Are you a fellow thrifter? Do you enjoy using simple thrifted finds to style your home? If you answered “yes” to either of those questions- you are among good company. For today on my blog, we will be looking at some DIY heart decor ideas that you can use to style your own home in a budget friendly way. Utilizing some of my simple DIY heart decor ideas will allow you to add warmth and charm to your home spaces without breaking the bank.
Hearts are by far my favorite shape. They bring a warm charm to any space- and that is why I am happy to share some of my favorite DIY heart decor ideas (thrifted finds) with you all today. Follow along for my top tips on how to shop for- and style- these lovely heart finds.
In this post, I will show you how to repurpose a woven heart basket, how to decorate with vintage hearts (without it feeling like Valentine’s Day), how to stage crystal (heart-shaped) trinket boxes, and how to make an adorable hand poured candle (using a thrifted heart trinket box). Do these heart decor ideas sound fun to you?
Well then, what do you say? Shall we get started?
DIY Heart Decor Ideas:
What Decorating Styles Use Hearts in Home Decor?
When you think of hearts, do you think of a young girl’s bedroom? Or perhaps, a baby nursery? I do too; however, I also think of my favorite decorating style…the English cottage style. Other decorating styles where you may also see hearts: a farmhouse style home, a shabby chic home, a Bohemian home, or even a modern home.
In all actuality- many home decor styles incorporate hearts into their design. And with such a sweet, pleasing shape…why wouldn’t they?
Decorating with Vintage Hearts:
My DIY heart decor ideas generally start with vintage hearts (that I collect from the thrift store). If you visit your local thrift store- you will likely find some adorable selections of heart home decor to choose from. With a little TLC, vintage hearts can become the perfect cottage style craft.
Once the DIY heart decor crafts are completed- you can easily integrate the adorable heart decor ideas into you own home’s interior.
Follow along below to see how I accomplish this task on a budget. (But first…a trip to the thrift store is necessary.)
How to Shop for Vintage Hearts in a Thrift Store:
God has blessed my husband and I with two wonderful little boys- and two delightful little girls. Being a girl mom is a delight for a pink, heart-loving lady.
Hearts are always on my radar, (and my children know it too) as they are always pointing out heart items when we are shopping together. Therefore, when I am thrifting- you can be sure that I am looking for unique heart shaped treasures.
My favorite hearts to find in a thrift store are those made of quality materials. In particular- glass hearts, wooden hearts, embroidered hearts, ceramic hearts, brass hearts, wicker hearts…Okay, almost any heart is a treasure to me. Although, I do generally steer away from plastic hearts -as I know I can find better quality ones- if I search long enough.
What Thrift Store Isles Contain the Most Heart Decor?
To find quality hearts, you will want to visit the glass section of your local thrift store. For there you will almost certainly find glass plates in the shape of a heart.
You may also venture to the trinket section- as you are bound to find a jewelry holder… or an adorable heart shaped trinket box.
Equally, be sure to visit the basket section- as you may even find a woven heart basket there.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out the framed art section of the thrift store- as you may be lucky enough to find a hand embroidered piece of “heart art” hiding behind a glass frame.
DIY Heart Decor Ideas: (Without it Feeling Like Valentine's Day)
Don’t get me wrong- Valentine’s Day is a lovely holiday… but not everyone wants their home to look like a Valentine’s Day explosion. So how can you use hearts in a home without creating an overly Halmark holiday vibe?
Well, I am so glad you asked. Let’s dive a bit deeper and discover four of my best top tips and ideas for using DIY heart decor in my home spaces.
Tip #1: Search for Neutral Colors
Hearts come in more colors than just red and pink. Actually, it is in the color scheme that the “no Valentine’s Day vibe” emerges from. I like to search for neutral-colored hearts. They do exist. Some of my favorite neutral-colored hearts I have found are made of brass, wood, wicker, and crystal.
Do this: think of the colors found in nature and create a neutral color scheme from there. My favorite neutral heart colors to collect are cream-colored hearts, pale pink hearts, and tan colored hearts. I prefer muted colors in my neutrals so that my colored items can stand out without competition.
Not forgetting, that with a little creativity… and a few craft supplies, you can sometimes change the color of the heart to a more neutral base. (So don’t walk away from a heart that you love just because it happens to be the “wrong” color.)
Also worth noting, if you cannot find a neutral heart- why not make your own heart using air cry clay? See my post on how to create air dry clay hearts using a vintage cookie mold here.
Tip #2: Vary the Material
Different materials add interest. Adding a brass heart paperweight to a stack of vintage books instantly adds charm.
A neutral hanging wicker heart adds texture and warmth to a home’s entryway.
An embroidered/cross stitched heart adds softness to a space.
A crystal heart trinket dish adds beauty and functionality to a bathroom countertop. (Some fun ideas for a heart trinket dish: fill the heart with small cotton balls or cotton swabs or maybe even small handmade soaps. Transform the heart trinket dish into a hand poured candle (more on this later). There are endless possibilities!
Tip #3: Place Hearts Randomly in the Home
Randomly (yet strategically) placing hearts in different places throughout the home gives a cohesive feel. I like to add hearts to a bookshelf, to a stack of vintage books, to a countertop, or to a table center.
Really, I do not put too much thought into their placement. Instead, I sprinkle the hearts about my home in the same way I sprinkle bits of love and care into the design.
Tip #4 Pair the Hearts with Something Newer or Older
Old and new are the perfect complement to each other. Personally, I like to add something new to something old. For example, if I have a beautiful vintage heart trinket box- I might add something brand new inside the box to make it look more interesting.
If I have a new set of hardback books (but I want to give them a charming vibe), I add a wicker heart balanced on its side. By mixing the ages of a piece- you can create a very considered look with no real effort.
*To see my new wicker hearts- with added vintage charm- check out my post here.
How to Use a Vintage, Metal (Heart Shaped) Wall Hook:
Sometimes vintage things can create a new look that fits today’s way of living. I found this sweet tin heart hook for one dollar. The back of the heart had an original sticker that said Western Germany. This item probably was from the 1950s – 1980s. (A little piece of history preserved!)
Wall hooks are both functional and beautiful. They can be used in a kitchen- to hang a hand towel- or on a kitchen wall to hang dried herbs on. Equally, they may also be used in an entryway to hang and display a vintage hat. Or a metal wall hook may even act as a place to hang your car keys.
I also like to use wall hooks in powder rooms. If you add some pretty handmade soaps- and a lovely hand towel, you create an English cottage vibe- without much cost or effort.
How to Use a Silver Heart Basket from the Thrift Store (as Home Decor):
A little backstory: One day (when I was out thrifting), I stumbled across an adorable silver, heart shaped basket. Naturally, the basket was quite tarnished when I spotted it on a low shelf. However, not willing to be put off by a little history- I purchased the basket. Afterall, my experience told me that a bit of elbow grease- and some silver polish- would easily remedy this. Therefore, after a bit of TLC, this once dirty and tarnished basket became shiny and beautiful.
Why this basket?
Well, initially, I was drawn to the basket because it was a heart (obviously), but also because of its petite nature. I thought it would be a perfect holding place for keys, jewelry, or other small bits and bobs.
As I further studied the basket, I was drawn to the basket weave- as it naturally added an interesting textural element.
Once I cleaned my basket, I decided to use some fresh flowers (baby’s breath and pink roses) to weave through the basket. This was a “nod” to its original woven design. (Artificial flowers or dried flowers would work as well).
My top tip for using dried flowers is to do this step carefully! Dried flowers are fragile. Therefore, take your time and plan accordingly. Gently hold the end of the dried stem (as opposed to close to the flower). This allows you to keep the dried stem more rigid. Which in turn, allows you to weave the dried flowers through the woven basket layers… with fewer casualties.
Now, my heart basket looks so sweet. In my opinion, it is the perfect hanging heart or candle/jewelry holder. A small revamp that made an impressive difference.
How to Repurpose a Thrifted, Silver Heart Basket:
Let the photos do the talking. May I present to you… my heart basket three ways:
How to Use Crystal Hearts to Decorate a Home Space:
Crystal hearts are a favorite of mine to find. When thrifting, I love stumbling across a crystal heart (or in this case- 2 heart trinket boxes). Often, a bit dusty and dirty- but I don’t mind. This may sound crazy to you… but there is just something about washing years of dirt away that is oddly pleasing to my soul. Seeing the crystal’s beautiful prism of brilliance being returned is so much fun!
The crystal heart backstory: While the hearts may appear to be an original pair…they did not actually come from the same thrift store. No,no- they were actually bought about a year apart.
You see, the small crystal heart “found” me first. After purchasing, I put the heart in the cupboard for another day. Sometime later… I “met” the bigger trinket box. Fondly, I remembered my first small heart friend at home. I rushed home to unite my mismatched pair.
Seeing as the heart trinket boxes were identical in style, I thought it was only fitting that they should be used to decorate a space together. And that is exactly what I did. Nothing fancy or complicated. A few vintage books stacked… and then the tiered hearts stacked on each other. I added a dried flower and filled the small crystal heart with some fun-colored buttons. (Do you know where the random collection of buttons came from? Yes…the thrift store.)
That was all…the buttons added a fun pop of color that you can see peeping through the top crystal heart box.
How to Use a Thrifted Glass Heart to Make a Cozy Candle for Your Home:
Making candles from thrift store vessels is a simple craft that brings much joy! Using a thrifted glass heart to make a cozy candle for you home space is even better!
So, let us just say that you have searched for (and purchased) a lovely heart trinket dish from your local thrift store. Now what? Let me give you a few things to check for (before using a glass vessel from the thrift store) to make a candle.
9 Candle Making Tips:
- Inspect the vessel. Make sure there are no cracks or chips in the glass heart.
- Confirm that the piece is made of glass and not crystal. Crystal is often more prone to shattering than glass- as crystal is not heat proof. (My two crystal trinket dishes above would not be suitable). You can generally identify crystal by holding the piece up to the light- and looking for a prism of colors shinning though. Crystal is often much heavier than glass. It also makes a lovely “tink-tink-tink” sound when tapped with a fingernail -as opposed to a deep thud of glass
- Wash the vessel in warm soapy water.
- Once the vessel has been checked for safety and cleaned- you can start to gather your supplies. You will need basic candle making supplies: Wax, a melting pot, a wick, a wick sticker, etc.
- Use the wick sticker to fix the wick to the bottom of the vessel (as central as possible).
- Melt the wax and carefully pour into the prepared vessel.
- Allow the wax to fully cure.
- Trim the wick.
- Now you are ready to responsibly enjoy your DIY heart candle.
*To see another detailed post on candle making, see my post about using a teacup to make a candle here.
Step By Step Candle Making (in Photo Format):
How to Shop for Heart Embroidery in a Thrift Store:
Embroidery and cross-stitching pieces are always on my radar when thrifting. In my opinion, when an item took someone a lot of time to make, it is worth preserving.
Remember, don’t give up on a lovely embroidery or needle point just because the frame is not desirable. You can easily buy a new frame to replace it.
Equally, you can gently hand wash cross stitched pieces as well- assuming you are very careful.
Naturally, I was “chuffed to bits” to find this sweet embroidery that featured my favorite shape…the heart. How delightful to discover an adorable heart that had been lovingly stitched into this piece’s design.
Simple decor- stitched with talent, time, and love.
To see more English inspired hanging hearts that I made, click here.
Final Thoughts Until Next Time:
In conclusion to my DIY heart decor ideas post, I will leave you with a final encouragement. Be creative with what you find. For often in the creativity–you will see that much hidden joy was revealed -in an otherwise- forgotten treasure.
Seeing as hearts are a recognized symbol of love… why not fill your home with them to spread love and joy? By looking in your local thrift store, craft store, or by simply using your own creativity- you too can use vintage hearts to create your very own DIY heart decor for you home.
Remember, creating this warmth in a home does not mean you have to spend lots of money. In creating inviting home spaces, you create an environment that can foster good conversation, memories, and love.
If you enjoyed this content, feel free to read any of my other blog post where you are sure to find a heart… or two… or ten. Also, see my cottage style thrifting page for more heart decor here. Plus, check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for more ideas and inspirations. Be sure to not miss a post by subscribing to my blog.
Thank you with all my HEART, I hope to see you all next time.
~Elizabeth~
