About Used Furniture

Used furniture can help you fill space in your home without deleting much space in your wallet. However, be mindful of the ups and downs of owning used furniture. Whether a bargain purchase, heirloom or an accepted gift, everyone has different expectations to consider when looking into less-than-new furniture that include everything from style needs to budgets. Here you will gain valuable insight into the different aspects of used furniture that may send you running for the next estate sale or vowing to steer clear of it altogether.

Considerations

Used furniture means different things to different people. For some, it could mean a brand-new, never-used item that sat in the corner a month too late to return it to the store. For others, it could have been handed down to them from someone else--already used. What you need to decide is what the term means to you and what you are comfortable owning. If you love shabby chic, the more worn the better. However, if the only reason you're in the market for used furniture is because finances are tight, you want to purchase newer used furniture that fits your budget.

Types

Used furniture can be 50 years old or 2 years old. Whatever the age, you can make it work. For example, an acquaintance lives in an upper-middle class neighborhood. However, she is far from sharing the same tax bracket with her neighbors and has learned to compensate with a keen eye for great used furniture. Her formal living room includes two chairs, a secretary and a unique bookcase passed down to her by various relatives. Not wanting to be stuck entirely with antiques, she finds a classic sofa, chair and ottoman in neutral tones for just $300. Only 2 years old, it was put in a garage sale when room had to be made for the family's grandmother. It adds the final necessary touches to a room that no one would guess cost so little.
Not all used furniture is Victorian or faded. Used furniture also comes in limitless styles. Mid-century modern furniture can be popular, especially among city dwellers.

Benefits

The benefits of owning used furniture are twofold. For starters, it is much easier on your pocketbook. Many people neither want to or can shell out thousands of dollars for furniture. No one has to know that your formal dining room suite was purchased at an estate sale for pennies on the dollar. If your decorating budget is limited, buying used furniture is the perfect way to stretch your decorating dollars.
The second benefit of filling your rooms with used furniture as opposed to new is flexibility. If you tend to get bored easily or like to try new trends, it's much easier to part with a bedroom suite that didn't set you back $4,000. So get it and forget about it. When you're ready for a Mediterranean-style bedroom, you can easily part with your French Country furniture without feeling guilty.

Misconceptions

Many people believe that older furniture will date a room or perhaps fall apart soon after getting it. Neither could be further from the truth. With trends cycling every 20 years or so and furniture being designed with timeless style in mind, buying or accepting used furniture can be a great choice. The older the furniture, the higher the chances are that it wasn't made on a production line. With that in mind, you can bet it will last longer than the new furniture you purchase in the future. A craftsman of yesteryear could be made or broken depending upon the quality of his work. It makes sense that older furniture is so sturdy because so much pride was usually put into each piece.

Warning

With all of the features of used furniture, there are warnings to heed when venturing into this arena of decorating. For starters, if you're purchasing the furniture from someone you don't know, inspect it closely. Sit on it. Smell it. That's right, smell it. Something that looks fabulous from a couple of feet away may lose its appeal once you get it home and flip the cushions. Pet odors can be masked for a short period but usually tend to come back regardless of how many times a spot was cleaned.
Second, don't be afraid to turn any furniture upside down or unzip cushions. If you see small black dots, it's a good indication of bugs. The last thing you want to bring into your home is a roach problem. The sweetest smiling couples in the world may still try to sell you an infested monstrosity that will leave you with a heavy dose of buyer's remorse and no recourse.
If you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, it is essential that you make sure the furniture comes from a smoke- and pet-free home. Pet dander is a nightmare to remove from furniture.
Finally, never buy a used mattress. It's just gross. Furnish your entire house with used furniture if you want, but invest in a new mattress for your health. It will last for years and will be money well spent.