While I am far from a home improvement guru, in the past few months of really focusing on fixing up our new home in various ways, I’ve come to learn a few tricks and shortcuts to increase my home improvement savvy and frugality.
I really do wish I’d learned of some of these tips and tricks before moving into our new home! But now that I know where to look for bargains and great finds, it makes beautifying my home far more wallet friendly, and I figured my blog is as good a place as any to pass on my newfound tricks!
In the past nine months, these are the most reliable and – for me – unexpected places to buy affordable light fixtures!
1. Swap Meets and Yard Sales
I never thought about looking at swap meets or yard sales for light fixtures. I’d had it in my head that used light fixtures must have something wrong with them – it never really occurred to me that personal tastes and preferences may move someone to replace a perfectly fine light switch until I was a home owner myself!
I also had the misconception that only used things would be found at a swap meet or yard sale. So you can imagine my surprise when I found brand new, still in the box designer light fixtures that would be perfect for my kitchen for only $2.50 each at a local swap meet! I found these fixtures while waiting for the purchasing of our home to be finalized. It was one of the first home improvement purchases I made for our new home, and they are still one of my favorite!
2. Thrift Stores and Habitat for Humanity ReStore Shops
While I am a thrift store junky, I had never heard of the ReStore chain of home improvement thrift stores run by the non-profit Christian organization Habitat for Humanity. I was discussing upcoming home improvement plans with a friend of mine, and she mentioned how she has a friend who is always making random home upgrades that look amazing with ReStore.
It took me awhile to finally get around to checking out what this store is all about, because the concept – a home improvement thrift store – seemed too good to be true. But when we visited, we were blown away! The variety is amazing, and the prices are unbelievable! I seriously wish I’d learned of this store sooner, it would have saved us SO MUCH MONEY! Check out this New Orleans gas lamp style front porch light fixture we picked up to replace our dim and dull one, so only $8! Pretty adorable, no?
3. Sales and Clearance at Home Improvement Stores
While hunting around for bargains, don’t forget to check out your run of the mill home improvement stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Orchard Supply Hardware. Now only are they a great place to check out for inspiration, but their sales can be off the charts! When we first moved into our home, we needed floor lamps for our living room which inexplicably has NO overhead lighting. We ended up picking up a three piece floor lamp set for only $15, on sale from $90!
But even without finding a killer sale, the going rate for basic light fixtures are not too shabby if you are just looking to replace something old and broken or terribly outdated, like we were with our 1950’s ranch house. For instance, we just needed a simple fixture to replace the ugly 60’s throwback lights in our entryway, so we found this energy efficient lamp (with bulb included!) for only $20 at our local Lowes!
4. Hand Me Downs from Friends and Family
While I haven’t accepted any light fixture hand me downs from friends or family just yet, I would not discount it or fail to ask if I were you! I have found friends and family a great source for advice and help with our various projects! For instance, my parents gave me a TON of objects that range from functional to decorative for my goat barn and pen.
So if you are in the market for light fixtures, let your friends and family know! Who knows? They may be looking for an excuse to upgrade their light fixture, and gifting you hand me downs may be just the excuse they need!
5. Antique Stores
Not only do antique stores offer some unique and rare one of a kind finds for home upgrades, if you are a DIYer like me, you can always create a light fixture with found items for an industrial or chic look. (I have been on the lookout for awhile now for some egg baskets to use as hanging industrial light cages!)
You can also use found objects from antique stores to dress up existing light fixtures. Check out how the previous owners of our house dressed up the kitchen island lighting with this vintage citrus ladder! (We asked them to leave it with the house purchase, and they were kind enough to oblige!)
Wow…….! so great info….. This is indeed Very useful for every one who buys a new house…. 🙂
I hope so!! I really do wish I’d had this info before we moved in! ^_^
When we redid our kitchen, we donated our old cabinets to our local Restore – they picked them up for free! It’s a neat store, but I can get into trouble there so I try to stay away…
Yeah, hubby and I have plans to go back to buy some used shower doors to use for glass in our new greenhouse.. my hubby is always trying to rush me through, because I like to spend way too much time (and money) there! lol!
I always look at the clearance merchandise at Home Depot but I never think of going to Goodwill or the Habitat store! These are all great ideas!
Jill
Doused In Pink
Yeah, I hadn’t even thought to check those places either.. until I stumbled upon some awesome finds! Now I check there FIRST! <3
I love all your fixtures, I’m all about a deal too!
Thank you! I’m so happy with the random finds!! <3
I always thought light fixtures sold at thrift stores and such were definitely broken! Thank you for making me change my mind and now I’m thinking I need to check out some yard sales this spring. I need a few of them for my home.
Love the pics too!
(So nice to meet you, my new friend!! And so glad you came by to introduce yourself!)
Thank you so much for stopping by to say hi!! *my day is made! hehe!*
Yeah, I am such a sucker for thrift store and hand me down home improvements now, it’s not even funny! I mean, good finds are rare, but when they happen (and cost a fraction of the sticker price) it’s soooo worth it!!
Umm…I love your big kitchen window and the light/ladder!!!
Not even gonna lie, I’m pretty sure the kitchen is what moved us to make an offer on this house, haha! 😉
I’m a huge bargain shopper and I love all of your ideas! I can’t believe all of the incredible deals you’ve found. That ladder is so cool too!
Yeah, I am so happy they decided to leave that with the house. A totally random request, I know (in hindsight, I probably should have asked for more practical things with the sale.. like having them leave the house clean, or have the chimney serviced, lol!)…
I recently discovered our local habitat for humanity store and found some nice items.I don’t know why I haven’t thought of Amazon or overstock for light fixtures that’s such a great idea!
Yeah, I am pretty sure I’ll be ordering doorknob handles through Amazon.. far cheaper than the Home Supply stores!
Wow I love that light fixture with the ladder, it’s so cool and unique! I’m not great when it comes to home decor, but I’m trying to get better. I love your ideas here–I never thought to look at yard sales for light fixtures before!
Yeah, I LOVE that vintage citrus ladder! I think it’s so industrial, especially with the fixture and the Edison bulb! Some people have said it looks “too country for their tastes”, but I love it! hehe!
Great suggestions!
http://www.girlandthepolkadot.com/
Thanks! <3
These are great tips! If I’m ever look for some I’ll for sure check out those places. Thanks for the list!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Of course!! <3 <3
Gingi… I think paying full price for an item is pretty much a waste of time when you can get some really awesome items for such low prices… nice xox
Yeah, I generally only pay full price when I’m VERY impatient, or have simply given up looking! lol!
Great list of potential places to shop for home improvement stuffs, thanks for the tips!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.wordpress.com
No problem! Glad you like!
All really awesome suggestions Gingi. Ha, you’re probably feeding the goats now, actually that was prolly done hours ago! I totally am with you, I love thrift shops, Habitat for Humanity and any place that recycles. Great suggestions! It’s so much cheaper and you get a more unique product. Thanks for reminding me, we do need more light in my house. Sigh. Another project. Have a lovely weekend friend!
My pregnancy craziness is manifesting itself into far more projects than I could ever complete prior to Thyme’s birth, haha. And ReStore has pretty much just been fuel on that crazy flame. But I’m SUPER HAPPY I discovered this store, I’m hooked now…
You must be nesting!!! Haha.
You have nooooo idea! lol
Your kitchen looks amazing 🙂
I never heard of the ReStore – that sounds cool. I would love to check one out 🙂
Check online to see if there is one in your neighborhood! They get a lot of new still in the box things from stores like Lowes, so it’s really cool!
I love going to antique stores and flea markets. You never know what you can find. It is so much fun and I found some pretty cool things for the house there!
The antique stores in my area are all WAYYYYY overprices, so I actually prefer Craigslist and Swap Meets for antiques.. but I like going for inspiration!!
I have a few fixtures I want to switch out! What a great idea… AND you gave me ideas of what to do with my old ones. Happy Friday
Glad you found the post helpful!! <3
you are so right–never thought about half of these places!
I know I didn’t when I started out! hehe!
While we are not exactly shopping for new light fixtures (don’t really have much freedom with home renovations in a rented apartment) we are looking for baby stuff since the third baby was not planned and all of our baby things like crib/stroller were left behind in USA. The prices of brand new items literally shocked me so I scoured our local ad site and managed to score a crib/stroller/car seat/dresser for roughly $150. Can you imagine how thrilled I was? So I can totally understand your excitement with finding a great deal and I’m glad you discovered new places to buy the needed things!
Yeah, we got a lot of our baby things through Craigslist and mommy groups on Facebook! It’s actually super fun to bargain shop!! haha!!
Love thrift places or antiques market, you can find some amazing things there not only for home improvement but also for home decor!
Great information!
http://www.stripesnvibes.com
BlogLovin
Thanks!!! <3
I look out for sales. But then again, we don’t change lights always. Only when its really needed, we buy. Usually its the energy saving florescent.
Yeah, I’d like to move more toward energy saving light fixtures…
We got some of the light fixtures for our house when we built from Ebay. They had some really unique ceiling fans.
I didn’t even think to throw eBay into the list! Amazon has stolen my heart, I don’t shop on eBay anywhere as near as much as I used to, but I still go there for sale (mostly for things like bags, clothes, etc…)
Antique and thrift stores always have the coolest stuff in general! I haven’t really been looking for light fixtures, but maybe I should pay more attention!
Yeah, I’m a thrift store junkie! ^_^
I definitely support scouring Craigslist and garage sales for stuff like this! Lighting is so important in any house, in my opinion, and it’s cool when you get really quirky or unique light fixtures to make your place more special.
Yeah.. I’m getting much more bold in expressing myself through Craigslist and garage sale finds!
These are such great recommendations…really helpful! Thanks for sharing!
No problem! <3
Thanks for sharing your experience Gingi! I’ve been visiting yard sales and thrift stores looking for some photography props and I’m amazed how much brand new stuff I’ve found , very inexpensive, too!
See, I need to start stockpiling photography props myself.. and I’ll be thrift storing it up then too! hehe!
You really found great bargains!! I too collected lamps and shades on flea markets, charity sales etc. before we moved to the apartment where we are now, but somehow only managed to use two or three, the main problem being the fact that the ceiling is not strong enough for hanging lamps with some weight, so we had to opt for lots of those small light points (don’t know how to express it correctly in english). To use my families’ Liberty Lamp in the dining area (for which we bought Liberty furniture) we had to put a suspended ceiling….
But I’ve kept everything, and maybe I’ll get a second chance if we move again :))
Rosa
Styleyourselfinstyle.blogspot.com
That’s so cool, knowing you and your style, you probably have some amazing finds! I’m always loving checking out the things you showcase on your blog… you have a great eye for style! You should share some of your lighting fixtures sometime, I’d love to see them!!
That’s a really good idea, thanks!!!! already made a note, as soon as I have my new phone with (i hope..) decent camera I’ll do it. Should you once move to Italy (in the Army one never knows, I think) pass here before buying new lamps :))))
Rosa
It’s so crazy you say that.. my husband and I WANT to get stationed in Italy, and there are a lot of places there where his job is needed, so we very easily COULD move there! The only thing, the Navy recently implemented a rule, that if you have kids under the age of 2, they WON’T send you overseas! We’re still working on our little family, so we won’t be able to move to Italy for at least 4 to 5 more years… but maybe someday!! And I would be tickled pink to meet you! <3
Love the look of the ladder with your kitchen light. And the window in your kitchen is lovely!
DAISYPERSON | BEAUTY BLOG
Thank you! I love it too!! <3
Great post!
Thanks for the visit.
No prob! Thanks for stopping by too! <3
I love a good hunt and finding just the right thing unexpectedly! Then you have a story to go along with it! Keeping an open mind is also so important as you never know what you can make into a light fixture, planting pot, pillow, etc.!
That’s true! I usually glean all of my inspiration from Pinterest, haha!
We’ve had great luck with Craigslist shopping too! Our friends worry that we’re going to be murdered one of these days, but so far we’ve only had great experiences!
LOL, same! We even get the “you’ll be murdered” line on occasion. haha!
Throughout the post the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” kept popping in my mind, haha. I think it’s a given that one would think a store like the first three mentioned in the list would be selling used and less-than-good-quality items.. but the good thing is, if you actually go past the misconceptions you will be wonderfully surprised to find out otherwise. Awesome that you were able to score those light fixtures for a very, VERY good price! Especially for the one that’s brand new. 🙂
Antique stores, however, aren’t always marking their stuff affordably priced (not from what I’ve seen around here anyway). 🙁 I noticed it with anything old that suddenly becomes a fad, or fashionable. It suddenly becomes expensive once it becomes popular.
Ah I’ve yet to ever try Craigslist.. hahaha. Kinda intimidates me. Someday, someday. You and most people have convinced me that it is THE place for good furniture.. just need to thoroughly search all those listings. 😉
Yeah, I like swap meets for old books and such, but I never thought to check it out for light fixtures till I, ya know, actually found light fixtures there! lol!
And yeah, I go to antique stores for inspiration mostly.. they already know what they have value-wise, so the odds of getting a great deal are a lot less I think.
Seriously almost ALL my furniture is from Craigslist! lol.. you should check it out!