Thrifty Thursday Flipping Thrift Store Furniture, Literally

I have been working on the cozy reading nook in my main bedroom and am excited to share a little more progress that I have made in the space. I shared the FREE chair that I fixed up for the nook HERE. I knew I need a bookshelf in the space if I was going to call it a reading nook. I decided I wanted a floating shelf that wasn't too deep. I knew I could make one, but kept my eyes open for one at a thrift store. It didn't take long until I found the perfect piece.

I thought I might cut off the bottom edge or lip so that it didn't look like I just hung a regular standing bookshelf on the wall. When I was taking it out of my car, I realized I could FLIP it upside down, add a wood top, and use it that way to float on the wall in my reading area.

Keep reading to see what I did and to see all how I styled these shelves with a plethora of thrift store finds and goodies.

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Please ignore the lack of baseboard trim. We have to make a decision on that and still get it installed throughout the whole house. I recently repainted our bedroom, a warm yellow tan in most of the room and a burnt orange in the reading nook. After giving the thrift store bookshelf a scuff sanding, I painted the plywood shelf the warm tan color we painted in the rest of the room. 

I found a piece of barnwood in my stash that was the correct width to give the upside bookshelf a little lip or edge. I cut it to the correct length and ran it through the planer to give it a smooth, fresh finish. I attached the top barnwood piece by drilling through the back of the bookshelf. I also used two screws that I drilled through the sides of the shelf into the barnwood because I knew they wouldn't show.

I used Wise Owl Furniture Salve on the barnwood. It gives it a lovely sheen and protects the thirsty wood. You can get it from my friend Tina HERE. I recently also used the salve on a pair of leather boots I got at the thrift store--worked like a charm to bring the boots back to life. I used screws to make sure the shelf backing was attached well (it was on with nails) and then screwed through the backing to hang the floating bookshelf into studs on the wall.

I decided to add a touch of gold to the inset part on the shelf (that would have been at the bottom of the shelf). I used Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff that you can buy HERE. And yes, I decided to add the gold after I had styled the shelf.

I grabbed some old books from the thrift store with black and green and gold bindings. You might have noticed int he before picture, this shelf cubby had extra holes cut into the backing by a previous owner. I used tall books and a basket to hide the holes. The basket adds texture and an organic, natural feel. Our wedding album and my grandma's hundred year old autograph book rest on the bottom shelf next to a green, vintage teapot from the thrift store. On the other end of the bottom shelf I have books I have or will actually read, held in place with a vintage brass tea box I got at the thrift store. 

A green McCoy planter holds a stack of very old, black Bibles. A brass tray sits on top with a green decanter holding cinnamon Bourbon for a nightcap. All of these items are thrifted, well, except for the nightcap booze. Above this shelf I will be hanging artwork to the celling.

 The plant is from my entryway. Now that below freezing temperatures are here, my front entryway gets too cold for plants. The planter is from a thrift store. The brass candlesticks are thrifted (I forgot to put my thrifted candles in them for the photos) and the wood dowel photo holders I made and shared here. The string of pearly plant is a fake from a thrift store.  The painting behind it was done by my son. There is also a little gold framed photo of hubby and I from when we were dating in this cubby. 

The green chair by the lamp was given to me. The wool pillow in it is from the thrift store. I will share about the lamp in another post. The rug I bought new and you can purchase it HERE.

I love how this space is coming together and I can't wait to finish it. The sunlight streams into the area beautifully to create a cozy and comfortable spot. Today's thrift store lesson is, remember to look at items in a new way--turn pieces over, flip them, see and use them in a new way.