I want to share some of my tips for selecting used furniture. I am a huge proponent of buying used! You can save lots of money and it can be really fun. Also, I don’t feel so bad when my kids beat up my $20 coffee table or spill milk on my second hand couch. New furniture may be in our future, but it’s not right now.
For you all who may be in the same boat as us, here are some tips for selecting used furniture.
1. Evaluate Furniture Condition
Evaluating the condition of a piece of furniture is so important before you snatch up that garage sale steal or start painting that hand-me-down table. It may take a little practice, but here are some basic questions you should ask yourself about the condition of a piece of furniture.
- Is this a solid piece? Are there parts that need repair? How extensive? Think of it like this: Does it need a little glue to fix the wiggly leg or is it missing the leg completely. Every condition is fixable depending on your willingness and skills.
- Does it have a smell? Smoke can be a tricky smell to eliminate, not impossible but more challenging.
- What is the furniture made of? Solid wood? Plywood? Particle board? Does it have fabric, metal or other materials? The reason it is important to determine the material, is so you know the best way to refinish it. If you buy a sofa table thinking it is solid wood, take it home and sand it down to re-stain it, only to find out it is particle board you have a problem.
Don’t know what your furniture is made of? Check out this site that explains the difference between solid, plywood, veneer, etc.
Important note: I truly believe every problem or repair you come across has a solution, so DO NOT get discouraged if you run into some unexpected issues. I have had my fair share of issues. You can read about some of those I had when I refinished my bedroom dresser. Wood Dresser Refinishing
2. What is the total cost?
You can find some great bargains at the thrift store, garage sales, side of the road, or online of used furniture. But don’t just buy something because its a “great deal”. Now, I don’t want to discourage anyone from buying used furniture, I am a huge proponent of buying used, but just go into it with your eyes open.
- It may be a great deal because the condition is really poor and may require additional money in making repairs.
- Consider how much money you will need to spend on supplies to refinish the furniture piece. Do you need to buy paint, sandpaper, stain, screws, wood, or new hardware? It’s important that you consider the TOTAL cost.
- Each person is going to arrive at their own decision of what they want to spend on furniture. There are no hard and fast rules. It depends on what I am buying, but as a general rule I won’t spend over $100 on used furniture if I have to do significant work on it. And if I am spending over $200 dollars I am planning on using it as it.
- Lastly, if you buy something because it’s a great deal, but don’t really like the style of the furniture, you will never be happy with it. This brings me to my next point…
3. Do you love it?
This may not seem like a tip for selecting used furniture, but it is really important that you love the piece. If you don’t love the look of the piece before any work, you may not love it after you put in some hours.
If you like very simple or modern furniture, adding a coat of paint to a very ornate, detailed victorian dresser is going to transform the dresser, but you still may not like it. So look at the style of the furniture, the design lines, the shape, etc.
4. Do you need it?
You can find a great deal on a beautiful side table, but if you don’t have a need for it, don’t get it. This is a hard one for me, because I LOVE furniture but I have grown in evaluating if I need it or just want it. Better to not clutter your house with unnecessary furniture and save space for something truly special/unique.
Hopefully these are some helpful tips for selecting used furniture!
If you want to check out some of my used furniture makeovers look below.
I have not always followed my own tips for selecting used furniture. I have brought how furniture, redone it and then decided I don’t like it. This may happen to you. Well, sell it then. Hopefully, you can recover any money you invested and put it towards your next piece.
Have a great day!
Emily
Comments are closed.