Turning My Boring Rental into a Cottage Dream One Thrift at a Time!

Since I can't afford my dream home, over the past couple of years, I've slowly been chipping away at turning my boring rental into the cozy, cottage-style home of my dreams, one thrifted find at a time. And today, I'm off to the thrift store again, so let's see what I can find and whether any of it can actually bring me one step closer to my dream rental. I'm back from the thrift store and I'm so excited to show you what I got. First up is this little lamp. For the past couple months, I've been looking for something just like this, especially with a lighter colored cord. I've been wanting to create a cozy glow in my kitchen at night, a place that feels warm and inviting and maybe even motivates me to spend a little more time improving my skills in the kitchen, which is something I don't feel particularly passionate about. I've had this candle warmer here, but I wanted something a little taller and brighter, and I thought this lamp would do the perfect trick. Before I can find it an official home though, there's just one thing about it that doesn't feel quite right. I'm going to take it outside and see if I can't fix it up. I've only done this once before, so I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing, but we'll give it a go. The hope is that this bright gold will be toned down a bit and give it more of a warm brass finish. I have to say though, after one coat of rub and buff, it definitely looked like it needed more, but when I went to buff the second coat, it actually ended up removing some of the paint completely. So, I think I'm going to need to do a little more research on this project before I waste any more paint. For now, I'm going to let it dry, and we'll have to revisit this one later to see if I can actually make it work. This next thrift has been on my bucket list for so long, and I was so excited when I finally found it. Who knew gingham fabric would be so hard to come by? I mean, they do have some in my local fabric store, but none of the colors ever felt quite right. So when I saw these pillowcases, I knew I had finally found exactly what I'd been looking for. This other sheet, it isn't anything fancy, just a simple neutral, but that's actually something my fabric stash has been needing. I want a happy mix of fun prints and simple neutrals, so I have plenty of options to choose from. And these aren't just going into my fabric stash to sit there. I've actually been slowly collecting sheets and pillowcases for a project I've never attempted before. I'm going to try and Now whether my beginner sewing skills are actually up for the challenge is another question entirely. But before I can find that out, all of these thrifted fabrics are in need of a good wash. This next thrift is something I didn't actually want to buy. It was purchased more out of necessity than because I loved it. My living room curtains were unfortunately shredded by my dog, so this was one of those rare thrift purchases where I actually needed something rather than simply wanting it for styling's sake. I don't mind the color, but I also don't love it. So honestly, I'm not sure if these are going to be an upgrade or a downgrade for the cottage look I'm going for. I guess we'll find out once they're washed and hung. Now these next thrifts didn't quite fit in my basket, and they definitely don't fit this season, but I couldn't resist bringing them home. For the past few Christmases, I feel like I've been scrambling to decorate, waiting until the season comes around to find things or hoping to catch everything on clearance. But I want this year to be different, especially that my little boy is going to be two. I've begun slowly collecting little things throughout the year so that when Christmas finally comes, our home already has all these little pieces waiting to make it feel magical. When I saw these, I immediately started imagining all the little places I could put them around our home, and I have one idea in particular that I think my son will absolutely love. Today, he seemed to have some plants of his own though. I was hoping to put them away for the season, but he was not too keen on that idea, so these little trees are getting some early playtime. And as for my little boy Christmas dream, I'm thinking of using one tree to do something like this. I managed to add one more coat to this lamp, and this time I opted for a circular paint application rather than straight brush strokes. I think it definitely looks quite a bit better. If you look close though, I don't think it looks the most professional. I'm still trying to figure out rub and buff and the best way to apply it, so if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them. But from a distance, I don't think you can tell this was a DIY, so for now, I'm calling it good enough. The only thing I'm missing now is a lampshade, and I feel like finding the perfect one always takes a little time. For now, I'm borrowing this thrifted one from my son's room just to see what the finished lamp might look like. Turns out, it's actually the perfect size. I love the height this lamp brings to the space, but looking at it now, I feel like something is missing. It feels a little too empty, and I think I want to go for more of a lived-in cottage feeling. Lately, I've been struggling with pregnancy brain and forgetting to take my vitamins more times than I'd like to admit, so I thought, why not make the thing I need to remember part of the decor? Now I have a little spot that will hopefully remind me to take my vitamins, while also adding another little touch of warmth and character to this space. As for this basket, I've never thrifted one quite like it before. It's actually plastic, and surprisingly, I think that's one of the things I love most about it. It does have a few little puppy chew marks, but for where this is headed, I don't think anyone will notice. The plastic is actually really durable and heavy-duty, which I think is going to make it perfect for a little project I've been working on for what feels like forever. When we first moved in three years ago, this patio was completely bare, and honestly, pretty ugly. I started by building these planters, and little by little I've been working on the landscaping ever since. The first year was definitely a battle with the chipmunks, but somehow, three years later, it's finally starting to feel like a cozy little garden. There's just one thing that's been bothering me lately. This bright red Walmart strawberry planter. I love the strawberries, but I don't exactly love how much the bright red plastic stands out against everything else. So when I saw this basket, I started wondering if it could be the perfect way to hide it while adding some texture and character to this little space. And honestly, I think it might have been exactly what this little corner needed. I find myself wanting to take little glimpses of this space every time I walk by it. As for these curtains, I'm actually a little sad to let go of the darker ones. They scared me when I first brought them home, but after living with them for so long, they've really grown on me. So even though these lighter curtains are what I have to work with for now, I'll definitely miss the darker shade. And now that my fabric is all washed and folded, I'm so eager to get started on my dream patchwork dress. I'm just feeling a bit pressed by my own limitations. I just entered the third trimester of my pregnancy and feel my body beginning to tire more easily. So as much as I'd love to jump into this project, I think it'll just have to wait until I see you again next time.