Kitchens aren't always a priority when it comes to styling a home, but more of us are understanding the value of having a culinary space that's as decorative as it is functional. These rooms deserve just as many design details as the adjacent living room that sits next door, and one way to introduce those characterful moments is by using thrifted decor and accessories.

Here's the crux: kitchen storage ideas should still be visually appealing. Besides your everyday pots, pans, and utensils, you should always pepper in some decorative accents that speak to your personality and imbue your space with character. Whether curating a countertop, styling open shelving, or creating a small vignette on a freestanding dresser, second-hand vintage and thrifted decor offers a certain charm and intrigue where modern, mass-produced alternatives fail.

It's fine if these accessories don't serve any purpose other than an aesthetic one, either. Be it vases and glasses or artwork and candlesticks, there are so many common thrift store finds that offer a cheap and affordable way to turn your kitchen into a cabinet of curiosities with visually interesting storage.

1. Candlesticks

Sifting through thrift stores is a great way to find hidden gems, and one item you'll often find on the shelves is candle holders, which are perfect for styling a kitchen table or open shelving. If you're lucky enough to find vintage brass or silver-plated ones, then you've struck gold, but contemporary glass, wood, and ceramic options are still a great find.

'Candles are very important for a kitchen table, as is something beautiful to hold them,' says interior designer and antique furniture expert, Max Rollitt. 'Whether brass, glass, wood or ceramic, candlesticks present an opportunity to add texture and contrast.'

2. French confit pots

Utensil jars are a ubiquitous thrift store staple. For a stylish option, look for French confit pots – vintage earthenware jars with a glazed upper half, traditionally used for preservation. These beautiful pots come in a range of shapes and sizes, and they can often be picked up for just twenty dollars or less.

'Many still carry the subtle marks of the potter’s hand – the gentle irregularities that give each pot its own quiet personality,' says keen collector Susannah Cameron from Chez Pluie. Besides using them for utensils, you could also start growing your own collection, styling them on a dresser or kitchen shelving as Susannah does. 'I love collecting them one by one; there’s something deeply satisfying about watching a collection take shape over time,' she says.

3. Copper kettles, pots, and utensils

If you want to borrow a classic Farmhouse kitchen idea, look for copper pots, pans, and utensils in thrift stores. Vintage jelly molds and kettles made of copper are also easily picked up, and they're an affordable way to add a beautiful accent to your kitchen.

Style them around a range oven or hang utensils from a rail, as shown above, for some traditional English appeal. 'These antique trinkets bring a wonderfully warm and cozy feel to the space,' says interior designer, Rebecca Hughes.

4. Vases, jugs, and bottles

Vases and jugs are a great way to turn kitchenware into decor and you'll find them in virtually every thrift store. These multifunctional items can serve as an aesthetic contribution, but also as a way to display a bouquet of fresh flowers or act as a vessel to hold your iced water at the dining table. For a more rustic touch, look for earthenware flagons, vintage milk bottles, canning jars, or stoneware ginger beer bottles.

5. Curios and statues

Thrift stores, by their very nature, are home to a random collection of oddities. It's easy to overlook these strange curios when you're not searching with an open mind, but sometimes the strangest items can make the most visually interesting addition to your space.

Just take the kitchen of Nicky Mudie from Violet & George, for example. She has a life-sized ceramic dog statue who sits in the corner of her kitchen. 'It's one of my favorite thrift store finds,' she says, 'His name is Onion'. On a smaller scale, adding a few figurines or sculptures to your shelving or countertop is a playful, decorative kitchen idea that creates an element of surprise and intrigue. The possibilities are truly endless.

6. Baskets

Step into any thrift shop and you'll almost guarantee to find a woven wicker basket of some description. Visually, these add warmth and texture to your kitchen decor when hung from beams and hooks, and storage baskets in particular double up as a great way to stay organized, perfect for the likes of fruit, tins, and other dry foods.

Rebecca suggests using a couple of baskets from different periods to create a layered look. 'This makes a home feel like it has organically evolved over time,' she says. 'This juxtaposition offers the best of both worlds – the coziness of traditional style and the crispness of contemporary design all in one harmonious space.'

7. Aged wooden furniture

Besides accessories and decor, it's possible to find larger furnishings in thrift stores. Max says aged wooden furniture in particular adds a rustic touch to a kitchen.

'Bringing in a piece that has some age – like a wooden work surface, shelving, or even a stool – is an excellent way to add character to a kitchen scheme,' he says. 'If your space affords it, see if you can find an antique cupboard or open shelving unit – something to break up the line of modernity that comes with fitted kitchens.'

8. Glass and crystal

Thrift stores are never short of glasses which are often on sale for less than a dollar a piece, but we tend to gloss over them. Far from old and fuddy, a collection of beautiful glassware – especially colored glass or traditional cut crystal – can make a beautiful statement in your kitchen.

If you have a glass-fronted kitchen cabinet, why not dedicate it to a glassware collection? Choose pieces in differing heights, shapes, and sizes to add an elegant touch to your kitchen storage.

9. Artwork

Prints, paintings, and canvases are abundant in thrift stores, and while you're unlikely to stumble across anything of any huge value, these items are a brilliant way to make your storage look more interesting.

Invest in some beautiful frames and dedicate a corner of your kitchen to a gallery wall idea, or nestle a small painting on your open shelving to bring a decorative detail to this functional part of the home. They even make a clever way to hide cords on kitchen counters.

10. Wooden trays or chopping blocks

Rebecca loves using thrifted finds to help soften a space, and wooden materials are one of the best ways to add visual warmth and texture. 'Often kitchens can be quite clinical, but something as simple as a battered chopping board can authentically add character,' she says. Look for distressed cutting boards, butcher blocks, or wooden trays and stand them up against your backsplash for a French country kitchen feel.

Where can you shop thrifted kitchen decor online?

Finding second-hand pieces for your kitchen is best done in person if you want to get some amazing bargains. But that's not to say you can't find some gems online, you might just have to pay a bit more – but it can be far easier. Try online marketplaces like Chairish, Etsy, and eBay. And if you are looking for some more investment antique finds, head to 1stDibs. Of course, Facebook Marketplace always has plenty of weird and wonderful things to offer too.