18 Thrift Store Flips To Add Stylish Storage To Your Home

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Tired of clutter and chaos taking over your home? A trip to the thrift store might seem like a bad idea when you're already struggling with storage — the last thing you need is more stuff to store. But it can be a very good idea, if you go with a specific type of item in mind: secondhand items you can repurpose into storage. We're not talking about simply picking up used organizing tools (although that's a cost-effective option, too). We mean repurposing and upcycling items into clever storage solutions, like hanging your jewelry on an upcycled spoon rack or piecing together glassware to make a custom tiered tray. 

Flipping used items makes your storage solutions unique, but it also saves items from the landfill and reduces pollution by decreasing the demand for new products. Plus, you can feel proud of yourself for turning someone else's trash into the perfect storage for all of your treasures. If you're not an experienced thrifter or upcycler, a trip to the thrift store can feel overwhelming. Maybe you struggle to see beyond an item's intended purpose, or you're not quite sure how to flip something cool into something useful. We've curated 18 ideas to inspire your thrift store ventures, while helping you avoid the things you should never buy at the thrift store.

This stylish storage solution uses a folding TV tray as the base and a small drawer as the top of a side table — glue or screw the two pieces together for stability. Since the drawer has sides, it contains small items, like magazines, remotes, and office supplies, but you can also add dividers or organizers. This idea could also fit with creative thrift flips you can use for a plant display. Or, combine storage with artificial plants to hide smaller items you keep in the drawer table.

Your favorite Bon Jovi cassette tape may be long gone, but upcycling an old cassette tape holder lets the nostalgia live on. The long, narrow drawers are ideal for storing small items, like craft supplies. If the drawers still have little dividers or racks for the cassette tapes, consider removing them — that way you can have a smooth bottom in the drawer. A fresh coat of paint on the exterior and some new drawer pulls on each section refresh the aesthetics to fit your decor.

Common in the early 1900s, these cantilever-style sewing boxes feature multiple levels that swing out, allowing you to sort small items and fit lots of storage into one space. If you're lucky enough to find one, grab it and refinish it to fit your style. New knobs on top and a fresh polish on the metal hardware enhance the look. You don't have to use the box for sewing supplies. Add soft fabric lining to use it for jewelry or dividers to store smaller items.

With so many useful ways to repurpose a magazine rack for better storage, you don't want to ignore them at the secondhand store. A fresh coat of paint and some stencils or details give the magazine rack an updated look. If you don't receive print magazines anymore, use the holder for vinyl records, cardstock, or file folders. Or, place it near an outlet, so you can tuck a surge protector into the rack and use it as a laptop storage and charging station.

The wooden rack that once held grandma's souvenir spoon collection gets a new chance at life as a jewelry holder — one of many DIY possibilities from a thrifted spoon rack. The slots for the spoons are perfectly spaced for draping necklaces and bracelets to prevent tanging. You may want to remove some rows to leave hanging space. For dangling hook-style earrings, drilling holes along the edge of one row is an option. You can also add screw hooks along the bottom edge for more chains and accessories.

Thrift store furniture might not be complete, but you can use the parts for storage — like this flipped hutch from a larger cabinet. Refinish it to fit your home's color scheme, and place it on the floor for a low storage cabinet. Updating the hardware is a simple option, as is using paint, wallpaper, wood trim, and other accents in the design. Consider adding risers like these Michanco Round Furniture Legs, which screw into place, to elevate the cabinet.

Looking for ways to repurpose old barstools? A round, backless barstool flipped upside down helps contain wrapping paper. Leave it as-is or glue it to a wheeled base, like this HAOIOKSC Plant Caddy, for portability. Zip tying plastic storage bins to the braces around the sides gives you a spot for tags, gift bags, scissors, tape, and other supplies. Hooks over the braces or bags hanging from the side also add storage. If you can easily remove a brace, slide rolls of ribbon on it and put it back in place.

Bulky entertainment centers might not make the cut for your entertaining spaces, but the cabinets could work as a freestanding wardrobe. The large, open space where a TV once stood is an ideal spot to install a closet rod for hanging clothes — kids' clothes may fit best, depending on the height of the space. Open shelves help you neatly organize shoes or handbags, while drawers are fitting for undergarments and accessories. You may want to remove shelves or doors, replace the hardware, or make other adjustments to the original piece. 

You can turn an old wooden ladder into a rustic display shelf in several ways, but this one uses the ladder open with the rungs creating shelf braces. Scrap wood pieces work well for the shelves — the shelf length is up to you, but you'll want the wood to extend past the rungs and get progressively longer. Paint everything one color, or make the shelves a contrasting hue. Position the wood planks over the rungs, making sure they're level. Attach the wood to the rungs, either with nails or brackets and screws. 

Thrift a flat-top trunk for a stylish storage coffee table, one of many different ways to decorate with trunks. To maintain the antique look, clean up the trunk. You can also paint the trunk if you prefer that aesthetic. Depending on the height, you may want to add furniture legs to raise it to 16 to 18 inches high. A piece of tempered glass professionally cut to size protects the top — useMaylanny Self-Adhesive Soft Glass Tabletop Bumpers to keep it from sliding, and remove the glass top when you need to access the storage inside.

If you find a pair of shutters connected with hinges, repurpose them into a unique wall shelf. You'll also need two brackets — look for decorative wood brackets to thrift, or buy shelf brackets at the store. With the shutters perpendicular to one another, attach the brackets in the corners where they meet. This will maintain the 90-degree angle, allowing the top shutter to serve as the shelf. Adding large metal looks along the bottom edge of shutter shelf provides hanging space for jackets and bags, making it a creative coat storage solution. 

Turn a drawer into a storage shelf and paper towel holder. Turn it upright so the bottom of the drawer goes against the wall. Install a simple paper towel bracket near the top — use screws or opt for a product like the Aheucndg self-adhesive holder. The space below creates a small shelf. Glue or nail a thin scrap of wood along the front to create a lip, so items don't fall. Or, skip the paper towel holder and slide two or three pieces of wood inside to make shelves.

Here's one way to style some of the most common items you'll find at thrift stores: Turn dishware and candleholders into tiered storage Choose three plates or bowls in three different sizes — they don't have to be a matching set, but they should look good together. Then, snag two glass taper holders or similar objects to serve as the supports. Stack the dishes with a candlestick between each tier, and glue the into place. Use it to store coffee supplies, jewelry, cosmetics, craft supplies, or other small items.

Plain wooden crates transform into a stunning custom bookshelf with a little creativity. Thrift as many of the crates as possible. Then, stain or paint them to create the style you prefer. Now, play a game of Tetris with the cubes — try different configurations for your shelf. Going all horizontally or vertically creates a balanced look, or turn some horizontal and some vertical for a more abstract design. Some wood glue and clamps help secure the final configuration, but you can add screws for more stability if desired.

Baskets are bountiful at the thrift store, but you don't always have shelf or table space to display them. Instead, turn baskets into shelves. A basket with a flat side can hang upright by its handle. Or, turn the basket so the bottom goes along the wall and the open side is facing the front — options without handles work the best. Command hooks or nails can hold the basket in place. Another option is to mount a dowel or curtain rod on the wall and hang baskets from hooks along the rod.

An old card catalog is the vintage thrift find that's the ultimate storage solution for seed organization or collectible card storage. With a little restoration (or a coat of paint), the long drawers let you store small items in neat categories. The drawers may still have rods running through them — you can remove them if you want a flat bottom on the drawer. If you thrift a small card catalog, thrift a table of a similar size to use as a stand.

Who needs an ironing board these days with wrinkle-release cycles? But you might still want one if you're looking for laundry room storage. A vintage ironing board creates a cute backdrop for thrifted bins or baskets, which you can glue or screw in place. Add a laundry-themed vinyl cling or stenciled design on the board, and it's ready to go into your laundry room. Hang it on the door or wall, and the baskets can hold dryer sheets, dryer balls, socks with no mate, or treasures found in pockets before washing.

Even if you aren't updating your bedroom, check out the headboards at the thrift store — decorative headboards make gorgeous shelves for storage. To keep it simple, refinish the wood and attach a row of coat hooks along the bottom edge. This is perfect for your entryway or in bedroom for hanging robes and jackets. If you're feeling more handy, cut a piece of wood the same length as the headboard, and attach it to using shelf brackets. Now, you also have a shelf for storage.