Calling All Thrift Store Shoppers: 9 Best Home Items To Hunt For In June

Let's be honest: there's rarely a bad time of year to visit a thrift store. Every month, secondhand stores have a plethora of items from previous holidays and seasons, giving you a wide range of options to take home for much less than their original price. In June, shoppers often get the best of multiple seasons at once. You have leftover holiday decorations, winter gear, and an influx of summer-friendly finds. From outdoor furniture for your patio to decorative bowls for your entryway table, thrift stores rarely disappoint when it comes to their June selection. Now is also the time to stock up on winter items like snow gear, sleds, and holiday decorations before demand rises again. You could even get a major head start on holiday shopping for later in the year.

While not every thrifted find will be in perfect condition, that's often part of the appeal — many items can be cleaned, restored, or repurposed. Plus, the warmer weather makes restoration projects much easier to tackle outdoors. If you found an old set of patio chairs covered in rust, now's the time to set them on the driveway for a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint. If you pick up a vintage quilt, you can wash and hang it outside for ultimate freshness. Instead of buying new items for your home, take the adventurous path of browsing your local thrift store to see just what you can find not just for the summer but for the rest of the year. 

Outdoor furniture is a no-brainer thrift buy for the summertime. Whether you're trying to upgrade your patio or want a fun DIY project for the summer, you can score a wide variety of chairs, tables, couches, and more for your outdoor spaces. While the selection varies by store, you may come across Adirondack chairs, full patio sets, or benches you can refurbish for your home. Clean up thrifted patio furniture by removing rust, scrubbing it clean, and maybe applying a new coat of paint. You can always opt for a bright color to match the summer vibe. 

Besides the common terracotta planters, you can score a wide variety of planter options from your local secondhand store. We've seen creators turn old pairs of shoes into cement planters and even fake upscale planters with coffee cans. If your local thrift store has large vases, baskets, crates, bowls, bins, or bags, you can easily turn them into your own custom planter. These items are easy to upcycle and customize to fit your aesthetic, whether that means adding paint, texture, or a hand-painted design. Just remember to choose an item that can easily accommodate drainage holes.

If you're hoping to host a few summer gatherings this season, look no further than a thrift store to find all of your hosting needs. Typically, in the home or kitchen aisles, thrift stores have a variety of cups, mugs, glasses, and other entertaining essentials. If you're lucky, you may even be able to score a full matching set of teacups, wine glasses, or Mason jars. These often vintage designs are perfect for hosting barbecues, dinner parties, and other summer gatherings. You can even create your own bar setup with vintage cocktail glasses and shakers. 

Vases are always a popular choice at thrift stores. Like planters, flowers can be displayed in just about any type of container, giving you plenty of creative freedom with how you style them. While thrift stores usually carry a wide variety of vases, you can also repurpose old glassware, tall baskets, and even pool noodles into creative floral displays. One of the easiest ways to upgrade a basic vase to a luxury-looking item is to cover it with joint compound before adding a coat of paint, creating a cement-like texture. 

It may be time to say goodbye to your winter season tablecloth and swap it out for something a little more colorful. If you want to avoid overspending on high-end tablecloths, here is your sign to check out thrifted versions instead. According to Goodwill, tablecloths can cost as little as $0.49 a piece at some locations. Some may even be brand new, though it's also common to find tablecloths with minor marks or stains. You can either bring a Tide pen to the rescue or, if you're an avid sewer, this could be your chance to mix and match to create your own unique design. 

If you want to save money and avoid buying brand-new seasonal decor from big-box stores, thrift shops are a great place to source holiday decorations year-round. Many thrift stores typically have a large selection of items from Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, etc., thanks to built-up donations earlier in the year. You can score strings of lights, ornaments, garlands, wreaths, front-door decorations, faux Christmas trees, and more — even in the summertime. Your future self will be so glad you got an affordable head start on the festivities. 

Thrifted quilts make perfect picnic blankets. If you can score a vintage quilt from your local secondhand store, then you've just found your new outdoor accessory. At many Goodwills, blankets and quilts are listed at only $3.99 a piece, though the price may vary based on location. Since you'll be using them outdoors, a few stains or imperfections likely won't matter much — especially since they'll probably pick up more wear over time anyway. If you find one you'd like to use indoors as decor, make sure to wash it thoroughly first to help minimize the risk of bed bugs or lingering allergens. 

If you're looking for a relaxing summertime activity, browse your local thrift store for craft supplies and inspiration. Before you spend money on brand-new crafting kits at Michaels or Target, it's always worth a shot to see what a secondhand store has to offer. Oftentimes, you can find like-new or even brand-new kits that were donated unused. This could include knitting supplies, paper, ribbons, fabric, embroidery tools, blank canvases, unused markers, and more. You may even have a creative reuse center in your area that specializes in items like these. 

If you've never taken a look at the book or media section of your local thrift store, then consider this your sign to check it out next time you browse. More often than not, you'll find stacks of good reads, as book donations to thrift stores have become increasingly common in recent years. If you're not looking to expand your personal library, you can still stock up on coffee-table decor items like magazines, art books, and cookbooks. Whether you're hunting for a new summer read or supplies for your next collage project, the thrift store shelves are worth exploring.