tips for buying vintage & pre-loved furniture

For as long as I can remember I have always been super into anything vintage or antique, whether it's a vintage telephone or a vintage car. Naturally this has extended into interior design! I love including some sort of vintage piece into each project to add some character and history. Shopping for vintage & pre-loved furniture is not easy and you never know what you will find. I have put together some shopping tips to help you find the right pieces for your home and make the shopping process a little easier!

1. Check for craftsmanship

Whenever I am shopping for furniture whether it be on Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, or a thrift store I always inspect the quality and craftsmanship of a piece. There are three things that I do each time I do a closer inspection on a piece that I like. The first thing I do is check if the item is wobbly, this is especially important for chairs and seating! You won't want to purchase anything that feels like it could fall apart with one touch. The second thing I do is check the joinery and how the item is held together. I usually don't purchase an item with drawers if it doesn't  have dovetailing. The last thing I do is take a 360 degree look around the item. This is just to make sure that it is in good condition and nothing is wrong with it. 

2. avoid mdf & particle board

I am all for quality over quantity with just about everything I purchase. This is more of a personal preference thing, but I like to avoid MDF and particle board when it comes to furniture. I think it depends on the piece sometimes, but I usually like to steer clear. If that's something you like, then I would suggest purchasing items from Ikea, since the pieces are usually good quality, but still look nice. I think that these pieces can look really dated over time and can look quite cheap. This material doesn't age well and doesn't provide the same vintage vibe that solid wood pieces do. I think that if you have the budget to spend on quality vintage pieces, then you should skip anything made out of these materials and explore other options. 

@annelauremais

3. Always remember that you can add paint or stain

I think that what scares some people about buying vintage is that you have to put in a little bit of work. Sometimes that means adding a fresh coat of paint or stain to make it match the rest of your home. I also think that people tend to think that the costs involved to refinish a piece can add up. It all depends on what you want to change whether that's upholstery, paint, or hardware. I refinished a vintage dresser last summer and when I calculated the costs it ended up costing me way less than a brand new piece. You can read more about how I did that here. 

4. It's always worth it to wait for the right piece

This can be the most frustrating part for some people, depending on what you're looking for and how fast you need it. If you have the time to wait for the perfect piece, I would suggest to that. I think that this is the fun part about shopping vintage and pre-loved furniture because it is so rewarding when you find something that is perfect! You are on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind piece, so it's going to take some time to find a gem. I would also suggest to turn on notifications on Facebook marketplace and Kiiji for whatever you are searching for, so you can see when new items are listed. 

Living Etc

5. Don't be afraid to ask for lots of photos

This is especially the case for shopping vintage online, whether its Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, or Etsy. If you're interested in an item and want to make sure it's perfect I would suggest sending the seller a quick message for more photos. If you can't check the craftsmanship in person this could save you a trip and your money. Some photos I would suggest asking for is what the back looks like, the interior of drawers and cabinets, and if the joinery. Most of the time sellers will be happy to send you photos and provide you with more information. 

6. Consider the extra time & expenses

Vintage furniture usually needs a little TLC, but it is so worth it in the end. When you're shopping make sure to ask yourself if this item is within your time commitment and skill level, if you're planning on fixing it yourself. If not then it might not be a wise purchase. If you have a fallen in love with an item that needs work that is beyond your set of skills I would suggest handing it over to the professionals. This might be an extra expense to consider, but it is usually worth it in the long run and will save you a headache! 

my favourite places to shop vintage

• Facebook marketplace - I love scrolling through the marketplace section and I think it has become more popular than Kijiji in recent years. 
• Kijiji - You can still find some good items on here, but if I had to choose I would say that Facebook marketplace has more selection.
• Antique & thrift stores - This is an obvious one, but it's always fun to check frequently since there is always new things coming through the doors. 
• Garage sales - If you have a lot of time on a Saturday morning then it's fun to browse! Furniture is usually in decent condition and you can usually get an amazing deal. 
• Etsy - not the best for furniture, but it is amazing for lighting and home decor, especially if you're searching for something specific. 
• Auctions - This one is a lot less common, but check your local area to see if there are any auctions.

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Thanks for reading today's blog post and I hope you found it helpful when you are shopping for vintage and pre-loved furniture. If you would like to work together on your next project, please fill out the contact form here so I can get in touch with you.