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Why You Should Consider Buying Second-Hand Furniture

First published: 15 January 2021 @ 3:32 pm

Buying first-hand furniture can be a nightmare. There are plenty of reasons why it might not be the right time to make the purchase. Instead, buy second-hand furniture.

We’ve all been there; we saw some gorgeous new piece advertised at far below what you’d expect to pay, but when you got there, it wasn’t so gorgeous after all.

Maybe it was damaged, or the colour didn’t match your walls, or it just didn’t work in your room—whatever the reason, buying new can be a big risk.

Furniture that’s only a few years old is nearly always cheaper than new pieces and will often look at least as good as its newer counterpart. By buying second-hand furniture, you get to avoid that risk and save money at the same time!

But here’s the thing: many of us aren’t too sure what to look for when assessing furniture quality. You don’t want to go for something that looks like it might fall apart within a year, but you don’t want to miss out on a good deal because you were too afraid to take a risk too.

So, we’re here to help you navigate the second-hand furniture market and find those gems that will last for years without costing an arm and a leg.

How do I assess the quality of second-hand furniture?

There are several factors that can help you tell whether your potential purchase is quality or not. Here are some of the most important ones:

Solid wood furniture is better

This is especially true when buying furniture pieces that are likely to be used frequently, such as dining chairs or desks.

MDF deteriorates faster and is more porous than real wood, meaning it will be harder to keep clean, or even impossible if there’s any water damage. Solid wood is also much harder than MDF and won’t crack easily.

This is especially true when buying furniture pieces that are likely to be used frequently, such as dining chairs or desks. MDF deteriorates faster and is more porous than real wood, meaning it will be harder to keep clean, or even impossible if there’s any water damage.

Solid wood is also much harder than MDF and won’t crack easily.

Avoid particleboard

This type of furniture is made from sawdust, glue and resin, so you can imagine how it will hold up after just a few years. It’s not very strong and looks quite cheap, though it does come at a low price.

This type of furniture is made from sawdust, glue and resin, so you can imagine how it will hold up after just a few years. It’s not very strong and looks quite cheap, though it does come at a low price.

Look for joined pieces

If the furniture has been put together with screws or dowels (nails that are hammered in to join two pieces together), then that’s usually a good sign as well.

Using screws makes the piece more secure and ensures that the joints won’t fall apart over time.

If the furniture has been put together with screws or dowels (nails that are hammered in to join two pieces together), then that’s usually a good sign as well. Using screws makes the piece more secure and ensures that the joints won’t fall apart over time.

Check for stains

If you’re buying used wooden tables or chairs, try to look up any existing staining before making your purchase—you don’t want to buy something that already has coffee stains on it!

If you’re buying used wooden tables or chairs, try to look up any existing staining before making your purchase—you don’t want to buy something that already has coffee stains on it!

Look out for damage

Sometimes there are issues like dents or scratches from previous use but this isn’t necessarily bad if they’re not too obvious or too deep. You might consider painting small scratches yourself if they bother you;

however, large scratches should be considered carefully as repairing them may cost more than replacing an entire part of the piece altogether (with some exceptions).

In any case, try to keep an eye out for these things when inspecting your potential purchases, especially if they’re old items with many years behind them.

Sometimes there are issues like dents or scratches from previous use but this isn’t necessarily bad if they’re not too obvious or too deep. You might consider painting small scratches yourself if they bother you; however, large scratches should be considered carefully as repairing them may cost more than replacing an entire part of the piece altogether (with some exceptions).

In any case, try to keep an eye out for these things when inspecting your potential purchases, especially if they’re old items with many years behind them.

Why You Should Consider Buying Second-Hand Furniture

Check for grime

This is mostly important for wooden furniture, though some furniture models made from other materials will also show staining if left unattended for a long time.

If you see grime on the wood, it’s possible that there’s water damage or that the wood has been neglected in general—both of which are pretty bad news.

This is mostly important for wooden furniture, though some furniture models made from other materials will also show staining if left unattended for a long time.

If you see the grime on the wood, it’s possible that there’s water damage

Consider how well suitability fits into your life

This is more relevant to certain pieces of furniture than others—for example, storage units and bookshelves are often quite large and not great to have around if you don’t have much space in your home.

It goes without saying that beds, tables, and chairs should suit your size. However, you should also consider how easy they are to clean and maintain along with whether they work with your decor or not (in terms of colours, etc.).

This is more relevant to certain pieces of furniture than others—for example, storage units and bookshelves are often quite large and not great to have

Around if you don’t have much space in your home. It goes without saying that beds, tables, and chairs should suit your size.

However, you should also consider how easy they are to clean and maintain along with whether they work with your decor or not (in terms of colors, etc.).

RELATED: Easy Ways to Save Up for Your Dream Furniture

Look at the frame

Are there cracks? Does it look sturdy? Is it from solid wood?

If so then you’re good to go! Take extra care checking out older frames as these tend to be weaker than newer ones. In any case, make sure the frame is strong enough before putting any significant weight on it (such as kids’ desks).

Are there cracks? Does it look sturdy? Is it from solid wood? If so then you’re good to go! Take extra care checking out older frames as these tend to be weaker than newer ones.

In any case, make sure the frame is strong enough before putting any significant weight on it (such as kids’ desks). Check under drawers and cabinets .

Don’t forget to open all the drawers, doors and cabinets before making a purchase. Make sure the second-hand furniture has no damage and that there aren’t any cracks.

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