"Transform Your Art Studio with These 5 Thrift Store Finds"
- Lara Coutinho
- Apr 4, 2024
- 4 min read
By now, everyone knows (or has experienced) some money-related stress. By not having enough, I mean. So, repurposing is a sustainable, economical, and unique way to organize your art studio.
From storing brushes to keeping necessary supplies on hand, vintage products can transform your art studio into a more inspiring space, transforming someone else's discarded items into your creative treasures.
So why not explore thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores, and garage sales for your next organizational find? Savings can be addictive, especially when you find a bargain. But don't hesitate to invest; some unique finds may be worth it, depending on their condition, rarity, and style.
Each of the five suggestions below is commonly found at resale shops and could be just what you need to organize your art studio.
Clay Pots
Price range: €1- €10 (or more) depending on place of purchase
Original Purpose: Jars stored food before the days of refrigerators.
Repurpose: Use clay pots to store brushes, palettes, and other art supplies.
The price of stoneware varies greatly, with some featuring decorative designs painted in various colors. However, these can be expensive collector's items. Opt for a simple stoneware piece to store your art supplies. Jars were initially used to store foods such as butter and meats. Handmade on the potter's wheel, each piece of stoneware is unique and carries a sense of history.
Thanks to their height, the pots are ideal for organizing tall items such as brushes and spatulas. However, jars can also contain collections of small art tools or tubes of paint. P.S. Pay attention to economical vases or pitchers, which can serve a similar purpose to stoneware pieces.
Fruit or Bottle Boxes
Price range: €3 to €5, depending on the brand
Original Purpose: Soft drink companies delivered their bottles in sturdy wooden boxes.
Reuse: Organize your brushes and paper in the available sections.
Before single-use plastic became popular, beverage companies used wooden crates to store and transport glass bottles. Many of these boxes feature recognizable brands like Coca-Cola or Pepsi.
If your pins and papers come in various sizes, the divided sections of a soda box are perfect for keeping them organized. You can also repurpose unused sections by storing small canvases or drawing pads. For less attractive boxes, place them horizontally. This way, only the bottom of the containers is visible, creating an organised display.
Lazy Susie
Price Range: $5 - $10 (or more) depending on design
Original Purpose: Lazy Susie or cake stands were used to display celebratory desserts.
Adaptation: Use elevated a lazy Susan as a tiered tray to place pots with your brushes or other art supplies. Every time you need something that's behind on your display, you just. have to rotate your lazy Susan.
Also interesting are the more static cake stands are traditionally used to display cakes, they can also be stylish organisers in your art studio. You can find them at thrift stores for a fraction of the cost of new ones.
Use a Lazy Susan to hold paint pots, brush pots, or small containers with mixed media materials. This will keep your supplies not organized but also saves valuable workspace. You can also add decorative elements like small sculptures or potted plants to enhance the aesthetics of your studio.
Metal Boxes
Price range: €2 to €10 depending on pattern
Original Purpose: Metal boxes and tins were used to store tea, cigarets or other itens.
Repurpose: Use decorative tins to organize small art supplies.
Metal boxes and tins have a long history. They were originally used to store their itens in decorative containers. Nowadays, you can find a variety of vintage tins with beautiful patterns and designs.
Adapt these cans to store small art materials, such as paint tubes, separating watercolours from gouaches or even warm colours, dry pastels, or erasers. They can also store brushes, scissors, clips, or other materials. The decorative nature of these cans adds a charming touch to your studio while keeping your supplies well organised.
Wire Baskets
Price Range: €3 - €5
Original Purpose: Wire baskets were used to organize belongings during sporting events.
Repurpose: Keep art supplies organized and accessible.
Closet baskets might look unconventional in an art studio, but they are incredibly versatile. Originally used to store sneakers, these wire baskets can be repurposed in various ways.
Use baskets to store larger art supplies, like sketchbooks, canvases, or paper rolls. You can also use them to store paint pots or containers with drawing tools. The open design of the baskets makes it easy to see and access your supplies while keeping them neatly stored. Plus, they add an industrial touch to your studio decor.
No matter how you incorporate thrift items, your art studio is the perfect place to experiment and breathe new life into repurposed vintage goods. Happy saving and organising!
Extra tip:
Cutlery Organiser
Price range: €3 to €5
Original Purpose: To store knifes, spoons and other small itens of daily use.
Reuse: Organize your brushes, pencils and tubes in the available sections.
The divided sections are perfect for keeping all your brushes and color pencils organized. You can also repurpose unused sections by storing small watercolour tubes or oil pastel pencils.
As flat as they are, they can easily adapt to any drawer you may have in your studio.
But if you start looking further, you will see that your imaginations is the limit.
What other ideas do you have to repurpose some discarded itens? Let me know in the comments.
Post inspired on an Apartment Therapy article, here.
All images from Pinterest.
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