Repurposed Thrift Store Frame DIY Beautiful Wall Decor

I love to explore thrift stores and find hidden gems. It is one of the things my husband (D) and I enjoy doing together. He knows exactly what to look for!

One day, while visiting our local thrift store, I stumbled upon an outdated picture frame. I never pass up the frame section! If there are several wood frames, I snatch them up. They are super easy to repurpose and are normally pretty cheap! This frame was $7.99 but it was large and wood!

The Benefits of Repurposing a Thrift Store Frame

Repurposing a thrift store frame is a great way to save money. By repurposing a thrift store frame, not only can you give it new life, but you can save a ton of money when it comes to decorating your home.

Not only is it budget-friendly to repurpose a thrift store frame, but it is also an eco-friendly option. By repurposing a thrift store item, you are doing your part in reducing waste by giving the frame a new purpose instead of ending up in a landfill.

Thrift store items allow you to express your creativity and have tons of fun! I don’t know about you, but I love the challenge of coming up with a new design for thrift store items. Repurpose is my middle name!

My Favorite Technique For Thrift Store Frames

One of the techniques that I like to use to make a thrift store item look more updated and stylish is adding wood elements. Wood is a timeless material that never goes out of style, so incorporating it into a thrift store item can give it a fresh and modern look.

Wood has a natural warmth and texture that can add depth and character to any piece, making it stand out from other items. If you have wood accents or furniture in your space, incorporating wood into your thrift store finds can help tie everything together and create a cohesive and stylish look.

Whether you’re looking to update an old thrift store frame or give new life to another item, adding a touch of wood can make a big difference in its overall look and feel.

Hold on just a minute Christina! Wood is expensive these days! Trust me when I say there are wood alternatives that are budget-friendly. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Here are a few examples.

Budget-Friendly Wood Alternatives For Thrift Store Projects

Paint Sticks

Craft Sticks

Balsa Wood Sheets or Strips

Wood Shims

Clear Pine Craft Wood

The Repurposed Thrift Store Frame Makeover

For this particular project, I found these large five-gallon paint sticks from Lowes. The decorative piece (as you will see later in the post) that I plan to add was heavy, so it needed to be a bit more studied than other wood alternatives.

The paint sticks come in a pack of 3 for around $1.99 each. This project took five packs.

Removing the Frame Contents

The first order of business was to remove the inside of the frame. You could tell that this frame was not new due to how the inside image and backing were secured. It wasn’t those cheap flimsy little black tabs you see these days on frames. But heavy-duty staples!

To remove these heavy-duty staples, I used a flathead screwdriver to raise the staple, and then a pair of wire cutters to pull and remove them. They worked great!

Once I removed the image and backing from the frame and the pesky staples, I wiped the frame down with a Lysol wipe.

Paint the Thrift Store Frame

After going through my paint stash, I had a small amount of Dixie Belle Cotton left from a previous project. The frame took two coats. Allow your first coat to dry completely before applying your second coat.

Cutting the Paint Sticks To Size

While the frame dried, D measured the sticks by placing one on the frame to get the exact length we would need. He used a small hand saw to cut them down to size. I love it when he helps!

After sawing was complete, he was kind enough to sand each stick using a piece of 220 grit sandpaper. This was to smooth the surface of the paint sticks, as well as the edges.

I placed a few sticks on the frame to see how they would fit. I did have to cut one small piece for one of the edges because the paint stick was too wide. It was not that noticeable anyway. Note: One side has been printed as a ruler. The other side does not have this.

Staining the Wood Paint Sticks

After I wiped down the paint sticks, it was time to stain. I chose Dark Walnut by Minwax for the wood paint sticks. Make sure before you use your stain to give it a good stir!

Each stick took one coat of stain. I applied the stain with an old white sock. Make sure you wipe until all the excessive stain is removed.

I allowed the stained paint sticks to dry overnight. Here in Georgia sometimes the humidity can be killer! So it took a little longer for them to dry. If the sticks are still sticky feeling give them more time to dry.

Attaching The Paint Sticks To the Frame

After the paint sticks were dried completely, I used my SureBonder glue gun to attach the sticks to the back of the frame by applying glue to each end of the paint stick. I love this glue gun!

The glue is heavy-duty, and it holds the sticks in place perfectly!

What will I add to the finished wood frame to give it a beautiful new look? Keep reading!

The Final Touches

I found this decorative wood “W” on the clearance aisle at the Hobby Lobby. The letter was heavy, so instead of gluing it onto the wood, we used a staple gun and stapled it in place from the back of the frame.

The stained wood makes the decorative white “W” pop! I love the way my repurposed thrift store frame turned out!

This piece hangs in my entryway. I always get tons of compliments and people ask me where I bought it from. And of course, I have to tell them the story!

Whether you’re looking to update an old thrift store frame or give new life to another item, adding a touch of wood can make a big difference in its overall look and feel. And, I love the texture it adds to my thrift store projects.

Be sure to join my FREE Facebook group, where you can share, comment, and browse thrift store makeovers and other DIY projects!

Share your repurposed thrift store frame over in my Facebook group!

And, be sure to check out these awesome makeovers!

The Thrift Store Horse Statue Makeover

How To Make A Whiskey Bottle Look Old With a Secret Ingredient!