The Vintage Glass Decor Full Of So Much Charm That You Can Score At The Thrift Store

Thrift stores are one of the best places to look for whimsical decor, and if you want something charming that can grace your walls and shelves the whole year round, look for vintage blown glass beads. Most of the time, you'll find these beads in the form of long strands of garland — and though that may sound like a Christmasy thing, these beads can come in all sorts of colors and designs, so they're going to be easy to find any time of the year, not just during the holidays. And, your garland doesn't have to be boring either — and won't be when you use pretty beads.

These beads were often referred to as mercury glass beads because mercury was one of the ingredients used in creating them. Production of these glass beads began in the mid-1800s in the Czech Republic, and they are still made today (without mercury). They also started producing them in the U.S. around the 1930s. The same glass was used to make stunning vintage ornaments that can also be thrifted. For some vintage blown glass beads, stranded as garlands, you can expect to pay $45 and up on sites like eBay, which is why you definitely want to keep an eye out for these strands of colorful whimsy when you're perusing the thrift stores where you're likely to acquire them for a far cheaper price point.

If you're on the hunt for these shiny vintage beads, you'll want to do more than look for a garland of beads that looks vintage. There are telltale signs to look for to determine whether they are authentic vintage mercury-blown glass beads. First of all, while you might think a bead made of glass would be a little on the heavy side, these beads are actually surprisingly light. Most notably, they will always have a slightly rough edge around the hole through which the strand passes—as if they weren't filed down when removed from the mold. Some of the beads may still be fused together, while some strands may be missing beads — and you'll notice on these that there are no knots between the beads, which is another sign you've found a vintage piece.

Once you have your fanciful bead collections, what should you do with them? Again, you don't have to have a Christmas tree up to decorate with these beads — you can create a beaded curtain, use the beads to decorate shelves, or use them as garland around entryways. They even look beautiful when kept together in a large, clear glass jar on a shelf. There are so many possibilities.