Things You'll Need:
- Book of antique furniture styles
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Step 1
Set a firm budget for your antique furniture collection before you start looking at items. This will help prevent you from overspending.
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Step 2
Research furniture styles and periods. You may want to collect from a particular time period or just pieces that strike your fancy. Knowing what you are looking at when you see an item you like will be helpful, especially for the more expensive pieces.
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Step 3
Read up on how and where to buy antique furniture for your collection. Antiques are usually sold at estate auctions, flea markets and online. "Antiques on the Cheap: A Savvy Dealer's Tips: Buying, Restoring, Selling" by James McKenzie will help you get started. It is available at Amazon. See the Resources section below for a link.
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Step 4
Examine items closely when you are shopping for antique furniture. Look for manufacturer's marks or labels that will help determine authenticity. Real antiques tend to show wear, but keep in mind that the effects of age can be faked with clever surface treatment techniques.
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Step 5
Ask questions about the antiques you are considering for purchase. You will want to know about any repairs done or missing pieces before you add a piece to your antique furniture collection.
