6 Ideas for Updating Thrift Store Art

Nothing adds character to a space like art. But if you’re on a tight budget, your options might be a little limited. You could make like a college student and thumbtack a poster of The Starry Night to your wall — or you could make like a savvy DIYer and take some thrift store art to the next level.

Related Video:The Secret To Buying Thrift Store Art

Here are six ideas for updating thrift store art.

It was this intriguing painting by artist and illustratorOliver Jeffersthat first got me thinking about the possibilities presented by all the unloved canvases at the thrift store. Jeffers took this canvas and dipped it, frame and all, in enamel, creating something different entirely. You can see more of this dipped serieshere. Jeffers painted these portraits himself (which appear quite lovely!) but perhaps it will inspire you to look at thrift store finds with new eyes.

Chris of the now defunct blogThe Bee and The Bobbincreated a unique silhouette of her daughter using a floral thrift store find. I love how it is both classic and modern at the same time. Although the tutorial is no longer accessible you can find more info on the process here.

这首歌歌词墙艺术曾是一个相当run-of-the-mill landscape painting. The transformation is super easy — find the DIY onA Beautiful Mess.

Ashley Annhas instructions for turning a thrift-store painting into a cheeky paint-by-numbers piece.

Are you tired of chalkboard paint? I’m not, and I love the idea of turning a vintage painting into a chalkboard by blacking out some of the elements with chalkboard paint. (This one above was in the Etsy shopThe Mosaic Butterfly— it’s since sold.)

If you’re a little more artistic, you can try adding monsters to thrift store paintings. ArtistChris McMahonhas created quite a few of these. Guaranteed to give boring landscape paintings a certain je ne sais quoi. Find more inspiration foraltered thrift store arton Etsy.

Re-edited from a post originally published on 4.10.2013 – NT