If you like the idea of furnishing your home smartly, cost effectively, and eclectically, secondhand furniture may be just perfect for you.  However, for every secondhand gem you find, there is a nightmare in waiting. How do you sort the good stuff from the not so good?  Here is our guide to help you get started!  If you have any more questions, your local secondhand furniture retailer will be only too happy to help.

Choose Furniture That Will Fit in With Your Home

The number one thing when choosing secondhand furniture is to choose pieces that fit in with your home decor.  You can find great, unique pieces that can make fantastic accents to the home but you need to make sure that the secondhand piece of furniture that you choose will complement your home in some way. There is no point in bringing home something amazing if it will just stick out like a sore thumb! Don’t be afraid to look out of the box when choosing secondhand furniture either. If it is roughly the right shape and dimension for where you want to use it, just about everything else can be changed. That is, you can re-paint or re-upholster it in a better colour. That avocado green monstrosity can be the next on trend piece!

Check that the Furniture is Safe and Sound

Secondhand furniture can be a real find but you do need to make sure that it is safe and sound.  Always check the integrity of the furniture before going ahead and buying it.  Check that the furniture is not wobbly or rickety in any way, that there are no splinters or rough edges, that there are no missing parts, and that there is no rot or corrosion within the furniture.  In the case of furniture with upholstery such as chairs and lounges, check that the fabric is clean and in good condition or that it can be easily replaced if required.

Look for Pieces that Fit Your Budget

While secondhand furniture is a great way of picking up quality pieces for fewer dollars, keep your overall budget in mind.  Don’t assume that the price that you pay for the actual piece of furniture itself is all you will pay.  Remember to take into account the cost of repainting it if necessary, or refurbishing it if it needs a little spruce up.  Also, don’t be afraid to haggle when purchasing that piece of secondhand furniture. You may just find that you’ll get something absolutely fabulous that would have otherwise been out of your budget.