Thrifting for furniture is actually one of my favorite things to do. It's not quite as easy as thrifting for clothes, because more often than not my clothing needs are not terribly pressing, but if, say, I need a couch, I NEED A COUCH.
Unless, of course, I'm replacing a couch. But here are some tips on going about finding awesome furniture.
* Have a general idea of what you like, and what design scheme you want. Don't have any idea? Well, do you like vintage? Contemporary? Pick up a few catalogs - such as CB@, Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, IKEA, and get some ideas. Go to the library and look at old design books. Go to the thrift store and look at old design books! (My favorite source of inspiration - old decorating books, esp. Better Homes & Gardens).
* Make a list of what you need, for which room. Also, take measurements, of empty spaces and existing furniture. Don't rely on eyeballing in this department. Measure everything - width, height, length. Sometimes how much an item sticks out can be a problem, not necessarily it's length and height.
* Make a budget, if that's what you need to do.
* Map! A map is extremely handy when trying to populate a new house or apartment. (As is craigslist!) Meaning, a map you've made w/consignment stores and thrift stores and all that. If you live in a metropolitan area, I would include the suburbs.
* Arrange for help and a large vehicle. If you don't have any friends w/a truck or minivan, well, you can certainly rent one for a day. Most places don't deliver, but they will hold an item for you (especially if you pay for it) for a little while - but not usually for very long, esp. in a city. Don't count on store employees to help you lift anything.
* When you arrive at a store, check out the prices. Some thrift stores are outrageous, and you can't often haggle w/them. Consignment stores are a different breed - there might be some wiggle room. Antique stores? Definitely haggle - bring in cash. Make a reasonable offer, or ask if they can do better. If the price they offer is not quite what you want, just throw yours out there. Say you have cash. Show the cash, if you want. (If you feel that's safe, lol) If I were in Chicago again, that is what I'd do, because things are marked up big-time in big cities, often.
* Keep an eye out for sales. Furniture does go on sale, especially at the non-chain thrift stores. I got this for $12.50 that way:
Now some tips on condition and such.
* You should ask yourself: are you looking for "permanent" furniture? I personally prefer to get stuff that I'm going to keep, I don't care if it is $12 or looks like it's worth $2000. But still, if you absolutely need a bookshelf, paying $5 for one is fine, until you find something better. I found these bookshelves in my alley.
I also gave them away a few months later, because I found something better. But, this is a great thing about thrifting. If you're just needing something to get buy, get it. Otherwise, hold out for something that's a "treasure": right price, right style.
* What kind of condition matters to you? I prefer items to be solid, w/out major cosmetic defects. Very, very nice furniture is worth the price - you can tell if it's super-quality by its weight, craftsmanship, etc. The above dresser is a nice lil' number but it's backed with particleboard. (Still, I'm keeping it forever.) I have a very quality chair right now that is waiting to be painted - it is some sort of high-quality wood, but it was left outside so the varnish has peeled - all the better, as I want to paint it, anyway! But it's obviously not a rickety piece of crap.
* Figure out what you're willing to live with, and what you can fix. Most scuffs on wood can be deal w/easily, I have an almond oil stick from The Vermont Country Store for this purpose. Major scratches can be dealt w/this way, though if someone is looking they'll still find them. Other things can be glued w/wood or other glues, like loose drawers. Loose legs or posts can often be screwed back on. Chipping paint can be sealed. Fabric, on the other hand - it can be cleaned, but not cheaply. My rule of thumb w/upholstered furniture is if it smells and is stained, no. But cushions can be aired and vacuumed. It just depends on what you want to live with. Yes, do a sniff test. If you absolutely love something or know it's actually valuable, you can always hang on to it and hold off on repair until you can afford it.
Like my above pieces, I have a few other things that I've thrifted or picked up cheaply - I've put some of them on here before, but I'll share them again here:
A decent dresser that I found at school - on the curb. Yep, I love me some curb-shopping. A pit bull had maimed the leg, but only cosmetically. I was trying to get rid of furniture in our last move so got rid of this - but I could've spruced it up easily w/better handles and such.
Now, my mom gave me this so it wasn't thrifted, but it was certainly free! A sideboard or dresser that we use in our living room.
I got this little side table at a closing antique mall, so it was half off, and ended up being $12. It is great, lacquered wood - but it also seems to get beat up more than my other furniture when we move, no matter how much I emphasize its protection. Thank goodness for my almond stick.
This is my beloved record cabinet - $6 at a thrift store, spray-painted twice. I think it will stay pink. I use it as a bookcase. One of the legs is loose, but is totally fixable - I'm just lazy about it.
My "lipstick bench." $15 at an antique store. Not really useful for sitting - too rickety - unless you're my pug. It would make a good coffee table, with some plexiglass on top.
Another freebie from my mom, since given to a friend.
I love my vanity. I also got it at the closing antique mall, for something like $40. (Still, $80 for a vanity w/mirror and stool - not shown here - is NOT a bad price!)
Now go stock up! And if you have any tips, please share!
--Arwen
