Valentine’s Day DIY: Upcycled Thrift-Store Bookend Horses
Happy Valentine’s Day from our slightly green household to yours. We’re celebrating with Burger, Clara, and a photography crew in the house for the third week in a row. The twist this year is we’re all under the weather: Clara was sick Saturday night into Sunday morning, and now John and I are feeling queasy too. Still, the show must go on—fortunately, most of our secret projects are already finished, so we only need to get the last shots wrapped by Friday. With that checked off, we turned to a small, satisfying DIY that’s been waiting in the wings: transforming thrift-store bookends into cheerful decor.
I’ve been calling this my “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge, but it might more accurately be labeled “Why Did I Hoard All These Little Animal Things?” Over the past year I’ve gathered a few odd finds—coat hooks, old light fixtures, and these two ceramic horse heads bought during a thrift-store spree in Delaware for $2.50 each. They sat in the playroom for twelve months, quietly collecting dust, until I decided to give them a fresh life with spray paint and patience.
Because these pieces are ceramic and had a slick sponge-painted finish, I started with a few thin, even coats of spray primer. Priming helps paint adhere and creates a consistent base color, especially on glossy surfaces. Once the primer cured, they were a flat steel gray and ready for color.
To bring a springtime vibe into the playroom, I chose a bright yellow spray paint. The trick with spray paint is thin, even layers—more mist than heavy coverage. I held the can about 12 inches away and kept my arm moving, building up five or so very light coats. Let the paint dry between passes and, if possible, allow the pieces to cure in a sheltered outdoor space before bringing them inside.
After a few days of curing in the carport, I brought the finished bookends inside. They’re simple, sunny, and unexpected—tiny doses of color that instantly brighten a shelf or bookcase. Best of all, two $2.50 thrift-store finds were transformed into cheerful accents with minimal time and cost.
Who doesn’t love small wins like this? For me, tackling one modest project a week makes larger makeovers feel manageable. Little accomplishments—upcycling bookends, sorting a shelf, or repainting a hook—add up alongside bigger undertakings like writing a book or planning a kitchen renovation. These tiny victories often bring more joy than you’d expect.
So that’s the short tale of two thrift-store bookends that finally got their moment. One more thing checked off the playroom list—and one more step toward a brighter, more organized space. What small projects have you tackled lately? Any fellow “Dude, Get On That Already” challengers transforming thrift-store finds, cleaning out clutter, or repainting a room? And, for those who celebrated Valentine’s Day while feeling under the weather, you’re not alone—sending speedy recovery vibes.