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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Create Your Decor » How to Give Thrift Store Carousel Horses a Modern Update

How to Give Thrift Store Carousel Horses a Modern Update

by Lindsay Ballard on January 24, 2014 25 Comments

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

Every time I go into a thrift store, I see at least two carousel horses.  They’re usually on the knick knack shelf wedged in between the sad clown figurine and the porcelain heart shaped bowl painted with country hearts.  Part of me is horrified by them.  Another part of me always wants to buy them.

Why?  Because I have my mother’s collection of them from the 80s.  The more the merrier!

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

Yeah, I know.  I know you are seriously scared of where this is going, but she was going to give them to Goodwill and I just couldn’t let that happen.  They were a part of my childhood, and now my three-year old Emma loved looking at them at my parents’ house before they moved.  I couldn’t bare for them to be given away.  And as usual, I had a (Mom approved) plan for them.

Okay, but before we go any further, I need to add a disclaimer.  Yes, these are collectable.  Yes, people do still love collecting them and that is awesome.  Yes, we could have made someone’s year by letting them pick them up for $1.99 at Goodwill.  I know some of you will be absolutely horrified by what is about to happen to them.  If you feel like you might fit that bill, it’s probably time to look away.

Since Emma loves them, I wanted to use them in her new big girl room.  But since my home’s color palette is anything but pastel, I decided to give them an overhaul.

GASP!  I know.  Start the freak out now.

These horses are really easy to take apart.  I unscrewed the brass pole and the horses slid right off.  I wiped them down with a wet cloth and let them dry.  Then, I spray painted them in several different colors.

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

When the paint was dry, I reassembled them.   It was literally that easy.  Now, I have a collection that’s special to me with a modern look that fits into my home.  They went from dated to contemporary in an afternoon.

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

I love how the bright colors look with the brass and wooden bases.

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

I currently have them sitting on top of Emma’s dresser, but that won’t be their final spot.  I have another trick of my sleeve, which I will show you soon.

How to give thrift store carousel horses a modern look via MakelyHome.com

Do you think my painted horses will make you look at carousel horses in a different light the next time you see one at a thrift store?  I sure hope so.

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. Jenn(ifer) says

    January 24, 2014 at 6:06 am

    I absolutely love them!

    Reply
  2. Jenna says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:23 am

    You, my friend, are a genius. Sheer genius. Love them, love all the colors. Love!

    Reply
  3. Pam says

    January 24, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Brilliant! I absolutely love them. I am try to declutter and de-collect but now I want to run out and buy a boatload of these. Haha…no I’m serious.

    Reply
  4. Melissa says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Love this! We started a carousel theme in my tiungest’s room, but I could never find any I liked. Family members have purchased several that are less than desirable and I cringe when they give them to her. This is a perfect solution!!!!

    Reply
  5. Tai Bender says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:16 am

    These are great! Pinning!

    Reply
  6. Karen says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:47 am

    Great idea! The look so much cuter the bright colors.

    Reply
  7. Beckie says

    January 24, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Holy crap on a cracker – muuuucccchhhh better. They look fabulous and now they tradition can continue and I am sure Emma adores them. I know Kayla would.

    Reply
  8. kat says

    January 24, 2014 at 11:12 am

    Brilliant! love them!

    Reply
  9. Joy K says

    January 24, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    I had an aunt who was very special to me who died of lung cancer. When I was little she bought me a carousel horse figurine, not unlike one of the ones you had pictured. Completely not my style, but very dear to me nonetheless. This might be the perfect way for me to continue to display it,a s right now it’s packed away in a box in my old closet at my parents’ house. Thank you for this idea!

    Reply
  10. Robyn S. says

    January 24, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    Totally love these! They look awesome and so much more modern! I love that you figured out a way to make something sentimental fit in with your decor.

    Reply
  11. Elise says

    January 24, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    Those look great! I do see these at the thrift store I troll all the time. You have definitely improved them! I’ve been doing something similar, but with trophies (also widely available at my local thrift shop). Bright green works wonders. 🙂

    Reply
  12. fabulosa says

    January 24, 2014 at 5:11 pm

    That is great, I have two for over 10 years, but they are in a box inside a closet. I think is a great gift for my new grandson. Thanks

    Reply
  13. Catherine says

    January 24, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    Ha ha, I just love all your disclaimers! To be honest, I have done this before with bird figurines and am too chicken to blog about it for fear of the backlash. :)) Bravo to you! They look absolutely awesome!!

    Reply
  14. Sharon says

    January 25, 2014 at 12:19 am

    What brand/type of paint did you use? They are so glossy and flawless.

    Reply
  15. Summer says

    January 25, 2014 at 8:31 am

    Those are incredible!!! I never would have given those a second thought but what a great collection for your little girl to have and grow with. I think it is wonderful to give something old a new look. Now when she gets older they will more likely remind her of you and your home when otherwise might have gotten tossed out later. Great project and post!

    Reply
  16. Barbara says

    January 25, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    Love these! What paint did you use? I will do this for my Granddaughter’s bedroom.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  17. Katie Adams says

    February 8, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    These are so fun. When I was in my teens I collected Carousel Horse and I still have them boxed up in the basement, but I don’t know if I could paint them, but I do love how this looks. Hmmm now I have a dillema.

    Reply
  18. Michelle H. says

    February 9, 2014 at 10:55 am

    Brilliant idea! Most girls love horses so this would be a great way to add some decorations to their room….

    Reply
  19. Brandy says

    February 12, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    This is amazing! I also have a HUGE collection from when I was little and obsessed, I couldn’t bear the thought of getting rid of all of them at a yard sale plus what if I have a daughter??? They are so not my style With all the pastel but this…this is a solution I can and will do!! I’ll save a few and sale the rest. Heck I might paint them all and still sell some of them.

    Reply
  20. Lauralee says

    February 15, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Another idea is buying plasti dip spray paint if it is a family heirloom, that way you won’t damage it. They paint will easily come off when you are ready to have it come off!

    Reply
  21. Amber says

    May 6, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Oh my gosh!! I love these!! I have a musical clown figurine that my grandfather gave my grandmother when they were dating. It’s not my style, but a good coat of paint would make it acceptable, and even nice in my mantel. I just need to run it by my grandma to see if she’s okay with that. 🙂 Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Weekend Collective » Let's Get Crafty! says:
    January 24, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    […] out the one thing to buy at a thrift store this weekend and what to do with […]

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  2. Technicolor Carousel Horses says:
    February 8, 2014 at 9:14 am

    […] Makely School for Girls, Lindsay came up with a fun solution for making a dated collection relevant and ready for display. […]

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  3. How to decorate with collections says:
    February 10, 2014 at 5:59 am

    […] image via Makely Home […]

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  4. How to Give Thrift Store Carousel Horses a Modern Update - Nuestra says:
    December 25, 2019 at 11:27 am

    […] Source by MakelyHome […]

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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