Homeowners looking to obtain good-quality furniture for less can purchase vintage furniture. You add cool appeal and originality to your home in the bargain. Even if a particular piece was mass-produced, some people consider it unusual by the time it’s vintage.
Another reason to purchase vintage furniture is that the pieces tell a story. Vintage accessories are more than just decorations in a living room — they are physical pieces of history infusing your space with the stories of your collective past.
Getting good-quality vintage furniture, though, is no walk in the park. You need to take steps to make sure that the piece you are purchasing is a good one and well worth its price.
If you need help buying vintage pieces for your home, keep the following suggestions in mind:
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Use Defects to Bargain
If you find scratches on a vintage piece you want, don’t let that scare you. Instead, leverage those discouraging defects by bargaining.
When you are at a vintage or antique store, look at the product carefully for alterations or damage. If the piece is worth the purchase, bring up any evidence of damage to obtain a discount or a better deal.
Before you do that, however, find out if you can still have the piece fixed and that the piece of repairs on your vintage furniture doesn’t drive the whole cost too high.
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Shop for Individual Vintage Pieces that Go Together
Purchasing whole sets of vintage furniture might overwhelm your living space or be too expensive. If you are working with a limited budget, buy individual pieces that work well together. Incidentally, getting individual pieces that look great together is also an excellent way to purchase good-quality new furniture. What’s more, this is a good way to express your unique style.
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Prioritize Quality When Shopping for Vintage
Every era, unfortunately, has its share of poorly made and well-made furniture. When shopping, refrain from choosing furniture made with poor workmanship and inferior materials.
Before you shop for furniture online or drive by the nearest antique store, research brands of the era you’re looking for.
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Have a Conversation with Sellers
Chat with vintage furniture sellers and ask questions about their products. You’ll find that some of them are passionate about what they’re selling and appreciate the interest from customers.
Ask these sellers how to restore a particular piece of vintage furniture. If they know the history behind that piece, get chatting. This will boost your knowledge of the piece you’re purchasing. The knowledge you obtain might help with future purchases. Who knows? This strategy might lead to a nice discount or a special deal.
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Repurpose for Style
Find out if you can repurpose the vintage furniture you’re planning to buy. If you’re buying an old trunk, for instance, see if you could use it as a coffee table. Displaying unusual furniture in unexpected locations of your home gives your space its distinct style.
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Shop Outside the Box
If your goal is to score the perfect vintage furniture find, you’ll need to keep an open mind on shopping destinations. Although stores and other business establishments specializing in vintage furniture can be loaded with elegant and durable products, they often come with high price tags.
Apart from checking out traditional vintage furniture stores, make an effort to visit estate and yard sales. You may just stumble upon a bargain or a vintage piece that complements your living space. Do some research to discover where the local auctions are in your community as well, as they can offer a treasure trove of interesting or even quirky furniture pieces.
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Check If the Vintage Furniture You Want Fits Your Home
If you’re buying a sofa or other large pieces of furniture, you’ll first need to measure areas of your house and save the numbers on the “notes” section of your mobile phone. This way, if you stumble upon a sofa, armchair or old table in a second-hand shop, you’ll immediately know if that piece of furniture will fit.
When measuring, don’t simply measure the spaces where the vintage furniture might fit. You’ll also need to find out the dimensions of any stairway, hall or door that an item might pass through.
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Look for Relatively Unknown Brands
Although there is nothing wrong with buying vintage furniture from familiar brands, you’re limiting your options. Avoid confining yourself to well-known furniture brands. Other manufacturers of the same era may offer good-quality furniture at a reduced cost.
When shopping for this kind of furniture, choose ones that will bring a unique flair to your living space.
