Thrift Store Haul & Creative Upcycling Ideas for Home Decor; a Collected Vs. a Decorated Home 

When dinosaurs roamed the earth and I first started out, I had all brown stoneware. I still have a few unbroken pieces all these years later. Advance forward more years than most have been alive, I purchased all-white dishes thinking it was chic. Now I buy only from thrift stores, here and there. Much happier because I get only those dishes I really like, especially in ones or twos. Nothing matches and I'm glad to reuse what is the last of a family's treasures.

I love your explanation between a decorated home and a collected home. I think a decorated room lacks a certain warmth and welcoming atmosphere that a collected room exudes. Your home certainly does that and it's always so enjoyable to watch how you style things. The collected look is what I strive for in my home also. It is so much more personal to have things you have collected surrounding you. And a collected room makes you smile whenever you enter it. I love, love the idea of using the mixed pattern china plates instead of the plain white. So eclectic. As always, Sherry, you hit another home run with this video. Thanks for sharing!

My home is collected, not decorated (which I find too formal and cold). That's why I love your ideas!

Edgar may not need fifty different types of treats, but he does deserve them! Good boy, Edgar! 😊

I never heard of Collected as a design style but it resonates with me so much! All of the artwork on my walls is special because it was made by someone I know. It speaks to my heart because of that. Thank you for sharing your work with us. I look forward to Monday afternoons because of you.

YAY! You have defined my decorating style for me! I used to "decorate" when I was young. Now, I "curate" and collect for style in the same manner you described. It's always evolving...😊

Sherry you have defined my style perfectly! When my son was in high school he managed an auction house for a family friend. Almost everything in my home was purchased on those Thursday night auctions. Fabulous memories and a curated home which I love. I can look at an item and relive those days.

I definitely prefer a collected home. For years I've referred to my home as being furnished in early American attic. It pleases me to have furniture and pieces around that bring me joy when I look at them.

I went to a baby shower many years ago and the hostess used different China patterns on the table. I loved it! She also incorporated collected tourist plates to the setting. Fun, colorful and something interesting to talk about.

I received a small copper lantern exactly like yours as a child. It was a give-away at a gas station! I think I was 6 years old- 71 years now. My mom still has it.

My in-laws traveled the world and collected door knobs along the way. They were kind enough to gift them to us a few years ago. I found some beautiful gold frames and decided to mount them to display on a staircase. They are quite the conversation piece and I love that they're tucked away in a box anymore.

Good afternoon, Sherry! This is such an exciting installment! I prefer collected / curated home, also. Thank you for sharing your eclectic ideas! ❤, Bobbie. xoxo

Love the mixing up the patterns for plates! I am stealing this one!

I really enjoyed this video. I have a collected home! I was in my 30’s when I finally discovered the cottage look was my style and my husband and I would go to the flea market every month and, I would spend hours in antique shops and malls! Still do! I’m always on the look out for oil paintings but I have a way to “fake” one: Use a picture you really like and apply several coats of mod podge alternating the direction of your strokes then frame it without glass! I have a yellow child’s chair that’s mine from almost 60 years ago! I love the blue and white plate clock but the green frames with the bird prints is my favorite!

My home too is COLLECTED! Everything is thrifted. Some items are kept as is but most are made over to my style and I love it! I find myself running out of room to put my treasures because some I love so much it's hard to donate them after being in my home decor for awhile,but I can't keep myself away from thrift stores,estate sales and auctions! TFS Sherry

I'm also a collected home believer. The tole painting is something I also have and love! I've been collecting copper since I was first married at 20. My grandfather came to MA where his job was doing decorative metal work on trolley cars. He also made some special copper pieces for my grandmother. This love of copper was passed on to my mother, aunts and their children. I'm now 76 so you can imagine how long ago my grandparents and their first two children moved from Norway to the U.S. There's only one slight problem! I've now got so many wonderful pieces that it's become difficult to keep up with the polishing. Also I'm an artist and thrifter. I love getting inexpensive thrift store pieces and often transform them in a creative and artistic way. I now live alone with my two small dogs and so enjoy my home as you do yours. My house is too big for just me, but I'm not ready to downsize and eliminate the many interesting pieces I've collected and created during my life. Also, It would be just too much work to do so. No, I'm not a hoarder! We people who have "collected homes" have many memories just from looking around our homes. Holly

Yes!!! I have mismatched our dinnerware for almost 50 years! Love it! ❤❤😊

You are right again, Sherry! A Collected home nurses our creativity! I just love rearranging my pieces and I love watching you do the same. Your treasures are so interesting in a way that a big box store can't imitate! Thanks for a lovely and enjoyable video!

I recall a number of years ago a young person came in to my home. Her house was white every where and very basic. I on the other hand am a bit like your self, I love my home to be full of things I love. She once told me look at your home it’s horrible. Oh well can not please every one. I love a good mix of different china. Mugs,cups, plates and kitchen wear. X

I love that needlepoint picture. I am not a big fan of those kinds of bird pictures but those dark green frames made them look so much better. I have always thought of my way of decorating as feathering my nest, much like a bird makes their nest out of bits and pieces.

You certainly have the magic touch! Not everyone is so fortunate. I love most everything you create. 💕

I certainly prefer and have a collected home. The collected home provides so much charm and showcases personality. And when you use thrifted and repurposed items you can change the look frequently without hurting your pocketbook!! Love your explanation of "Decorated vs Collected". You are a gem, Sherry❤

You my friend are a genius. I know I always say it. It's my little inside for you, but I think you have a collective decorated home and I am so jealous of all the blue and white that you have and that you find you have the best thrift stores ever

Fantastic ideas...I definitely have a collected home. I am drawn to things that have character and history,even if it's not my history. Has anyone else looked at an item and wondered what wonderful stories it could tell? Sometimes I pick an piece that "speaks" to me, although I am not sure where it's going to go when I thrift it, it is always used and I find just the right place for it.

Ever since I got my hands on dishes from my grandmother I've used mis-matched dishes of all shapes and sizes. I've added to my collection via eBay and thrifting. I get joy from aged, loved and used dishes.

I like Collected way better than Design. More personality to the rooms. The different patterns on the plates is such a unique way of changing up decor. like this. Enjoyed this video as always. Thank you.

Your decor is gorgeous! It must take you forever to dust.

Love your idea of the dinner plates being different. They’re all so beautiful! I love watching all your ideas come to life.

Finally found someone who see my collection as art.

I love the mixing patterns for china idea!!

That teensy pink pitcher is too cute for words. I love it! It looks perfect in your "new" beautiful bedroom.💝💕🩷

I agree: collecting promotes creativity. I love the framed basket and doily. I gave away so much before my big move and regret losing many items because I have ideas for using them differently. Sigh.

I keep a plate rack on my counter and change out the assortment of mismatched (mostly) vintage plates every season. Valentines, Spring, cherries, patriotic, autumn, Christmas. It’s fun to choose a different plate every day!

Thank you SO much for explaining the difference between a "decorated" and a "collected" home. I have two close friends whose homes are definitely decorated. I love them (the homes AND the friends! 🤗) but I can't seem to "get into that" for my own home (which we have been living in for 4 years and has yet to be truly settled into!! And YES, YES, YES to the collection of plates! I'm totally going to copy your idea. Immediately. I LOVE the charm and homey-ness of floral china patterns. But again, I thought it would be just be so "out there" to do such a thing!

I loved this video! I never knew my home was a collected home, I always just thought I decorated with old things, different things, and loved to collect the old, and keep passed down things from family. Totally my style, and I love having a name for it now. Thanks for all of your shows. I always look forward to your new ones coming out. You’re one of my favorite channels and I’ve never missed a show. Been following you since almost the beginning. 😊😊♥️

I don't care for a decorated house. I'll stick with our collective way. Isn't it awesome finding bits & bobs by accident 😊 Besides I travel like you...I take two full size cases with me almost empty and by the time I get home they are over weight & SO heavy 😂 I LOVE it ❤

Thanks for posting! Your arrangements are beautiful and I'm always inspired by it all!

It is really funny how old things become new again. When I was growing up we were a large family and very poor. We had mismatched everything! LOL!!! I actually hated it....especially when I saw friends' homes where they actually had matching furniture...without blankets or quilts thrown over them to hide all the worn spots. They had silverware that was all one pattern! Imagine that! They didn't wear pants under their too short dresses to keep warm in the winter. All the things I vowed to change in my home when I grew up....well, now they are doing those same things.....ON PURPOSE!!! I have to admit....sometimes I am tempted.....but I stand strong....I will not go back! LOL!!!! You make things look so lovely.....but I have a feeling that some of those things, in my home, would just look like poor folks live here. Granted, I am so very far from being well off, but I don't have to live like that anymore......just my opinion, mind you.

I now know that my home is collected! I've also called it Grandma chic. This is why I am so drawn to your channel. The things that I collect can be moved all over the house. It distresses my mother that my dinner plates and my silver ware are all different patterns. (The dinner plates are the same color, but not all the same pattern.) I love living like this!!

The basket hung in the frame is genius! Love it!

We have a collected home and I love it.

Your use of mixed china brought memories of an old friend of mine who is no longer with us. She shoped at garage sales and flea markets and jumk stores collecting old china. She had enough for her and her husband to have a complete dinner setting of their own individual pattern. Not just once but for many of their meals. Since they were both collectors they took a great deal of pleasure doing that. She was a sweetheart! Thanks for bringing her to my mind.

I LOVE the idea of mixing china patterns for everyday plates!

A decorated house = Fashion. A collected home = Style. Greetings from Germany alex 🤗

It's Sherry Time!! 😊

I think that we should do what we love!

The late Robert Kime is a favorite English designer of the collected look that your home has! If it's good enough for the King...

Excellent definition of decorative and collective. I am a thrift-aholic😅 and I have to say that there's nothing in my home that's not a matching set. Mixing up makes me feel complete with odds of what not. As long as there's a compatibility of theme, color, and seasons. Thank you for your videos and inspiration. 😊

Because of your creativeness, I am now so inspired to do some redecorating!! I loved the basket in a frame! I’m going on a hunt to mimic it! Thank you for sharing!!!

I love your videos! I do not have the patience to go to thrift stores because they are often cluttered and my mind just gets frustrated and cannot see through the clutter to potential uses. You, obviously, do not have that problem! How do you remember everything you have and where/how to store it when not in use?

I love the idea of different print plates all in small flower prints .💕💕

Yes!!!! My daily dishes are an eclectic mix of beautiful patterns. I do try to keep the backgrounds consistent by choosing the plates with a cream colored background. It makes the eclectic designs look more cohesive on the table.

I love this. My home has always been collected. I feel like so many homes are more decorated than homey. I'll take collected any day! Than you.

Now I know what to call my style...collected.👍🏻

I prefer the Currier and Ives over the tole. Never was a fan of the tole, but I think small wood framed still life prints in a kitchen and dining room are charming. Also I love the ideas of mix and match dinnerware. It's so much more homey to have an eclectic curated mix.

*Sherry, I grew up with eclectic parents who were Antique Dealers and we lived a collected, curated, cozy life in which our home was always evolving and the collections were rotated. 😁💜👱‍♀️ Our home was the one where all of the neighborhood kids gathered because it was so warm, welcoming and FUN‼️😁* *Sometimes women would comment on how many "things" my Mother had in her home and asked how she always kept everything dusted and clean⁉️ Paraphrasing, her reply (with 5 children) was her children had everyday chores, she had a schedule for herself where each day had a different maintenance/cleaning agenda, and as long as you maintain a consistant schedule, you're never behind and playing catch-up. 😉 She also would tell people her style was, "organized chaos", LOL❣️* *I don’t feel comfortable in a matchy-matchy home neutral and devoid of color. If that's someone else's style, that's okay. It's THEIR HOME and they have a right to be comfortable in their own homes, too.*

I don't have 2 dishes the same. I love that look.❤️

I've always loved an eclectic look over a 'decorated' home and have found your videos refreshing. Thanks for sharing

Oddly, I have been drawn to miniatures lately and discovered a grouping of little pitchers... love your ideas!!

I was always hesitant about mixing picture frames, but they look breathtaking the way you have them arranged. I'm going to start mixing my picture frames now!

There was a restaurant years ago that I frequented that decorated each table with a mixture of old china serving pieces including plates, glasses, silverware and even tablecloths. The tables each had four or six different chairs as well. I absolutely loved going there and eating there. It was so cozy, eclectic and interesting.

You sure have great thrift stores where you live. The haul and the prices are truly shocking. Lucky you. A win for us as well as we get to see what you do with it all.

My number one rule for decorating is I have to love it! 😊I tell my thrifting friends if you hear me gasping you’ll know that I’ve found something that really speaks to me ❤. Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas!

Your basket in a frame was an awesome look! I also liked the plate in a frame. I love little things but am not very creative in thinking how to put them together! Thanks for your awesome video!

I’m a collector too! Love these ideas!

I am a collector as well. See you next week.❤

Since I started thrifting last year, I have collected so many large dinner plates, each with a different pattern and I love them all.

I mix a variety of textured white plates. I *DO* like plain white dishes, but like getting plates from different sets. 😊

I love to mix my styles. I have a variety of Fiesta, Polish Pottery and vintage dishes from my mother. My dining room has a 1970s Ethan Allen hutch from my parents, paired with a modern trestle dining table with leather Parsons chairs and peacock patterned upholstered chair on the ends. I always say my style is eclectic.

They were lovely ideas ,love the basket in the frame

I have those same swan salt cellars with the little spoons! The wings have little hinges, so they open up. I just love them!

My grandmother (born in 1898) had a small copper oil lamp just like this one. She gave it to my daughter, now over 50, when she was very young. I wish I knew the story behind it.

I love mix- matched dishes,as well as glasses 😊 I do have the standard white plate set,yet it had been sitting in my cupboard for some years now- I think it's time I donated it. I absolutely loved the frame with the basket and the doily! Thank you for another awesome video - tons of inspiration for my Spring decor🌟🌟🌟

I love a variety of patterns. Truly enjoy your videos

Collected...yes, that is a great word to express my style too. I don't fit into any one decor style and always used "eclectic." Thank you for sharing!

Absolutely love the framed basket. I just thrifted some beautiful vintage baskets, now you have given me a great idea 💡!

Eh,, I think "collecting" is just another way of decorating, but I get your point. One of my tips is to try to not get all of your furniture and decor from the same stores. Go to thrift and antique stores to find unique things. DIY like you did. So many people's houses look like a Hobby Lobby outlet.

I think collected dinner plates are a wonderful idea. I collect different blue and white plates. Your collection of plates is very pretty. My home is collected too. Great way to describe the look.

When my MIL died I saw so many nice things she never used. Well I decided to use my nice things every day. I use my Grandma’s china and cut glass drink ware. I also have a similar calendar and now I know what to do! Thanks for all your ideas !

Hello Sherry!!! Girl, I Love your unique ability to use the most unusual items in such creatively beautiful ways. Your talent is beyond amazing! I appreciate you and your talent. As always, I can't wait to see what you create for us next week. Take care😊

Cherie, I have the perfect spot for those bird pictures.... Have a blessed day ✝✝

The blue & white sconce and tiny plate are beautiful.

Love your creativity, as always you inspire!

Another delightful video! I, too, have a collected home and I love it! As to choosing between the fruit print and toleware tray-well, I can’t. I love them both!

I have always felt this way! If I see something I like I buy it and find a place for it. It’s fun to do this and brings pleasure in creating things. Love the idea of the frame and the basket and the doilies! I saw a jar of strands of small beautiful pink Christmas beads. I’m going to get a wreath at a thrift shop and glue the beads on ribbon and lace and add an old necklace! I never even thought to use them on a Christmas tree, my mind just saw this creation! Yes,it’s funny to add a new redesigned item to our home….sometimes we do have to rearrange the whole area to make it look just right! It’s so much fun! We can make gifts to use or sale! There’s no end! Thanks! I enjoyed your video very much!

I also have a collected home. So much cozier and visually interesting. I adore your books! The fruit print is a treasure. Thank you for what you do. I love your channel

Hi Sherry, The collected home look is the best! It’s cozy and interesting. I really enjoyed your little collections that you added to your space. I agree, when you thrift , it stimulates your creativity ❣️ Such a good feeling ❤

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I finally now know that I have a “collected home”! I’m so happy that I can tell my husband and kids 😂😂😂

I really loved this week’s topic, Sherry! Thanks for putting a name to my style. A special part of a collected home, to me, is that it more often incorporates family treasures and sweet memories. Though I enjoy the tole tray, I like the Currier & Ives fruit print best.

I love how you merge beauty with function. That's my taste. I want alot of my things that serve a functional purpose out in the open, but I want myvsoace to look pretty and cozy as well. Without over-crowding my space with both functional and decorative items.

I prefer a collective home. I love to have unique, eclective finds around my home! I like the idea of mixed decorative plates! I love antiques and vintage! I loved this video!!!😊👋💕 Btw, you're fur babies are adorable! 🐱🐶

I mixes different plates all the time. It's so fun.😊

Old Seven oaks is definitely a collected home. That’s how we live. Looking for beauty in vintage things that bring us joy. It’s time to do a spring refresh. Love all your finds! Your house is lovely and a feast for these collector eyes all the time! Have a glorious week! 🤍

Well, my home is definitely collected! 😂❤

Wow! Your ideas today were beyond brilliant! The picture frame with the basket etc inside? Who would ever think of that? How charming and what a conversation piece. Makes a room seem magical to me. I love the idea of the change of dishes. I too have all white dishes for everyday but have been obsessed with searching for blue and white transferware in shops and marketplace. I haven’t brought any home since I’m trying to downsize not size up. Now I can get some and use as everyday dishes. Why not? It’s just us and friends for a Friday night dinner date every week. Won’t that add a bit of conversation? I also love your explanation of decorated vs collected. My home is collected definitely not decorated. My childhood home was the same and it’s always provided a cozy embracing look and feel to me.

Absolutely love your collected home. I love so many different things & always consider them eclectic. Those two words go together. Much better than decorated & looking like it belongs in a magazine. Thanks for a lot of new ideas!

Thank you. Now I know I have a collected home. I also love your new thrifted finds. You are helping me learn to use my finds in new unique ways

I have also decided to pull out all of my vintage plates I’ve collected over 30 years and have been using them instead of my white set. I have no matching patterns, only similar colors and florals. I also love tole painted pieces. Knowing someone took the time to make my items unique and pretty makes me very happy!

I absolutely love your style. Love everything you decorated with today. The bird pictures with the painted green frames I love. The green really brought put the picture.

Love watching you refresh, rearrange and recreate! I’m looking around ready to put out some spring decor. Thank you for always inspiring me!!!🫶🏼🐦🪺 I’m definitely an eclectic curated collective vintage style. ❤ Sometimes I’m white and matchy matchy and sometimes it’s mis-match. I’m always drawn to pretty dishes.