How to Identify Quality Thrift Store Furniture

Whether you're on a budget and decorating on a dime or simply looking for unique finds, thrifting for furniture is a smart way to furnish your home. While it takes some time and a sharp eye to obtain those great finds, in the end it costs you less and leave your house looking fabulous!

Generally, you're going to want to look for wooden furniture. It's more study, can be easily refinished, and is less likely to look unfashionably dated. Metal furniture typically looks like it's from the 90's or purchased from Ikea, which is fine if that's the look you want to achieve. Plastic furniture is inexpensive anyway, so you're getting less of a deal when you purchase it. It'll will also give you the best bang for your buck. Once you've found an item that you're interested in, look for flaws. Problems such as dings and scratches are no reason to leave a good find behind. You can refinish your furniture or paint over the problem area.

If you've found an item that has upholstery on it, you don't have to pass it up, you just have to examine it closely. If it's a chair and it has fabric seats that are damaged or outdated, you may be able to replace the fabric rather easily. Remember that the fabric you use must be upholstery fabric, you can't use the same fabric you use for clothes or other simply DIY projects. Tutorials are available online for your reference.

When looking for a couch or large piece of furniture that can't easily be reupholstered, try going to a quality used furniture store. These are resale shops for furniture. You can usually find furniture that looks like new for a fraction of the price. You should look for furniture that needs little more than a good steam clean. Spending your hard earned cash on items that will look used when they're in your house is a waste of money, especially when you have a choice.

Finding quality furniture while thrifting takes a keen eye and some time. Don't expect to find everything you need on your first trip to a thrift store. Shop around and go back multiple days. Also remember to never purchase something you don't love. Furnishing your house should be about creating a perfect atmosphere for you to relax in. So pick a theme and then find items that fit into what you want.