The Whimsical Wall Art You'd Be Lucky To Score At The Thrift Store

There are lots of different items people head to thrift stores in search of finding — from secondhand furniture such as chairs, tables, and dressers to valuable vintage kitchenware and decor pieces. But one thing that people often forget is that thrift stores are also an underrated place to score unique art for your walls. And there are actually plenty of reasons why you may want to thrift your wall art instead of buying from home decor stores — one of the most obvious being that it's a great way to incorporate one-of-a-kind pieces into your home. One specific type of wall art that's worth keeping an eye out for in your local thrift shops is crewel art — a style of freehand embroidery in which wool yarn is stitched into a firm, tightly woven fabric like linen twill. While it can often be found on textiles like pillow covers and curtains, it's also common for crewelwork to be mounted and framed for displaying as wall art. 

Because its embroidery is created from wool yarn, crewel art instantly brings texture, warmth, and organic charm to a space. It also adds tons of personality and character thanks to its saturated colors and layered stitching, which can come in a myriad of different motifs — from floral and nature-inspired designs to charming animal and landscape scenes. For these reasons, a vintage piece of crewel art can look beautiful hung as a standalone moment in a living room or bedroom. Its whimsical, vintage vibe would also be a fun way to put a unique spin on your modern gallery wall. 

Although the embroidery technique first became popular in 17th-century England, crewel art has come in and out of style throughout the years — it was especially trendy in the 1960s and 1970s. And now, with Zillow's 2026 home trends report predicting a return of artisan, vintage, and whimsical styles, it's the perfect time to bring some crewel pieces into your home's art collection. Of course, as with most vintage decor, you can easily search for the perfect crewel art piece by browsing online vintage marketplaces like 1stDibs, Etsy, and eBay. However, prices on sites like these can climb well over the $500 mark. But if found in a thrift shop, it could cost you far less. 

One lucky TikTok user, for instance, snagged two beautiful crewel art pieces at her local secondhand shop for only $6.99. If you're lucky enough to come across a piece of crewel art that you love at a thrift store but aren't into the frame it's in, don't write it off. You can always have it reframed. Just remember there are a few things to consider when choosing the right frames for your art — including selecting the right colors and materials to complement both the piece itself and your existing decor. And if you really want to add crewel art to your home but just can't find one that feels like the right fit, you could always buy a crewel kit and create your own work of art.