11 Thrift Store Finds That Add Whimsy to Any Room

French Majolica Cicadas

Vibrantly colored pottery cicadas have been a symbol in French culture for generations, bringing good luck and prosperity. But they're also one of the most whimsical details you can add to your home, particularly if you're lucky enough to find a collection discarded at a thrift shop.

"Traditionally, French majolica cicada wall pockets were meant to hang outside of the front door filled with lavender to ward off evil and good luck," says Thecla Glueck, owner of Thecla Glueck Design.

Animal Print Furnishings

If you can find someone's cast-off leopard-print ottoman, you have the perfect way to add functional whimsy to a room. "Animal print is such a good way to inject whimsy with confidence," says Glueck. "Think upholstered pieces like an accent chair, bench, or ottoman in zebra, classic leopard, or cheetah.

You can achieve the same look if you find an inexpensive chair in need of reupholstering. All you have to do is choose a playful print and try your hand at DIY reupholstery.

Steiff Stuffed Animals

Adding stuffed animals to a child's room is always a whimsical touch. Often, these cute plushies make their way to a thrift store after their first owner has outgrown them. If you can find Steiff stuffed animals, you're not only finding something whimsical; you're also finding a piece of storied décor.

"Steiff stuffed animals add whimsy to a nursery through craftsmanship and story rather than overt cuteness," says Glueck. "They read as heirloom objects that bring warmth, imagination, and add a sense of continuity to the space."

Vintage Door Knockers

Start the whimsical moments before you even open the front door. Solid brass door knockers with faces and animals were popular around the turn of the 20th century, and today, many are discarded at salvage and thrift stores when homes are renovated. "There are so many beautiful and artisanal door knockers to be on the lookout for when thrifting and vintage shopping," says Glueck.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

A fanciful tray of vintage perfume bottles adds a feminine, whimsical touch to a dresser, even if they no longer have perfume inside. You can often find empty bottles on the dusty shelves of a thrift store, waiting to be grouped in the prettiest display.

Glueck also looks for former retail display bottles, which were non-functional but visually beautiful. "I will never pass up a vintage retail display bottle of Lanvin Arpege, Guerlain Shalimar, Chanel Allure, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Paloma Picasso, or Rochas," says Glueck.

Rotary Phones

A whimsical décor item doesn't need to work. It can be there simply because it's fun. Rotary phones are a great example, and you can easily find them at thrift stores because, well, they're not exactly usable anymore.

"Remember the days we all had rotary phones?" asks R. Jane Morgan, owner and founder of R. Jane Morgan Interior + Design. "They create whimsy and can be used as decorative objects, especially if they are in a punchy color like fire-engine red or bubble gum pink."

Vintage Toys and Games

What's more whimsical and playful than a literal toy? Thrift stores are often full of old toys and games that have been loved and then donated, and these items can have a second life as décor in your home. "I love to use vintage toys and games as art or home decor. A collection of vintage toy trucks on a shelf of a business executive’s home office is unexpected and sweet," says Stephanie Hunt, founder of The Flairhunter.

She looks for vintage items, particularly from the 1970s, like dice, bowling balls, and even colorful bouncy balls. "I love to display quirky thrifted collections in unique ways. Think old skateboard wheels under an oversized cloche on a wooden stand. It’s unexpected—that’s flair," says Hunt.

Animal Figurines

Animals are a whimsical design touch in any form, whether they're in brass, glass, or porcelain. "Quirky brass objects, especially animals, are a favorite of mine for bringing a bit of personality and patina," says Catherine Shuman, designer and founder of The Intentional Design Studio, who also loves finding Murano glass animals.

Vintage Storybook Illustrations

If you can find a vintage storybook at a thrift store, it's worth picking up not only for the story but the images. And, if it's in rough shape, you don't have to feel bad about taking it apart to frame the pages as prints. It makes for charming and whimsical artwork. Shuman uses these playful art moments to add whimsy: "Vintage storybook illustrations, old travel postcards, museum souvenir prints, botanical postcards—it's all fair game to add to a fun, eclectic gallery wall or to add a single framed one to style a bookcase or shelf."

Animals as Objects

There is an incredibly niche category of vintage items that are both whimsical and functional. These are furniture pieces that happen to be shaped like animals. "My favorite whimsical items to shop for when thrifting are any furniture pieces that are shaped like animals. For example, a bar cart shaped as a horse," says Ewen.

She also looks out for animal-shaped lamp bases and, occasionally, sculptures of animals that are ridiculously playful. "Perhaps a frog balancing a stack of teacups on his head, or two Siamese cats cuddling," says Ewen.

1970s Wallpaper or Textiles

If you're up for a DIY project, look for a floral from the 1970s. Wallpaper or fabric can provide the backdrop for a whimsical and retro moment. "I look for deadstock wallpaper from the 1970’s. From oversized orange flower prints to cinematic cartoon toile, the patterns from this era are over-the-top whimsical," Ewen says.