10 Thrift Store Finds That You Can Transform Into A Unique Wreath For Fall

Decorating for fall with autumnal designs and a spiced beverage in hand provides a fun start to the cozy season. With trends changing every year, however, keeping up while saving money can be tricky. That's why you may want to consider going for more budget-friendly — and eco-friendly — decor options, like making your own beautiful fall wreath using items from your local thrift store. This is a great way to decorate your home this autumn, as many thrift store finds are not only timeless, but affordable, too.

From decorative mirrors to placemats, picture frames, and even an old rake, there are plenty of unique items just waiting for you to give them a new lease on life. Keep in mind that some of these DIYs require a few additional materials such as glue guns, wire wreath forms, and hanging implements like adhesive strips or nails. Fortunately, a fall wreath crafted from thrift store finds is super customizable. You can use whatever fall foliage you like and even use foraged items from your yard such as leaves and dried flowers to give the item a personal look. The size is also up to you, meaning you can hang it on your front door, over your mantle, or even on your dining room wall for some striking fall-themed art. So, which of these thrift store finds will inspire you to make your own unique wreath this autumn?

Have you ever spotted a stunning picture frame at the thrift store and longed to take it home, even though you didn't have the right photo to put inside? Well, this craft is the solution to that conundrum. You can now grab that lovely ornamental frame and use it as a beautiful, autumnal wreath. The great thing about this thrift store find is that it forms the shape of the wreath for you, meaning you can get straight to the fun part: decorating! Oval or circular frames work best for this DIY. Embellish the edges using everything from leaves and foliage to ribbons, buttons, and twine.

If you're up for making a fall wreath that involves a few more steps, why not take yourself down to the linen and bedding section of your local thrift store to pick out some fall patterns? Once you've selected the styles you like, just tear or cut the fabric into shreds, depending on how rustic you want the wreath to look. Then, using either a premade or homemade wreath form (you can make your own out of wire), tie on each strip using a simple knot. Hang it with a matching ribbon or twine, and your wreath is ready for the season.

Some thrift stores carry fun, decorative placemats made from fabric, rattan, or plastic, but they don't always have the full set you need for your dining table. Don't worry, though — you can still take home one of those cute fall placemats to make a fun, welcoming wreath for your house. Simply glue the placemat to either a wire frame or some cardboard for support, then attach any additional decor you'd like such as reeds, pumpkins, or pinecones.

Many thrift stores and consignment shops have beautiful mirrors on sale, and making a fall wreath is a great way to decorate with mirrors that wouldn't otherwise look right in your home or on your front door. Like with picture frames, all you need to do for this DIY is decorate the mirror, then hang it. Make sure whatever you use to hang this wreath is sturdy (such as this KURUI Picture Hanging Kit from Amazon), as mirrors can be quite heavy, especially with extra decorations.

If you like the shiny look of the mirror wreath but don't want it to be quite so reflective, why not pick up a metallic tray or pan to make a fall wreath that's a bit less shiny? You could either spring for a vintage silver option that already has a patina for a darker fall look, or you could use a newer oven pan and decorate it with foliage or stickers. This is a great option for decorating your front door, as oven pans and trays are generally pretty light and, therefore, easy to hang.

Looking for something with a bit more texture? Don't leave the cooking aisle just yet! You can make a lovely fall wreath out of an old copper cake mold, such as a Bundt pan, by filling out the center with pumpkins, leaves, and flowers. If you want a bit more vertical height, look for a copper tub, which you can fill with any fall accents you like before hanging it up just in time for cozy season. Copper pairs wonderfully with fall color schemes and is also relatively weather-resistant, so it's perfect for outdoor locations.

You can find this next item at a thrift store or even in your own garden shed. There are plenty of brilliant ways to repurpose old watering cans, and using one to create an autumn wreath is a perfect way to spruce up your fall decor. You can use a metal watering can for a rustic look or find a simple plastic one that you can paint in a fall color such as orange or yellow. Then, simply fill the can with seasonal foliage like faux flowers, wheat, or leaves. Easily hang this decor item up by looping twine around the watering can's handle.

There are probably at least one or two bird houses available in the wood, trinkets, or garden section of your local thrift store, but you don't even need a yard to put these little houses to good use. By attaching several birdhouses together with a strong adhesive such as wood glue, you can make a quaint circle of houses painted in a variety of fall colors. Mismatched birdhouses can lend the wreath an eclectic look, and you can make your new decor even more unique by adding autumnal items like sunflowers.

Your local thrift store's sports equipment section may not always be your first stop when you're looking for home decor, but you can actually use an old tennis racket to make your very own autumn wreath. You can either look for one with a broken handle or keep the handle as a nod to the racket's original purpose, but the majority of the strings will need to be intact. Then, weave fuzzy yarn through the strings and decorate the surface with eyes and a mouth to create a lovely jack-o'-lantern wreath.

Rakes are super versatile implements that you can use in a variety of ways to add fall spice to your front door (or elsewhere in your home). By decorating the tines of a rake with fall foliage, ribbons, and even little scarecrows or gnomes, you can create a charming, rustic wreath of your own. If you like, you can hold onto the rake shaft so you have the option to turn the wreath into a patio decor piece, which can lean against a wall instead of hanging on the door.