Buying thrift
furniture mean a steal for you home furnishings. Follow these three easy tips
before you buy.
1.
Look for labels.
I apply this same principle when I thrift
clothes shop. When you look for a label you are ensuring that it is a quality
material. A name brand material may be built to a better standard and last
longer. Some people part with furniture sets from well-known furniture stores.
Looking for those labels in a thrift store can help you save big time. My
college roommate bought a bedroom set at a deep discount because the seller had
to move out of state. Just because the furniture was in last year’s collection,
doesn’t mean it can’t add value to your home. People inherit antiques and get rid of them
because they don’t care for the style. Sometimes that’s the best way to find
quality wood designs.
2.
Look for structural flaws.
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| The drawers to this antique trunk are flimsy. The owner isn't willing to rebuild them and I wouldn't either. Instead of using them for storage, they are using the drawers for decorative purposes. |
You may have heard this same warning when
buying a home. Don't buy it if it has structural issues. Take a look at the piece you are considering closely, because at first a structural flaw may not be apparent. Open the drawers, look at the bottom, the back, and the sides. Does a drawer stick out of the dresser because it doesn’t slide
anymore? Is there a crack running through the bottom of your piece? Think about how much time
you may want to invest on fixing this problem. Would you want to fix the
foundation in a home? It takes time and money. If you are willing and able to
fix some structural issues then go for it! But if you think this is past your
area of expertise, let it go. At the end of the day, if a piece is unstable, it
may not be safe to keep in your home.
3.
Look past the imperfections.
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| This white cushion was stained and ripped. |
 |
| Recovered and as good as new! |
My
husband and I are currently house hunting and there sure are some interesting
decorative choices. Purple carpets, yellow bathrooms, floral wallpaper, and
stick on tiles to say the least. We look past those choices because they can be
changed. Look past the imperfections on your thrift furniture. You almost have
to expect that something has gone wrong with the piece. That’s why it found its
way to a thrift store! Furniture can be sanded, painted, or recovered. Is the
leg a little wobbly? Buy a new bolt! Don’t let the little things scare you. You
will come up with a creative way to hide, enhance, or fix those imperfections.
See a floral couch makeover here.
And an imperfect desk restoration here.
Do you have a
thrift piece waiting to beautify your home? See me for a consultation and we’ll
come up with a design that suits your space.
Happy Thrift Shopping!
