Card caring frugal-ista here, and there were simply too many surprisingly low-priced finds for home to tell you about in the first installment of bargains HERE! You’ll find even more stories, thrifty strategies, and amazing finds for home that only appear to be high end splurges.
Low-Priced Finds for Home
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
1. Vintage French Doors
While it may not occur to you to check the antique mall for quality-made doors, there is much potential to discover value there! This pair of vintage solid wood French doors was snagged for $35. Yep. Perfect solution to separate the dining area from the breakfast nook in our former renovated kitchen.
If you’re new to the blog, we renovated our former fixer upper from top to bottom, and before the French doors came, there was only narrow opening to the dining area. We widened the opening to accommodate the doors, welcome more light into the kitchen, and bring architectural interest and balance to not one, but two rooms!
Even if you don’t need a replacement door, they can be found cheaply to use for decor as my $10 chippy one with original hardware above proves.
2. Traditional Mirror With Fluted Detail
I added this old mirror to my childhood piano nearly 30 years ago! This is one of my favorite bargains because: it was a curbside freebie saved from a landfill. Now it’s a future heirloom.
Another bargain-priced leaner mirror found years ago at Home Depot for $80 was great quality, but warped…in the best way since it makes everything reflected appear taller and thinner!
3. Modern Stainless Range Hood
I know there is risk when appliances are purchased from non-traditional sources, but I have had only positive experiences. Whether new or used, you can often snag valuable fixtures at significant savings.
This stainless modern range hood was brand new on eBay for $150 and normally sells for around $500.
Another bargain in our former kitchen? That bulkhead ceiling light from Home Depot was intended to be a temporary placeholder for $12. We kept it since it virtually disappeared.
We have always loved coastal simplicity for sconces so don’t overlook the hardware store for lighting bargains where you can also find exterior lanterns under $100 such as the one above.
Also score inexpensive lights at big box stores when a lighting collection is discontinued. The petite chandelier above was $10 on clearance at Lowe’s (in 2007) when I needed multiple chandeliers to buy for a spacious French country home we built. (This one went in a pantry in that home before I brought it with me for the breakfast nook above.)
4. Pedestal Dining Table
A common denominator for this installment of bargains is how it’s only a fantastic high end bargain if the item can stand the test of time. Our 48″ pedestal dining table cost $50 at a department store outlet back in 2008. We’re still using the table four homes later!
About eight years ago, I painted the table Behr Garden Wall, a neutral stone color. When I bought the table, it was black.
Here’s the table black:
Don’t pass up a bargain if the shape and size are right, but the color is all wrong. Paint transforms everything!
5. $1,200 Bargain
Not all high end bargains are $5 garage sale finds. This Stikwood (Hamptons White) reclaimed wood material is a value I can’t not mention. Why?
It’s a wonderful DIY project so you’ll be able to save labor costs, AND it’s the sort of addition to a room that makes the room feel solidly new. Remember, this material is real wood, and adding natural material with such a broad stroke brings nature inside!
You could easily spend $1,200 on a piece of art or furniture, but is it truly going to have such a solid impact?
6. Bargain Earthenware
If you have shopped for vintage or antique earthenware, terracotta urns, French pots, or beautifully patina-ed pottery, then you know they can be pricey. And they are often worth the price! However, if those prices are not in the budget, shop with a different eye. This pot on my counter with hydrangea was $5 from a thrift store.
It was painted with a horrible floral design in awful colors, but I could see the shape was beautiful. A little latex paint dry-brushed on the pot instantly aged and calmed the piece.
7. Well-Made Traditional Furniture
If you haven’t browsed FB Marketplace, you may not realize that one of the common items offered up for low prices (or FREE!) is entertainment centers or large wardrobes. The Lexington made oak wardrobe I bought for our renovated kitchen below only cost $50! It is one of the best crafted pieces of furniture we have ever owned, and I can’t overstate the quality inside and outside of this incredible piece. I wanted a tall storage cabinet to hold a TV and kitchen items, and the trickiest part was transport.
Of course, the headache of moving them is why pieces of this scale are often free of charge. When folks are moving, it is often more cost effective to leave it behind…YOUR GAIN! Here’s another oversized piece scored at a bargain price:
This 5-foot wide, reclaimed elm, heavy iron Dutch etagere shelving piece from RH may not even be in production any longer, and retailed for $6,000 in 2008. We snagged it at the RH outlet for $400, and this beauty is heavier than I can say!
We offered to sell it to the buyer of this home to avoid moving it since it was so perfect for the wall in that dining room. However, I’m so happy they passed on it since it is exquisitely made and one of our more versatile pieces. Eventually it will go in our lower level when we create a media room.
8. Placeholders That Move in for Good
It’s smart to shop with a firm idea about budget and proper dimensions, but there’s a joy that comes from surprise. When I saw a small handmade stool/plant stand/industrial style mystery at a garage sale for $1, I didn’t instantly see its value.
When I brought it home, I decided it would make a nice temporary side table for the living room before landing on “the right table.” At that time, I was painting abstracts as a side hustle so my paints were always easily accessible, and I layered on a zinc faux paint finish to help the top blend more with the base.
Boom. Still haven’t found a suitable table we like more than this one.
9. Vintage Portrait Paintings
If you’re just shopping online or at the fleamarket, prices for these babies may annoy you. But keep your eyes open at tag sales, rummage sales, and the thrift store! $5 brought this sweet girl with a bob home to live with me forever.
Even the frame with linen matting is gorgeous.
The Diana bust on the pedestal near the fireplace was also a great bargain for $40 at the antique mall. She has a crack, but the price included the pedestal!
10. Bargain Bath Finds
One of my favorite low-cost resources is IKEA where there are endless thrifty options. Their Molger collection includes (or included) this slatted bench which comes unassembled. We paid around $40 and bought multiples because they’re so useful and good looking.
The light blonde finish on the Molger pieces was pretty, but to calm the bench in our former bath, I painted it with light grey chalk paint.
Venetian etched mirrors can be pricey when you see them at Anthropologie or department stores.
However, this one snagged at an outlet cost $35! I found it years ago, and I think it has a little chip somewhere, but I can’t even remember since it isn’t an obvious flaw.
Here’s a mirror with a similar shape that may give you a similar look if you can’t hunt down a bargain:
Doesn’t the wallpaper in this bath we created above appear expensive?
It is one of those high end Thibaut wallcoverings I found at a tag sale locally for $1. Yes. We papered that bath accent wall with $1 of product. AND IT’S A STUNNING PATTERN!
Porcelain tile is one of those underrated materials no one recognizes as a high end bargain, yet it IS! This calacatta-look porcelain from Lowe’s was under $2 per square foot. I loved it enough to pay five times that price yet didn’t have to!
Zero-Cost Design Help
Whether you are just beginning to narrow down your design style or are collecting ideas for your well established signature style…
Follow HELLO LOVELY! Also, remember to reference decor inspiration and interior design from the archives here on Hello Lovely.
11. Chippy Ironstone & Antique Jars
There’s something to be said about collecting for quality, but when the priority is keeping costs low, don’t overlook chippy ironstone and old jars with chips when the flaws aren’t obvious and don’t interfere with function.
Who can resist a sweet, very old, imperfect ironstone little pitcher for $5? Not me!
The ironstone, made in Belgium, compote above was less than 20 bucks because of a little chip. And the antique jar below has a chip that doesn’t affect its usefulness as a vase or beautiful color.
Pretty sure it was the beyond talented stylist Tricia Foley who inspired me to begin collecting white ironstone many years ago. I sold most of my collection a few moves ago, but I still keep my eyes peeled and occasionally pick up more since you can still find well-priced examples everywhere.
You may also score ideas for displaying your bargains from this cottage style home tour:
Make sure to visit the first installment with even more bargains HERE.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
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