Thrifting has become an integral part of our lives in the 21st century. With inflation booming, and pollution rising, it’s not only a way to get bang for your buck, but to also stop the trend of fast-fashion and over-consumption. In this article, I’ll take you through the journey of thrifting a 100% unique gallery wall to add colour and interest to your home!
When my friend and I decided to move in together, we both realised we had basically nothing to our name. We had to scurrage for what we desperately needed from friends and family – a washing machine, fridge, and couch were top priority. After we got the basics in, our place looked desolately empty – that’s where thrifting came in, as I have always found the beauty in antiquated, pre-loved items to be greater than what you can get from mass-produced box stores. My plants added largely to the interior feel of our space, but the walls felt extremely bare. I, therefore, set out on a mission to start a thrifted gallery wall.
I had already started my mission with our main starkly white wall, and I loved the contrast and colour the various different prints and paintings offered the space. With my eyes set on the other overbearingly white space, Johannesburg and Pretoria thrift stores gave me an opportunity to change up my space even more.
Vincent’s Charity Shop – Blairgowrie, Johannesburg
This little charity shop is a gem of hidden finds. You’ll come to know on your thrifting journey that charity shops have the best for less, as they haven’t joined the trend of overpriced “vintage” goods, yet. Naturally, I struck gold there, with a set of 3 men on horses for only R25 each. The German artist, Wolfgang Tritt, commonly painted military dress parade men, and it was amazing finding a set for such a low price and in such good condition. At the same store, I also found a 3D decoupaged box piece. The artist is unknown but knowing the time and effort that go into decoupage, the R20 was well worth it.
Total spent: R95 for 4 items.
Labyrinth House – Villieria, Pretoria
The name, indeed, says it how it is – this place is jam-packed with everything from bread makers to couches. You’ll have to do a bit of digging, but once you break through the top layer, there’s a plethora of good quality items for you to find. The prices are a bit steep, but the hand-made flower bouquet stole my heart, and I knew I had to get it. I recognised the artist’s signature from previous thrifted flower paintings, but, unfortunately, I couldn’t find her online with only having “Anne” to work off of. I grabbed the tiny framed dried flowers for R95, and I think it added amazing variation to the gallery wall with its touch of true hand-made craftsmanship.
Total spent: R95 for 1 item.
Sungardens Hospice Charity Shop – Lynwood Glen, Pretoria
Speaking of jam-packed, this box-store level charity shop has everything to offer, and we had to spend a good couple of hours searching through countless paintings to make our pick. The charity shop is so big, that it has different sections inside – with a hospice book store, a haberdashery, and even a café located inside. For a total of only R220, I snatched 5 amazingly unique paintings and prints. The first is an oil painting by G.M van Wyk of a traditional Stellenbosch house – a true, old-timely oil painting that joined my previous gallery wall of old South African houses. My favourite of the lot is definitely the art poster, showcasing a French expressionism art exhibit in Sandown Park in 1984. I love every piece that gives a bit of South African history, and most of these pieces are a testament to South African craftsmanship that often gets overlooked.
Total spent: R220 for 5 items.
I was able to get 10 amazing prints and paintings for only R410, so on average R41 per piece. Considering these are all framed, and in pretty good condition, that is a true bang for your buck that I don’t believe you can find with out-of-the-box, new items. Thrifting is an amazing way to embrace the past, learn to appreciate hand-crafted goods, and bring sustainability into your home. I hope you find some inspiration to introduce pre-loved items into your home, and elevate your space whilst spending next to nothing!
Also read our article on upcycled home decor.
