13 Common Thrift Store Items You Should Be Looking For To Stay Cozy All Winter Long

Winter can be a challenging season. Between the shorter, dark days, the cold weather, and the holiday spending and obligations, you might find it difficult to foster a cozy environment. New blankets or sweaters can help, but when your budget is already pretty tight, buying these items new might be adding to your problems. Luckily, the thrift store is filled with a variety of cozy items that you can almost always find at a lower price point, especially if you know when the sales are on.

Whether you're on the hunt for things that will keep you warm like cashmere sweaters and winter boots or pieces that will make your home feel like a cozy sanctuary like candleholders and huge mugs, your local thrift store should be the first place you check. Sometimes you can find brand new, never used products at these secondhand shops. Other times, the items you find may need special care before you bring them indoors. Either way, if you're planning the coziest winter ever, your local thrift store is a valuable resource.

Cashmere sweaters are the epitome of cozy — they're warm, comfortable, and easy to style for winter. To purchase one brand new, you can expect to fork over hundreds of dollars, but at the thrift store, you can find quality cashmere pieces for as low as $5. Be sure to check both the mens and womens sweater sections as well as the outerwear aisle since cashmere sweaters, vests, and blazers can be found all over your local thrift shop. Before buying, remember to inspect the sweater for holes and stains as this material can be quite fragile.

Leather jackets are a staple at most thrift stores, and if you know what to look for, you can find valuable, high-quality pieces that will keep you comfy and warm all winter long. When looking for a leather jacket from a secondhand shop, inspect the piece for damage and odd smells first. If it passes the sniff test, check for the tag to say 100% genuine leather. Jackets with a fuzzy liner will be warmer, so keep that in mind as well.

Infinity, blanket, silk, wool — there are so many different types of scarves you can find at the thrift store. Whether you use these scarves to keep yourself warm or you use your unique, luxury scarves as decor because they're too pretty to wear, this is one thrift store staple that's sure to bring the cozy vibes. Remember to check the tags for washing instructions as some scarves (silk, for example) may need to be hand-washed.

Knit and crochet blankets are awesome thrift store finds as they are often handmade and completely unique. You can use the blankets to get cozy and watch a movie at home, or set them out on the furniture to give your pet a warm and comfy place to rest. As always, inspect the blankets for holes and other damage before buying and practice caution when washing them.

Thrift stores are famous for bagging up random, small items and selling them at a discount. If you ever find a bag of fabric scraps in this section, pick them up and make yourself a beautiful, cozy quilt. If quilting is not in your skillset, you can repurpose fabric scraps into one-of-a-kind DIY artwork to give your home a cozy vibe.

In the winter, the key to running errands comfortably is layers. There's nothing worse than dressing for the cold outdoor weather, then sweating your behind off when you enter a heated store. The thrift store is a great place to look for layering basics that are easy to peel off or add on depending on the temperature. Look for versatile base layers in neutral colors so they will match with anything. For additional layers, don't be afraid to mix different textures and colors to add visual interest.

Nothing's cozier in the winter than a huge mug filled with soup or your favorite warm beverage. Luckily, the thrift store is a great spot to look for unique and funky mugs that you might not find elsewhere. Just remember lead is a potential hazard that could be hiding in your thrifted mug collection, so be sure to use a lead testing kit before you sip out of it.

Curtains are a simple way to up the coziness factor in your home because they look nice and help block drafts from your windows. You can even place curtains over your front door in the winter as an ingenious curtain hack that'll keep your home warmer for less. When looking for curtains at the thrift store, you'll often find them on hangers in the fabric or blanket section. Occasionally you can find new, unopened curtains, but if they're used, double and triple check for stains, tears, or strong scents.

In the winter, when the days are shorter and darker, adding some cozy warm lighting to your home can help distract you from the lack of vitamin D. While it's not necessarily safe or advised to buy used candles second hand, you can certainly find amazing candleholders at the thrift store. From taper candleholders to large lantern-style holders filled with battery-operated candles, you're sure to find something cozy and cute for your space.

Undeniably cozy, throw pillows have become decor staples and are available in such a wide variety of textures and seasonal patterns. With so many choices, it's no surprise that many of these pillows end up at the thrift store. If you spot a cozy throw pillow at your local thrift shop, check to see if it has a removable cover that can be washed or dry cleaned and consider buying new filling for the pillow case to avoid potential issues like bed bugs.

It's not uncommon for thrift stores to have packs of brand new socks for a discounted price. A quality pair of wool socks or gently used slippers are both excellent items for staying cozy indoors, and if you can source them second hand for a deal, why not scoop them up. If you look hard, you can occasionally find popular brands like Bombas or Uggs, as well.

Keeping your toes nice and toasty is a key element for staying cozy in the winter. If your budget is tight or you're trying to be more sustainable, looking for good winter boots at the thrift store is definitely worthwhile. For the most success, keep your eye out for well-known brands like Sorel and Blundstone, and remember to check the soles to determine how much wear the boots have left in them.

Being cozy is about more than just feeling warm, it's also about feeling comfortable and relaxed. One of the best ways to foster coziness at home is curling up with a good book. Thrift stores usually have shelves and shelves of gently used books and you can often get a good deal by buying multiple books. To be safe, keep your thrifted books in a sealed bag inside your freezer for 48 hours to kill off any potential bugs.