Tips for Furniture Shopping at Thrift Stores

Whether you're a college student trying to live frugally or a hipster trying to assemble a shabby chic living room, you may find yourself furniture shopping at thrift stores. In between the piles of discarded junk, you can find some sharp pieces of furniture that deserve a second (or third) home. To make the most of furniture shopping at thrift stores, consider these tips.

Tip #1: Hit the right places. Some thrift stores focus almost exclusively on clothing while others have a healthy mix of furniture and household items. Ask people which thrift stores in town typically have the best furniture shopping reputations. You can also phone the store itself before visiting to ask about their current selection. In addition to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other well-known stores, try church-run shops and rummage sales.

Tip #2: Question the obvious! When shopping, remember that not every piece of furniture has to be used for its designed purpose. Just because it's "obviously" a dining room table doesn't mean it can't make a good desk if the size, height, and sturdiness are good. Just because it's a "obviously" bed-headboard combo doesn't mean you can't inventively style it into an oversized chaise lounge with some well-placed pillows. Be creative, and look at the potential in pieces before disregarding them.

Tip #3: See beyond the surface. Some furniture pieces at thrift stores look hideous because their surfaces are scratched or because they're sporting awful colors. If you find a well-designed wooden table that just needs a cosmetic renaissance, consider painting it. If you find a dresser that would be cool with new knobs, consider making the small investment in hardware. When you put an extra $5 toward a $15 piece of furniture, you're still saving money in the long run.

Tip #4: Drape It! If you find a clean, well-built chair that just needs to be completely covered, look in the fabric section. They are often some amazingly funky draperies, tablecloths, and other large pieces of fabric that can cover chairs and couches with kitsch style. No sewing need be involved; just employ some creative tucking and folding and you'll have a fresh look for the furniture. Also, remember that not only sofas and other seating can be draped with fabric, as tabletops and dresser-tops can be covered as well (though you may need to staple it down, depending on the details).

Tip #5: Override odor. Remember the Volkswagen commercial with the two guys jettisoning a used chair once they realize how bad it smells? As you probably know, some thrift store furniture is unfortunately endowed with a musty, stale odor. This isn't necessarily a problem if you can, for example, wash the zip-off cushions from an otherwise cool couch. Of course, some things can be Febreezed to death, and they'll never lose a musty smell. So use your best olfactory judgment when furniture shopping at thrift stores.

Tip #6: Think about transport before shopping. Nothing is worse than finding the perfect item and not being able to tote it home. Because most thrift stores cannot deliver furniture for you, make sure you have access to the necessarily truck, minivan, SUV, station wagon, etc. - and whatever bungee/rope you may need for roof riders. Also, inquire about the store's hold policy. Some thrift stores will allow you to buy furniture and then return within a few days for pickup.