The Easy Way To Incorporate Thrifted Jewelry Into Your Home Décor

Jewelry is one of those treasures you should keep your eyes open for at thrift stores. More than just trying to find valuable pieces, there's so much you can do with them. Naturally, you want necklaces, rings, and bracelets you can wear — but thrifted jewelry can also be repurposed around the home in stunning ways. Stud earrings work especially well for giving old candlesticks an upgrade. You might even be able to find a slew of them at the bottom of a mixed jewelry bag. It doesn't matter if they're matching; stud earrings can be used to embellish candles and make them look more glamorous.

People have been wearing stud earrings for thousands of years. They're simple, classic, and add a sprinkle of beauty — even to candles! If you find fake ones within your thrifted costume jewelry, start by getting them washed up. Set the earrings in a bowl and fill it with warm water. Add a couple of drops of mild dish soap. Let them sit in the mixture for 10 minutes or so, then gently scrub the earrings with a soft brush. Rinse them off and dry with a cloth. 

You're now ready to jazz up all the candles in your home. Lay your candles and earrings on a flat surface in order to determine which ones would look the best. Even if the studs are fake, hopefully you can still find ones that sparkle. Use a pair of pliers to cut off about half of the back stem of each earring, making it easier to push them into the candles without breaking them.

One by one, gently insert the stud earrings into the candle as fun little charms. Since the earrings likely won't match, try to keep them evenly spaced. You can use fake pearls, multi-colored rhinestones, or tiny gold balls. Pick whichever studs will go with your home's style the best! For safety precautions, only decorate candles you don't plan on burning. Or, at least, keep the earrings near the base to keep them away from the flame, perhaps creating an accent border.

If you want even more glamor, consider using bold dangly earrings as well. Even adding one or two can make a candle look magical, especially if you complete the look with a fancy holder. Place it on your nightstand, mantel, or entry table, and it'll surely steal the show. But why stop there, when there are even more ways to reuse old jewelry to breathe new life into your tired home decor?

Beaded necklaces look gorgeous wrapped around candle holders. Hold onto beads, brooches, clip-on earrings, and other broken jewelry to adorn candlesticks and pillar candles – you can also attach festive pins during the holidays to elevate your table settings. The next time you see a bag of random costume jewelry at the thrift store, you might want to scoop it up for this purpose.