The Thrift Store Find You May Want To Leave On The Shelf (It's More Work Than It's Worth)

Thrift shopping is an excellent way to buy almost anything you need at a discounted price, including furniture and home decor. While you can find some great products in immaculate condition, you may come across items that need some work. If you're shopping for framed art, before you take your picks to the cashier, consider whether your money will be well spent, especially if you're buying it for the art and not the frame it's already in. Not all used framed artwork is a no-go when it comes to thrifting — especially if you already like the frame it's in and don't plan on taking it apart. It's in the taking things apart stage that you may find you wasted your money, because that's when you could see damage that you overlooked in the store.

While there is a chance you may come across some valuable vintage wall art at thrift stores, there are specific things you will want to look for when thrifting for wall art so that you can ensure the pieces you choose won't leave you with a headache if you plan to swap out the frame. This means taking your time with the art and giving it a good look over before you take it up to checkout. 

There are a few issues that can make it nearly impossible to replace the frame of some vintage art pieces safely. One of those things is whether it has any water damage. Look at the back of the frame to be sure there is no visible water damage, and check the front as well. You can sometimes see where a piece of art is stuck to the frame — this means it will rip apart when you try to remove it. You may also want to consider how yellowed a piece of art is. If it has smoke damage or is very old, it could be brittle and start falling apart when you remove it from the frame. Suppose the artwork inside the frame is made with delicate materials, like silk, feathers, or even human hair (yes, it's a thing). In that case, you will want to consider that these elements may no longer be firmly in place, as glue can deteriorate over time.

There are times when you won't know that there are issues until you get your artwork home, like finding that the picture was glued to the mat that you were hoping to change out while reframing. If it's feasible to take artwork apart at the store, it may make it easier to avoid such issues. If not, you could try to save yourself from losing the money by finding a new purpose for the mat or frame, even if the art itself is ruined. Here are some ideas for upcycling your thrifted frames. Or you can use the frames for other projects, like beautifying your book display.