Furniture Heaven for Budget Conscious Shoppers

All quality furniture goes to heaven, or at least is given a second life in another person’s home. Used furniture is unique and almost always less expensive than buying new. Shopping can also be an adventure. You may need to sort through a lot of cat-shredded couches, terrible tables and broken bookcases before you hit pay dirt. It can all be worthwhile when you uncover that perfect piece at the perfect price. The following tips will point you in the right direction.

Consignment stores 

Consignment stores only accept good quality furniture and accessories. The inventory changes almost daily and can be an eclectic mix—everything from ornate antique dressers to sleek modern styles. Save yourself a trip and check online to see if the consignment store posts photos of their inventory. If you spot something you like, don’t hesitate; consignment items may not be available for long and are often one-of-a-kind. That said, it never hurts to haggle for a better price or free delivery. 

Freecycle.org

The Freecycle Network is an ingenious, non-profit site that helps people share items they no longer need with people who need them. The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 9,226,794 members in 5,319 groups with around the world. The goal of this sharing site is to reduce landfill waste and make connections. Membership is free. Visit www.freecycle.org, find your community, then use the search boxes to narrow down your results. People are welcome to post want ads for specific items. 

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore 

Habitat for Humanity helps low-income families build homes so they can enjoy secure housing for a brighter future. In many communities, Habitat for Humanity has ReStore home décor and building supply stores that sell good quality, new and used furniture, flooring, lighting, appliances and more. The entire inventory consists of good quality donations from local individuals and businesses. ReStore helps to reduce landfill waste while raising money for Habitat for Humanity’s building projects. 

Garage sales

Garage sales happen every weekend from spring to summer and sometimes involve entire neighbourhoods. For the best ‘junk’, check out the garage sales in the ritzy part of town. Many people love to shop (and shop) and eventually they run out of storage space. Often, they are willing to part with unneeded items for a fraction of the original cost and, of course, used household items are tax-free (except for motorized vehicles). 

Garage sale tips: Start early for the best selection. If you are purchasing lamps, lights or electronics, try them out first by plugging them in. Savvy garage sale shoppers bring an extension cord and a light bulb. 

Classified listings

Your local, online classified ads as well as sites like Craigslist and Kijiji are a popular way to buy and sell furniture. Typically, you can narrow down your search by item (e.g., table), style (e.g., round) and price. For your own safety, bring a buddy with you when you look at furniture in other people’s homes. 

Thrift stores 

The Salvation Army, Society for the Protection of Animals (SPCA) and other charities accept and sell donated furniture and other household items to fund their projects. In truth, the furniture at thrift stores is usually poorer quality and well-worn, but, occasionally, a generous donor will give away something special. 

Relatives and friends

Does Aunt Joan have an old table or couch collecting dust in the basement? If you ask, she might be more than happy to see it go to ‘furniture heaven’. With a little TLC, that old piece of furniture can look stylish again.

Refinish and Reupholster

Solid wood furniture that has yellow, cracked varnish, or has been marred by water marks can easily be restored with a power sander, stain and a few coats of varnish. 

If the fabric on couches and chairs is worn and outdated, hire a professional reupholstery company. They typically have mountains of new fabric choices in a range of prices. It is also a good idea to have them install new foam in the cushions since foam begins to disintegrate after years of use.  

Wood veneer is more challenging to repair because it is a thin layer of real wood glued to particle board or plywood. The old veneer needs to be carefully removed before applying new veneer (available from home renovation/hardware stores). 

Repurpose

Consider creative ways to repurpose items that you love. For example, a bookcase can become an attractive bar and cookbook display case in the kitchen. An antique dresser can become a breathtaking bathroom vanity with a few modifications for plumbing and a sink. The web is a great source of inspiration.