Turn A Thrift Store Brooch Into A Stunning Fridge Gallery Wall With A DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

For most people, refrigerator magnets serve a practical function — like keeping your grocery lists in a convenient place. However, there are some people who just love those little daily doses of cuteness. They have no qualms about spending copious amounts of money on new fridge magnets to add to their tiny fridge-front gallery wall. If you count yourself among these miniature-loving souls, here's a tip for finding some truly unique refrigerator magnets. Skip the Big Box stores and take a wander through the jewelry aisle of your favorite thrift store. Look for the most interesting brooches you can find, turn them into magnets, and give them a prime spot in your refrigerator gallery.

Since you want the brooches to make your fridge gallery more interesting, there are a couple of elements to look for, aside from price. The brooch should be well-crafted, without missing rhinestones or major damage. You may also want to look for brooches in a specific style if you're doing a thematic display on the fridge. Here's an example: Art Nouveau brooches, with their emphasis on florals and weaving vines, would be a beautiful addition to a kitchen decorated with biophilic interior decor elements. 

And as you've probably already guessed, you'll need some supplies to help you repurpose the jewelry and turn it into decor. Magnets tiny enough to glue onto the backs of the brooches, like Linlinzz Small Magnets for the Refrigerator, are less likely to be an eyesore. As for the glue, go with a glue gun. It's easy to use and will hold the magnet to the back of the brooch without much trouble.

To make your brooches into unique and meaningful fridge magnets, all you need to do is glue magnets onto their backsides (where the pins are). This means that if you find a brooch that's missing a pin in the back, it's okay. It'll make working with the piece that much easier. If the brooch still has a pin in the back, you can choose to remove it with a pair of pliers. 

As for working with the magnets, keep in mind that you should curate your fridge-front gallery in the same way you would a gallery for the wall. First, look for the most eye-catching pieces you can find if you want the gallery to stand out. A matchy-matchy approach to your gallery curation will make for a homogenous display, with none of the pieces standing out because they all kind of look alike. To prevent that, look for brooches with unique lines, beautiful textures, and an interesting visual story.

Second, find a way to give a few of them a frame. Although they're designed to look lovely without one, working with frames in new ways can create a whole different vibe. One idea is to buy a small 3-by-5-inch picture in a frame and tuck a small brooch in the corner. Or repurpose a fancy compact mirror whose clasp is broken. Take it apart and glue the brooch to the mirror side of the compact. The mirror will reflect the piece's intricacies and provide a pretty backdrop for it to sit on.