16 Unique Ways To Repurpose Thrifted Statues In Your Home And Garden

Thrift store décor aisles are often overflowing with animal and human figures in all variety of styles and materials, including brass, stone, ceramics, and wood. This makes them a great thing to never overlook in a thrift store, even if, at first sight, they aren't in line with your aesthetic. Not only can you change the way they look with materials like paint and paper, they are also great for DIY and repurposing projects, like creating a unique lamp on a budget or a classy piece of décor to help keep books upright in style.

Usually, these figures, depending on size and demand by collectors, only cost a few bucks, and can be a great way to keep unused pieces from winding up in landfills. In addition to thrifting venues, you can also find them at flea markets, online auctions, estate sales, garage sales, and via antique dealers. The wealth of available pieces to look out for include small collectible figurines, garden statues, anthropomorphic salt and pepper shakers, and marble busts.

For a cute way to upcycle statues of any size, turn them into adorable frames using some adhesive and a small photo frame. You can even add other three-dimensional embellishments like flowers, moss, greenery, beads, pearls, or ribbon. Just adhere the back of the frame to the figure after painting it to match your décor with E6000 or hot glue. 

If you love collecting figurines or statues at the thrift store but aren't quite sure how to make them work with your décor, why not paint them? Using neon paint on vintage statues can give them a pop art and funky edge that normal finishes lack. Use acrylic or spray paint to instantly transform an outdated piece into a colorful new accent perfect for adding interest in a tableau, decorating a shelf, or infusing a small pop of color to a neutral space. For a more gothic look, paint them a spooky rich matte black that goes perfectly with your Halloween decorations.

Turn any animal statue into a sweet custom keepsake by adding some paint and other details to make the thrifted statue look like your pet. Start by using a base coat in your pet's color and then adding in the specific markings. You can also change other things like facial features, eye color, etc. as needed. These painted pets also make great gifts for fellow pet lovers.

Add small thrifted statues and ceramic figures to create interest and texture in your centerpieces. Great examples include adding cute deer figures to your holiday table centerpiece or tiny woodland animals among candles, flowers, and greenery. Place them peeking out of foliage or cover larger statues with faux moss for an organic look. For a bit of shimmer, add some spray glitter.  

This whimsical upcycle puts to use larger religious statues you might usually find in a garden or yard with open or extended arms. Use them to hold rolled things like toilet paper or paper towels. Or, employ them in a craft room to hold a collection of spooled ribbons or twine. Leave them in their natural finish or paint them to match your décor. 

Use a wooden box to create a unique one-of-a kind shadowbox for your wall décor. Glue down the contents of your box, including decorative paper, statuettes, fabric, trim, ribbon, and other bits and bobs inside the box with hot glue or E6000. Great upcycled box options for containers include wooden cigar or wine boxes. Or, you can mix your figures and small statues with ephemera like photos, decorative paper,, and other keepsakes.

Get creative with your thrifted statue or figurine and turn it into a one-of-a-kind piece of art with paint and other art materials. The more bizarre your creation, the better. This is a great chance to upcycle older statues with cracks or flaws. Add a third eye to a cat or make people figures into zombies. You can also use E6000 to glue bits of different statues together to create your own Frankenstein-esque hybrid creation. 

Use some small animal statues and paint to create adorable jars for storage. Employ hot glue or E6000 to attach the animals to the lid of the jar and then add a couple coats of acrylic, spray, or chalk paint. These adorable jars are great for a kid's room or for stylishly housing small items in your craft room or bathroom.

Instead of transforming your statue with paint, try decoupaging the surface with paper for a cool patterned look that creates a beautiful art object. The best papers for decoupage projects include thinner papers like patterned napkins, tissue paper, and paper designed specifically for decoupaging. Apply with Mod Podge both under each layer of paper and over the top. 

Larger and heavier statues make perfect bookends to hold books up and add character and charm to your book collection. Busts, animal figures, and heavy garden statues are perfect for keeping shelves neat and organized. Combine this idea with some of the cool ways to transform statues with paint or decoupage to get perfectly customized bookends that match your décor. 

Fairy gardens are an adorable and whimsical way to add interest to your outdoor or indoor space. You can use moss, succulents, small greenery, and other materials as a base, adding cute mini-houses, stones, mushrooms, and small figures to create a miniature world. Press the statues into your base materials in their original finish or paint them a fun color. Great additions include small fairies, cherubs, and animals of all kinds. 

Use a small statue in the center of your bird bath to add character to your outdoor space. Heavier statues will stay in place on their own, but you may need to add some adhesive to the bottom to keep lighter statues from tipping or blowing over. Make sure that any adhesive or paints you use are animal-safe for the birds that will be using the bath. 

Statues and figurines can make adorable and stylish lamp fixtures with the help of a lamp kit. Figures that are hollow inside work best for this project, allowing you to drill a hole at the top and base to thread the cord and lighting elements through the inside and out the bottom. Use a traditional bulb or go cordless with a battery-operated LED bulb. 

Metal animal figures and statues are a popular way to bring whimsy and nature into your décor. If you cannot find any brass figures at the thrift store, there isn't any reason you can't get the same look with metallic paints. Use a metallic spray paint all over the piece from top to bottom. You can even add some genuine gold or silver leaf in places for a luxe look. 

If you love making mosaics, incorporate some broken or damaged figures into your mosaic for a fun three-dimensional element. Embed the broken fragments of ceramic statues in the mortar mix along with bits of glass, shells, shattered porcelain, and other materials to create everything from artsy backsplashes to fun outdoor tabletops. Use them as small elements or place a large one in the center of your design as a focal point. 

Large busts and garden statues make beautiful ways to store and display your jewelry as part of your décor. Set one on your dresser and drape necklaces around its neck or over the top of its head for an easy way to show off your favorite pieces. Or, use smaller statues to store bracelets, bangles, and watches. You could also add a small figurine to a vintage dish with some adhesive to create an adorable dish for holding rings, brooches, earrings.