Bar Decor: Inspired by a Thrift Store Find

March 28, 2019

I would say I am VERY new to design, still finding my way and voice. I am by no means an expert, but I am definitely ready to learn. With our home, I am very lucky to have spaces I can redesign or update on a budget. Sometimes the space helps guide me and other times I am inspired by a piece of decor. In the case of our bar it’s a little bit of both.

When we moved into our townhouse, there was a small nook in our TV room that was begging for a bar. (The photo above was from our real estate listing) It’s the perfect size, and who doesn’t want a bar in the room where you can curl up on the couch or watch the big game. A bar wasn’t really a priority. When we got married, we were fortunate to receive some money and decided we wanted to purchase a wine fridge, we already had a small bar fridge. Of course Mark then needed the matching beer fridge, which made this project no longer budget friendly.

In terms of design, we started an inspiration board we could both add to. Our biggest argument was the type of counter we would use for the bar. I was against stone, due to the price. Mark wanted stone for the look and style. We thought perhaps a nice laminate in black with a wood cabinet at the base might be a good fit. There was a lot of back and forth on the colours. We both agreed on the inspiration photo above.

Bar decor inspiration from the thrift store.

Then I found two great prints at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store. They had a box filled with prints from Irish Historical Picture Company. The photos had a vintage charm I was looking for in the bar decor, without being too cheesy. It took all of my strength not to purchase the entire box! I only purchased the two above, I thought they would be a good fit.

If you have a space like a bathroom or bar or living room you need to decorate. The Salvation Army Thrift Store is a great place to find art. Everything from framed art prints, vintage paintings, original works of art, portraits and more. Every time I am in store there are different pieces of artwork, so many options depending on your style.

3 Tips to Thrifting Art

Does it require any updates.

What work would need to be done in order for this piece to be useable? New glass or does the frame require a touch up or a new mat. These are all easy and affordable repairs, considering thrifted artwork is very affordable.

Will the piece work with your current design.

If your home decor is blue and grey and you find a piece of artwork that is bright red, it might not be the best fit, even if you’ve fallen in love. If you are considering revamping your decor and are inspired by the red piece of art, then go for it!

Is the quality good.

Purchasing a secondhand Ikea print for $12 is probably not a good investment. Make sure to check out the quality of the piece of art. Does the price reflect the style and quality. Although it’s a thrifted piece of artwork if should still be a good investment.