Thrifted Art and Having Fun With Your Home Decor

Over the past few years I think I have really adopted the philosophy that our home decor does not need to be taken too seriously. We should have fun and play with our style, trying different things until it feels comfortable and personal and you.

These built-in bookshelves in our lofted library have been a thorn in my side since we moved in. they are not very tall or deep and were made for a certain sized paperback book. One day I will remove some of the shelves and paint, but until then I am playing with styling them.

Last month I shared that I am adding some art to the front of the bookshelves to cover up some of the paperbacks. (See that post HERE.) I found another piece of vintage art to hang on the shelves.

Being that I was an elementary teacher and that this is a library in an old schoolhouse, I thought the subject matter was perfect--three kids looking at a book (I think), talking. This is an original art piece by a Florida artist, Shirley Clement. Thankfully, someone taped a newspaper clipping to the back about the artist and the painting.

This painting, Thursday's Child, won an award in 1973.

I found this at one of my favorite local thrift stores for $12. It was framed, but the frame was not my style and was dented. 

I removed the framing points to "unframe" it. I used wood glue to glue two wood blocks on the back that I then added screw eyes to and picture hanging wire.

I am treating the blocks of paperbacks on the shelves as a colorful backdrop wall to hang the art on.

I've rearranged other books and added thrifted treasures and vintage, hardback books, arranging some in a rainbow colored array.

A trio of vintage, framed prints are propped against the wall with a cast iron elephant bank and a brass, clam shell trinket box helping to hold them in place.

Three unrelated thrifted finds have a cohesive color/material theme--brass. The vase, clock workings turned backwards, and solid brass penguin all work as a bookend.

A Japanese vase with great colors also works as a bookend and peeks out from behind the Thursday's Child Painting.

And a ship's wheel clock without the clock face sits next to a couple stacks of neutral colored vintage books. I placed a vintage, decoupaged map picture behind the ship wheel hole.

None of these items are related or family heirlooms. But, they make me smile, they have personality and add color and texture and interest to the library bookshelves. The shelves are interesting to look at and are styled with a playful and fun attitude. Small family photos scattered throughout the shelves do add something personal to the space.

Your home should be a reflection of you--individual, original, an ever-changing canvas and workshop where you experiment and play. Mix and match colors and styles and eras. Take the time to curate items that you love and remember to not take yourself or your home too seriously.