colors, and designs.

Keep the area cool without spending gobs of money by thrifting a ceiling fan. This is a great feature that can elevate your covered patio instantly. However, you'll need to take some extra steps before purchasing and installing, including space measurement, wire checking, and knowing the difference between indoor and outdoor fans. Just be mindful that you may love a vintage fan, but old fixtures can cause fire issues if not installed or working properly. Take extra measures by working with a licensed electrician or handyman to ensure proper installation.

Your patio area can have sweet, melodic tunes on a breezy day when you purchase a wind chime from the thrift store. While not as common as a decorative pillow, a wind chime is an outdoor patio treasure that will take your space to a musical level. In some cultures, wind chimes are put up to even practice feng shui and deter supernatural entities from entering their homes. Can't find a wind chime? Don't worry because many times you can DIY beautiful wind chimes from repurposed household items and crafting supplies from the thrift store.

Utilizing your local secondhand store is a great decorating tip to help maximize your outdoor living space. The best thing about the thrift store is that you can find some unique or vintage outdoor pieces that you may have never seen before on a dime. Other great patio decor includes metal art, wagon wheels, tins, painted accent pieces, mason jars, and items with outdoor elements painted or printed on with flowers, animals, plants, and insects. Don't be afraid to also paint, restain, or sand any thrifted items you purchase.

A popular outdoor furniture style that you can score secondhand is wicker furniture. These vintage finds are a great addition to any patio. While the piece may look worn or have chipped paint, you can easily fix up the piece by adding a fresh coat and some cushions and throw pillows. Just remember to dust and clean it often to extend its lifespan and keep the small holes debris free. Since sunlight, rain, and snow can damage the wicker fibers, it is best to keep it on a covered porch.

While it may not happen very often, thrift stores have couches that can easily work as outdoor couches. When looking for your next outdoor couch, try to look for couches that have wood or metal frames. From there, you can refurbish the couch with materials that can withstand the outdoors. With metal couches, just add new cushions and pillows that you also can find resale. If you get a fabric couch, you may want to switch out the covers with water-resistant ones or have couch covers on hand for wet days.

Add a touch of lighting and elegance (all while saving tons of money) by picking up outdoor lanterns the next time you go bargain hunting. These lighting sources can be rewired or have artificial lights added to them, which you can also score from the thrift store. Then place them along your porch, on outdoor tables, or even on the ground for ambient mood lighting no matter how long you want to hang outdoors when the sun sets.

A fun outdoor feature that is sometimes forgotten are the glass and servingware. The thrift store is the best place to find these items on a budget because they have tons of them. It is the perfect opportunity to get a set for your outdoor space for when you entertain. This is also the ideal place to find vintage items, taking your patio space to new heights. Don't like glass? Don't worry because thrift stores have an abundance of plastic or wood options that come with many different fun prints and textures.

Everyone needs a place to sit outside, but these outdoor seats can sometimes be pricey. Save some money by adding chairs and benches you find from a secondhand store. This is a great budget-friendly place to find designer brands as well as unique pieces. You can even revamp your chair and bench finds by refurbishing them with a new look. From painting to staining, you can take a drab chair and transform it into a fab seating option.