How to Give Thrifted Pictures Some Lovin'

Let's talk about pictures.

Pictures are the salt and pepper of the decorating world: they brighten and deepen the atmosphere of any room.

That was a touch philosophical for a Tuesday, wasn't it? Apologies; let's try again. Pictures: they add life to a room. (Ahh. Much better.)


I went thrifiting late last year and found some lovely pictures for dirt cheap. However, almost all of them had ugly frames or dirty glass, so they needed some lovin.

Observe: a peaceful Norman Rockwell picture. I bought it because it's an experience to look at it: I smell fresh spring air and feel the dew of a day just beginning and chuckle at the adorable curious robin.

That was the first thing I saw when I found this picture. The second thing was the nasty oatmeal-colored matting and strange frame with viney, red flowers doodled up the sides. Ick.

I disassembled the picture and found the matting couldn't be separated from the picture and thus, couldn't be replaced. So in a moment of daring, I decided to paint over it with white tempera paint not knowing if it would work.

Fortunately for me it did. I spray painted the frame gold and BAM. It looks new!

Ahhh. The picture is clean and bright and it thrills me to through and through. Except for my thumbs. They got in the way of the spray paint and are miffed. (Please don't ask me how I got paint on my thumbs and not on any of my other fingers. I can't explain how these things happen to me.)

So I suppose the moral of this story is that it's important to see the potential of an object when thrifting. After a good cleaning and a coat of paint, you'll have something that's unique to you!