How to Buy Second hand Furniture: 4 Tips for Getting the Best Deals

Furniture plays a big role in transforming the look and feel of a room. By simply adding a couch, desk, or other major piece, you can give your space some style or make it look warm and inviting.

But even though furnishings are an essential element in room upgrades, you don’t have to spend a lot on furniture alone. Instead of buying them brand-new, you can try shopping for second hand furniture to score these items without going over your budget. Thrifting is also a great way to prevent landfills from taking on more furniture waste, making it a more sustainable way of doing your shopping.

Whether you’re planning to buy used furniture online, in-store, or through your family and friends, you can try many tried and tested ways to get the best bang for your buck. Here are some tips to help you score the best deals for the furniture that fits your living space and personal style:

Be Mindful of Which Items to Buy at Thrift Stores

There are plenty of second hand items that you can find in online and offline stores, but that doesn’t mean you should buy all your furniture from thrift shops. In fact, you should avoid buying certain pieces secondhand unless you’re willing to risk your long-term health and peace of mind.

Mattresses and upholstered furniture are primary examples of these. Secondhand mattresses, for one, can harbor fleas, bedbugs, and molds, all of which can not only be quite difficult to get rid of, but also cause health problems. The same can be said of old and used upholstered pieces. You might think you’re saving yourself money by getting these items at a bargain, but you might actually end up spending more money just to contain the issues that these pieces can introduce to your home.

Wooden and metal furniture, on the other hand, often hold up well even if they’ve been heavily used by their previous owners. As such, finding and buying these items from thrift shops is often a more practical choice.

Compare Prices from Various Furniture Sellers

When shopping for secondhand furniture, it’s best not to go unprepared. If you only have a vague idea of the going price for certain items, you could risk going way beyond your budget.

But thanks to the wealth of information you can get from the web and social media, it’s now easier to make price comparisons online. Comparing similar items from different sellers and websites will let you see if the price tag for a particular piece is justified. You may think doing this is burdensome, but it’s much better to do your own research than to unwittingly spend on an overpriced item.

Thoroughly Inspect the Furniture for Hidden Flaws

As mentioned previously, a piece of furniture that looks perfect at first glance may actually come with some defects or health and safety hazards upon closer inspection.

So, before buying a piece of second hand furniture, ask the seller if you can see the item in person.  Carefully check the piece’s materials and keep an eye out for signs of irreparable damage. Check for broken supports, creaky noises, and fragile or patched-up material, among others. These issues can compromise the structural integrity of the pieces, not only potentially causing injuries, but also wasting your hard-earned money.

Remember: any health issues stemming from low-quality furniture aren’t worth the savings. Steer clear of furniture that features red flags such as foul odors, mold, and signs of termite and bed bug infestations. For a more thorough inspection, consider using a flashlight, latex gloves, and defunct cards (such as expired debit or credit cards) to check the furniture’s crevices and other hard-to-reach areas.

Think of Creative Ways to Improve Used Furniture

Just because a piece of furniture has nondescript features or minor blemishes doesn’t mean you should pass on it altogether. Certain pieces can still be functional or sturdy despite having a few not-too-concerning flaws. Slight imperfections can also bring down the asking price for certain kinds of furniture. In short, skipping on these pieces could mean missing out on a bargain.

So, when looking at a piece of furniture, imagine what else you can do to enhance its features and quality with only a little time, money, and effort. Maybe you can remove some unwanted ornate details from a side table or paint over the cracks of a nightstand that you’re eyeing. You can also search the web for some upcycling ideas to get inspiration for your own DIY projects. If you can identify aspects of a piece of second hand furniture that can be improved through varnish, paint, and other refurbishing methods, you may just win big on that sale.

A Cost-Effective, Sustainable, and Rewarding Way to Upgrade

Buying used furniture can be a rewarding experience. It’s thrilling to score hard-to-find pieces that breathe new life into your space without using up a large chunk of your budget. But beyond cost effectiveness, opting for secondhand furniture also allows you to exercise your creativity and capacity to see the potential hidden gems. Thrifting furniture can be hard work, but the rewards you can get for your space?—and the environment?—are priceless.