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secondhand style
There are many benefits in buying secondhand furniture. Shopping around for bargains can be a lot of fun and, who knows, you may discover a true treasure!
It's also a great way to add truly unique pieces to your decor whilst stretching the budget.
Buying secondhand furniture is a way to be more eco-conscious and a great way to gain experience in giving furniture a makever and being able to express yourself, especially when older pieces may need to be repainted or refinished to suit your style.
However, there are precautions to take when shopping for secondhand goods. Here are a few tips:
• Take into consideration that older painted items could contain lead paint, which is toxic. Always sand and repaint older furniture, wear a dust mask and handle the furniture and paint dust with care. For any furniture that is to be used by children, including cots and toys, should most definitely be sanded down to remove all the existing paint.
• Watch out for used furniture with rotted or warped wood and pieces with cheap construction. Musty smelling fabrics signal secondhand furniture that is not good to buy as it may contain mould.
• Check wood furniture carefully to ensure that it is not simply chipboard covered with a thin wood veneer. These pieces are almost impossible to sand and restore to good condition - without expense.
• When wood furniture needs extensive structural repair you may end up spending more than the piece is worth in order to retain the character and style of the piece.
• If you're lucky enough to discover an antique, first determine the value of a the piece. The techniques used to restore a 25 year old mass-produced wooden bureau will be different from what you will do with a one-of-a-kind piece that is more than 200 years old. When working with antique wooden furniture, it is important to remember that less is often more. Interventions such as painting, sloppy glue jobs, alteration or refinishing can significantly devalue an antique.
• If you are planning to restore or makeover secondhand pieces yourself, perform a thorough check of all joints and supports. You don't want to spend time and money on a piece that will fall apart when it is put into use.
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