11 Gilmore Girls-Inspired Vintage Finds That You Can Actually Thrift

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"Gilmore Girls" is good for a lot of things, but the best part of this 2000s series is its ability to make you feel cozy and right at home. It's the show you watch at the onset of fall, or when you're snuggling in for a long night of TV-watching. We never want to leave the world of Stars Hollow after hours of reliving it on our screens. So, invite that magic in and decorate your home like the "Gilmore Girls."

Redecorating doesn't have to mean splurging on new furniture or bringing home expensive finds. In fact, there's nothing complicated about giving your home a "Gilmore Girls" makeover inspired by the show. And some of the best details you can replicate come right from the shelves of your nearest thrift store. Thrifting can help you find items that have a lived-in, collected look that the series often showcases. So, add some compelling patterns to your living room or whimsical finds to your kitchen that echo the show's charm while sticking to a budget. 

Old clocks are often made from wood or brass. They might feature unique carvings or even a chime at the top of the hour. Most of all, they have a sentimental appeal that's reminiscent of the "Gilmore Girls" charm. Just imagine you're a guest at the Dragonfly Inn. You're reclining on a velvet chair in the lobby, light rain is trickling down outside, and the entire place is filled with homey details. A few of those accents include old, wooden clocks sitting between books and hanging on the walls.

When thrifting for one, consider a couple of ideas. First, think of palettes found throughout the show, like warm wood tones and gold detailing. Then, find a clock with personality: Remember, imperfections are what Rory and Lorelai love about their town and their home. Some wear and tear, and maybe even faded numbers, add to that storied, sentimental feeling. You can find these by sifting through the shelves for clocks with worn-out edges and old dials. If you happen to find an old one without working hands, swap them for new ones. A kit like ToughWild's Clock Mechanism can help you give an old clock a new life.

Flower vases come in all colors and sizes. Some are made of clear glass, while others are in earthier materials, like stoneware. They also bring a bright and girly aura to any room, characteristics that are quintessential to most spaces in "Gilmore Girls." The show has flower vases everywhere you look. It's typical to see a vase of roses sitting on Emily's kitchen counter that match her traditional home decor. The Dragonfly Inn also displays them, like the humble tulips that often sit in the middle of the dining room tables. 

To emulate the classy components of Emily's house, thrift them in clear and polished glass. She usually places them in visible spots, like kitchen surfaces and her front hallway. Fill them with expensive flowers like she does, or dainty flowers that Lorelai loves like baby's breath or daisies. This is a vintage item you should always look for when thrifting, since it's so easy to reuse. Bonus tip: if traditional vases aren't your thing, pivot to mason jars. They work well for replicating that rustic, charming vibe of Rory and Lorelai's house. If using mason jars, search for ones that are durable and tall in size to house any kind of flower you want. 

Throw blankets are cozy, and isn't coziness the very essence of "Gilmore Girls"? They're soft, often with cute tassels or textures that feel inviting. In the show, throws are used in almost every episode. The girls snuggle in them after a walk around town, or when they have a heart-to-heart on the couch. A good one will inspire you to do two things that Rory and Lorelai love: read a book or drink a hot cup of coffee.

Thrift a throw in a rich, warm color, perfect for a comfortable evening at home. Look for materials that are especially soft, so your throw feels like something Rory would put around herself during an all-nighter study session. Everything in the Gilmore house is comforting and inviting, so anything wool, fleece, or cotton makes for a good choice. Run your hand over the texture to get a feel for it, and avoid scratchy materials that are too rigid. Throws are usually easy to clean by tossing them into the washing machine, but always check the label. If you don't use it to lounge in, try placing it on your couch or reading chair. These can also be styled seasonally. Drape one over the end of your bed in the winter, or simply keep it folded on your favorite chair for breezy summer nights. Or, collect them in a big (also thrifted) basket beside your couch for a cozy touch. 

The girls love to personalize a space with patterns that add richness. A plaid armchair is a cozy piece with a print that brings just the right amount of boldness. It's also a furniture item that emulates the "Gilmore Girls" feel — eclectic and unique. Lorelai fills the Dragonfly Inn with lots of pieces like this, including a blue and white plaid armchair in the lobby and red plaid curtains off to the side. 

This pattern can be hard to pair. But it can be mismatched and somehow still fit in with all your pieces, like most spaces in "Gilmore Girls." When thrifting furniture, it's important to give your item a proper once-over. Check for any stains and that the legs of the chair are stable — good rules to follow if you want to thrift better treasures. The color of your plaid chair is also important. It can stand out against neutral furniture if you go for lively mixes like greens, pinks, and reds. If your space is already vibrant, try softer colors to balance it all out. When you bring it home, use a hand vacuum to remove any dust or dirt. Some armchairs come with removable covers that go in the washing machine. Always make sure to check the label for washing instructions. 

If you love Rory and Lorelai, you know one thing is for sure: They're not ones for cooking up a storm. However, cool 70s-inspired knick knacks can be found throughout their kitchen and other spots in Stars Hollow. Think the ceramic canisters Lorelai keeps tea and coffee in or the mugs and old-time diner chairs in Luke's Diner. A SMEG toaster or a retro-looking stand mixer would fit right in and bring that "Gilmore Girls" aesthetic to life. These appliances are designed with vintage-looking finishes, perfect for that nostalgic feel you get from the show. Better yet, it'll give any kitchen that diner touch if you've always wanted to eat at Luke's. 

Thrift retro appliances in softer colors, like light teals or baby pinks. This will give your kitchen an old-school vibe, perfect if you consider that everything in Stars Hollow feels like it's stuck in time (in all the best ways). Since they're thrifted, some appliances may be older. Make sure that the wires are undamaged and you can plug them in safely. If they're not usable, you can still use one as a statement piece in your kitchen. After all, decorating the kitchen with non-functional cookware is what Lorelai would do anyway. 

A charmingly motley collection of lamps is a great way to bring a little Gilmore Girls magic into your home. Their living room is set aglow with soft lighting, from wildly colourful girly shades to ones that boast floral motifs. The girls use slightly larger, brighter ones to tuck into dark corners and next to their favorite reading spots. They also make use of eclectic finds like the ballerina-shaped lamp on the cabinet in their living room. Lorelai even brings her love for lamps to the Independence Inn, where we see the famous stained-glass lamp glowing bright at the front desk. 

Browse your thrift store's lamp shade selection for floral patterns that you can use to elevate a base that you already own. The girls also love solid-colored shades paired with carved wood bases, common secondhand finds. To create the show's quintessential cozy vibes, make your thrifted lamps dimmable using a simple addition like Leviton's Plug-In Lamp Dimmer. Then, for layered ambient lighting, look for discarded brass sconces that you can retrofit with LED bulbs. If not in the living room, a small lamp can brighten a corner of your kitchen, sitting on the countertop. 

Picture frames hold memories and images of pivotal moments in our lives. They also bring the ultimate comfort of the "Gilmore Girls" vibe into your space. If you recall, the girls' mantle is lined up with an array of frames. Some show photos of a young Rory, while others showcase portraits of the two together. It's a sure way to tell that they're the most important people in each other's lives. There are no two frames that are the same, either. This anything-goes decor style can easily be recreated in your own home with thrift store finds. 

If you can thrift more than a few frames, diversify them by styling them on the wall or leaning them on your dresser. Mix and match ones made of brass or wood in colors like dark green and burgundy to achieve that lived-in, forever-autumn look that the show's known for. Vintage ones will sometimes have broken or wobbly backs. So if you want them to be freestanding, replace them with parts like this Six Pack of Replacement Stands. And, bonus points if you can thrift frames that include old painted landscapes. These are found on the walls of many "Gilmore Girls" scenes, including at home, at the Dragonfly Inn, and at Emily and Richard's house. The best ones are usually hidden in stacks and boxes at thrift stores, so prepare to leaf through them. You may even find a lot of them in sets, great for building your own collection like Emily and Richard's. 

One thing about the "Gilmore Girls" is that they're coffee fiends, but they're also feminine and whimsical. That means thrifting a floral teapot will make your kitchen super girly like Lorelai's. A teapot occasionally sits on their stovetop, but this item is often used in other cozy spaces, like when Lorelai sits in Babette's kitchen for unsolicited advice and neighborhood tales. They're almost always brought out when friends gather for a cup at the inn, adding to the delicate undertones Lorelai strives to bring to her spaces. 

Ceramics are a vintage decor item you shouldn't leave behind at the thrift store. Search for teapots that are classically ladylike, like ones that are round and have a long, arched spout. Thrifted teapots may come with cracks or chips, so inspect them carefully if you plan to use them for liquids. If you're not a huge tea drinker like the Gilmore Girls, you can find alternate ways to style a teapot. Take the top off and place flowers inside it, or use it as a vessel to keep kitchen odds and ends in. Either way, it'll make any space a little more feminine. 

Ceramic mugs can be both charming and functional. Bring one home that mimics all the different ones that Luke serves coffee in. Funny enough, his diner doesn't only serve coffee in interesting ceramics. Have you ever noticed the wall of mugs behind and near the front counter? The girls are also seen with all kinds of mugs at home, and even had one in the middle of the kitchen table to hold utensils in. It's a theme that is ever-present, so make it into a fun fixture at home or find a special one to enjoy your morning drinks. 

Stack these mugs up against the wall like Luke, which brings a decorative nature to any space. Or, take the guesswork out of creating a display by using something like this Wall Mounted Coffee Mug Holder. Look for mugs that say something about your personality and collect ones in colors you love or that match your kitchen. Mix and match pastels like pinks and blues to really get that quintessential diner look. When thrifting them, make sure you get one that's heavy and doesn't have any sign of cracking in it. Merch from the show with the "Luke's" logo on the front would be the ultimate find. Because who doesn't want to feel like they're drinking out of a mug that came out of Luke's Diner?

Candleholders can be small and short, while others stand tall and elegant. Finding the right ones can make you feel like you're at Emily and Richard Gilmore's Friday night dinners. They constantly flank the middle of their dining room table and even adorn the walls near the stairs and front door. The dim, flickering lighting makes for a snug evening at home, which is reminiscent of most dinners at their house. 

If you want to channel this cozy dinner vibe, set these all around your dining area or on a nearby buffet. Leave a few inches between each one to set some balance. Emily is known for framing her centerpieces with these, so you can set a vase of flowers in the middle of your table and place candleholders on either end. If you want to blend Lorelai and Rory's playful tone with Emily's polished look, find non-traditional ones in organic shapes. These are perfect for holding small, round candles. For a safe and simple way to add a cozy glow to your candleholders, look for flameless options like Merrynights' Warm Yellow LED Tealights.  

If you want that "Gilmore Girls" vibe, frilly curtains are the way to go, as many homes in Stars Hollow are full of them. In the Gilmore house, beige and off-white ruffled ones frame the living room and kitchen windows. Sookie's windows feature similar ones, often tied back with tasteful tie. You can't achieve a cozy atmosphere while gently filtering the light and creating a bit of privacy. And the show is all about that: staying indoors with the comfort of your home, soaking in that warm, calming energy.

Achieve this look by hunting for frilly curtains that work well in a feminine-inspired living room or bedroom. They're often delicate, so when you thrift them, make sure to lay them out and check for any pilling or holes. Subtle textures like lace or ruffles also add to that girly charm that's so obvious in the show. To help these hold up over time, clean them by pre-treating stains and using a mild detergent before allowing them to air-dry. Then, hang them to frame a prime spot. For eclectic layering, also search the thrift store for a patterned window valance like the floral one that Lorelai has over the kitchen curtain above her sink.