The '50s And '60s Collectibles That Are Now The Ultimate Thrift Store Find For Kitschy Decor

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A little bit of kitsch can spark a lot of joy, something that vintage enthusiasts everywhere know is true. There are lots of home décor ideas that can bring back the '50s or '60s, when it seemed everyone collected cute decorations — including plant-related items. If you keep your eye out at garage sales, estate sales, or your local thrift store, one of the treasures you might find is a darling animal planter that will lend just the right amount of cutesy kitsch to your space. Some folks treat these as collectibles, while the rest of us might want to find a spot for just one or two.

Maybe you don't even have to go shopping for one of these planters — perhaps one or two got stored in a family member's attic when these decorative ceramic tchotchkes went out of style decades ago. But as with fashion, décor trends keep coming back around. You may have noticed that the kitsch trend has been taking over kitchens over the last few years, and there's no reason to deny it entry into the rest of our homes as well. There are so many cute animal planters you can use to embrace this style, from donkeys to Siamese cats.

How to use kitschy animal planters from the thrift store

These thrift store treasures tend to blend in well with colorful home décor, so if this sounds like you, you'll likely have no shortage of potential locations in mind. One of the best places in your home to indulge in the kitsch décor trend now might be your windowsill. You could also jazz up your patio with one of these animal planters that everyone collected in the '50s and '60s.

But you won't want winter to damage this ultimate thrift store find, so unless your cold seasons are mild, you should move it indoors for the winter to prevent it from breaking. While you'll of course want to look for the most attractive spot to use your kitschy planter, don't forget to consider the plant's light requirements, which may cause you to reconsider exactly where to place your thrift store score.

Some vintage animal planters may have drainage holes in them already while others may not. You can plant directly into those with holes, but for those with no drainage, you'll either need to drill holes or use the planter as a cachepot, keeping the houseplant in its nursery pot which you remove for watering. When drilling into ceramic to add drainage, keep in mind that you'll need to use a diamond or carbide-tipped drill bit. If this is your first time drilling on ceramic, you might want to practice on another item first.

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