Upcycle Vintage Phones From The Thrift Stores Into A Piece Of Art

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you're someone who's always on the lookout for items at thrift stores to style in your home, you've probably come across vintage phones and passed them up, thinking: "What would I even do with those?" While using them for phone calls is probably out of the question, surprise, surprise, these once-outdated thrift store finds are making a stylish comeback in home decor. Landline phones can actually be upcycled into unique pieces of art, and we can thank TikToker @tinycomfortskitchen for showing us one way this can be done — painting it to look like a strawberry. Not only will your creation show your kids what calling someone looked like back in the day, but you'll also end up with a one-of-a-kind conversation piece that likely costs just a few bucks.

To get started, you'll need to track down an old wall/desk phone, if you haven't already gotten one. If you can't find one at your local thrift stores, check out Goodwill, resale shops, or browse online marketplaces like eBay and Poshmark, which often have an endless selection. Then, gather a few prep supplies, including medium-grit sandpaper, a plastic-safe primer (such as Rust-Oleum's Plastic Primer Spray), a sugar soap spray, and acrylic paint or spray paint in your chosen colors. For a strawberry-inspired look like @tinycomfortskitchen's, use red for the body, yellow for the seeds, and green for the cord. You'll also need a fine-tip brush and a clear topcoat like Rust-Oleum's 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Spray.

First things first, give the vintage phone a good clean using your sugar soap spray. This will help lift and remove any grime that's likely built up over time. Next, gently sand the surface to even out any imperfections and create a smoother base for the paint to stick better. The final prep step is applying a plastic-safe surface primer, which also gives your paint something solid to grip onto. 

Once the primer is dry, it's time to paint the entire phone. If you're using acrylic for the strawberry base, be sure to apply enough coats to achieve a smooth, streak-free finish. Then, using your paint brush, add small red dots as a base for the seeds, and once dry, top each with a yellow dot. From there, you can spray the cord green to mimic a vine. And finally, seal the phone with the clear topcoat to protect your design from scratches and scuffs.

While the strawberry design is adorable, you can easily switch things up by choosing a different vintage phone, like a candlestick, rotary, or push-button model, and experimenting with other colors. For example, you could upcycle an outdated rotary phone into a retro piece using the same prep steps outlined above. Then, spray it with candy pink paint and swap out the numbers behind the clear dial for gold or silver stickers. If retro isn't your style, choose another bold color that complements your home's aesthetic.