I can’t get enough garage sales in the summer! I have picked up furniture (chairs, tables and mirrors), home accents, clothing, and small appliances. For success you just have to have a bit of a creative vision and a rough list of things you are looking for. Pretty much like thrifting, but the findings can be so diverse.
We tend to go out around 8 on a Saturday morning and make the rounds nearby local towns and countryside. Afterward, as we are running errands or visiting people throughout the weekend we will stop by at random sales we spot along the way. It always seems like the most unlikely places that provide the greatest finds. On Sunday evening at 8pm we spotted a yard sale on a rural road and picked up an antique chair! You never know what you will find.
I found this side table painted dark brown and gave it makeover, my offer of $2 was accepted. Never to be the solidest or heaviest table, but I love the front cutouts. The ceramic horse is missing an ear and had normal colouring, but a coat of glossy yellow Tremclad gave it a fresh modern look. This horse left it's country home for $0.50.
Reasons to love garage sales:
- You can barter for lower prices
- Later in the day = better prices, so don’t feel bad for sleeping in
- Cheaper prices than thrift stores
- You never know what you’ll find!
Do you live for the garage sales in the summer, or do you prefer to sleep in on the weekend? What is your best garage sale find? Do you have names for different kinds of garage sales? (We assess and drive by Kids Crap sales) Have you picked up furniture from the side of the road? Let’s have it!
I love garage sales! I’ve been to quite a few these past few weeks. I keep finding awesome pieces of furniture that could be upcycled and made beautiful, but since my mom is trying to sell our house/move out she would kill me if I brought more furniture home! I love that table you repainted
I love garage sales! I love how you repainted the table, it looks great!
I label yard sales too: “old lady stuff” (which usually has some cool jewelry or scarves), “kid stuff”, “guy stuff” (tools, etc).
Fantastic table and horse! I don’t do garage sales, but my dining room chairs are all Goodwill finds – my husband and his best friend repainted and recovered them for me. I love giving old furniture new life!
My parents are the king and queen of yard saling, and so most of my furniture and appliances have come from them. I don’t do as much because the times the sales are on don’t fit with my work schedule, but I do love them. My favorites are the church bazaars.
I’ve never really been able to get into yard sales for clothes, but I love finding all sorts of things otherwise. Like an oven mitt that looks like a shark. Or some awesome old books that belonged to the seller’s mother-in-law. Or, our favorite, a deep freeze Mike bartered down to $70. I love that deep freeze. We could (COULD, not DO) store bodies in it.
I can get pretty jazzed about estate sales, if I don’t get myself all sad about the person who left the stuff behind.
I don’t do garage sales often enough. I really like how your paint jobs freshen these items up.