20+ thrift store painting makeover ideas to upcycle old art
Thrift stores are always full of art but it can be tough to find something that fits your aesthetic. If you’re feeling crafty, go hit up a secondhand shop and pick a painting to do one of these fun old art upcycle projects! How do you paint over a store bought painting? There’s no right answer. Scroll down my list to find holiday inspiraiton, modern inspiration, geeky inspiration, and more. The best part? If you don’t love how it turns out, paint over it, or donate it back and try again!
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20+ thrift store painting makeover ideas
I just love this 3-D, modern makeover where the main focus (lady in blue) was left as-is and the environment changed around her. Find Mitzi's instagram account here!
I followed the same lines and used darker colors and some little bones to turn this painting into a Halloween decoration! There's a tutorial if you click through.
I used this tutorial for some nursery decor in my son's room several years ago! It's a really simply diy but it looks beautiful.
This is so creative - she took a painting and then matched the background to her wallpaper, reducing the contrast and making really interesting art. Check out her website for house renovations here.
This is a super creative way to change the entire tone of a painting, with small geometric stickers and bold colors.
You could do this one with a frame, or even incorporate a painting behind it, but click through to check out how she made this amazing octopus 3D art with clay & resin! See more of Ashley's art on her website here.
Another one that would technically work with a frame, or could be incorporated with a painting on the inside. The painting directly on the glass is unexpected and I bet it is beautiful with the sun pouring in!
If you look closely at this painting, you'll realize that the stencil is laid over top the original art, giving it a layered and visually appealing palette. These colors aren't my vibe but I think the idea is really neat!
Yes, it ought to be common knowledge that you can just paint over top a painting or a frame's glass, but just in case you've forgotten! You can like the shape of a frame and hate the fillers, so go nuts.
The colors, the shades, the lines; this makeover is really stunning. See more of Ryan's work on instagram.
Instead of negative-area text, paint right over the top like this project! You can pick a big bold word, like this example, a quote, whatever.
Another seasonal idea - paint in some ghosts or other fall creatures! This has been such a fun trend to watch on social media and I wanted to include one example.
Not pictured
- Oliver Jeffers painted gorgeous paintings himself and then dipped them, but you could recreate this idea with a thrifted art piece.
- The tutorial doesn't exist anymore but use painter's tape and add graphic lines over top of paintings, a la this pin.
- Transform the background of paintings and turn them into pop art, from Lil Blue Boo.
- There are lots of true artists adding quirky creatures into old paintings; here is an article about an artist who adds Star Wars into old paintings, and I love this tiktoker who adds all sorts of things, here is an artist selling his work with a variety of additions.
- There is a tiktok trend of painting ghosts into thrifted art and it is so fun! here is one example!
- Not my aesthetic but I can appreciate the finished product, a makeover into an abstract painting, on tiktok.
- Adding stained glass on top of a painting or a mirror is super creative, like Ashleigh did on instagram.
- If you can't find original paint-by-numbers art pieces (I have two horse ones on my walls!) DIY one from a thrifted art piece, like this blogger.
- I love bright colors and this tutorial for making neon tweaks to a floral piece is brilliant.
- Another bright color makeover, this one seems really accessible, with simple dashes, on tiktok.
- I love how creative this is, mixing small toys and paint for a whole new painting vibe.
- Simple but stylish "dipping" idea.