Tips for buying vintage furniture
Buying vintage furniture is a smart strategy to acquire quality furniture at a lower price. With this transaction, you add originality and interesting charm to your home. Even if an old piece is mass produced, it is unusual as long as it is old. In addition, you get the label “environmentally friendly” – to bring old furniture and appliances in your home is an undertaking that takes place on land.
Buying old furniture is a little different from your normal garage sale or buying from cheap stores, because you are not looking for furniture from a specific era. To be considered truly vintage furniture, you need to be at least 30 to 40 years old. Anything over 100 years old qualifies as an antique.
Buying Vintage Online
Do not just browse vintage stores, browse online. You’ll find a large number of antique furniture websites that specialize in different eras, as well as more general auction sites that offer a variety of pieces and furniture from different eras. Also check out online classifieds sites. You can search for local pieces there.
On the plus side, there’s a lot to choose from. But online shopping also has its pitfalls. You can not see the part in person, and there’s always the possibility that you will not like it, the size will not be right, or the wood or upholstery will not look the same. Transportation is also a potential problem, as many things you find are not available in your area. So make sure the piece is worth the cost plus shipping.
Buying tips
All of this sounds promising, but how do you know if a piece is good and worth the price? How do you find a piece in the first place?
Find good sources and visit them regularly:
Explore antique stores in your area. If you live in an area with newer homes, you might want to look in an area with older homes. Small markets, auctions and estate sales are also on the rise. Once you find a good source, it will help to go there. Meet with the sellers or vendors. They can give you a lot of information or let you know when what you are looking for will show up. Older stores often lower the price on parts that are no longer sold after a certain time. If you check often, you’ll have a better chance of finding these deals.
Look for gentle use:
Furniture that has been used very little is always better than furniture that has ended up in the trash. The reasons are obvious. Sometimes old furniture that is sold in bulk is in better condition, so keep an eye out for it. Generally, occasional furniture like dining room furniture, cabinets and cupboards are better upholstered than furniture. However, if you are buying upholstered furniture, it makes sense to look for low-use furniture. Repairing upholstered furniture is usually not cost effective, nor is it something they know more about than they can do themselves. Of course, there are exceptions.
Look for furniture with good substance:
Look for furniture that is in good shape. For example, drawers should pull out easily and plated pieces should have a good, sturdy frame. Older dealers often refinish quality parts with considerable quality, but you’ll have to pay for that. If you find furniture made of plastic, it should not be on the verge of breaking.
Look for relatively unknown brands:
Although it’s good to find well-known brands, do not limit yourself to just well-known brands. Other manufacturers from the same period may be cheaper, but of the same quality.
Look for quality:
Just because furniture is old does not mean it’s good. Avoid furniture made of inferior materials and with poor construction. Every era has its share of well or poorly made furniture. The old furniture is no exception. The old furniture is no exception. It’s a good idea to research the brands of your era before you buy or bid at auction.
Do not let scratches scare you:
While it’s important to look for furniture that has seen little use, superficial scratches can be removed. Do not let minor scratches worry you. Many products on the market can fix minor imperfections, and if a truly stunning piece warrants it, you can have it professionally completed.
Use the disadvantages of the trade:
Use those scary scratches to your advantage by negotiating. Examine the piece carefully for damage or alterations. If the part is worth buying, use any evidence of damage to get a better price. But before you do, make sure the part can be repaired and the cost of repairing your old product will not increase the overall cost.
Make sure it fits:
You are not buying your old furniture to store somewhere. So pay attention to the size, especially if you are buying furniture for your home. Furniture in the store can always seem too big or too small. Take your room measurement with you to buy something that fits your home and has the right scale.
Change the user style:
See if you can change the furniture. For example, use a small table as a nightstand or an old chest as a coffee table. Unusual furniture in unexpected places will give your room a distinctive style.
Look for separate pieces that blend:
Buying complete sets of antique furniture can be expensive or overwhelm your space with old colors. If your budget is limited, buy separate parts that work well together. Incidentally, buying individual pieces that look good together is the best way to buy good quality new furniture. Also, the best way to express your unique style.
