~how to shop for furniture at a thrift store~

When you walk into a thrift store and peruse 

the furniture section, it can be a bit overwhelming.

At first glance you might not see anything that catches you eye.

However, if you keep the following in mind, you might just come out with a treasure.

1~ Look for overall quality. 

You do not want something that is warped, has veneer peeling off, or broken drawers. 

There is too much good furniture out there to waste your time on fixing something that is broken, unless you like doing that sort of thing.

2~Ignore the color or finish.

Everything can be painted. If something is neon green, do not dismiss it. Try and picture it a creamy white, or whatever color fits in with your color scheme.

There are many paint products out there now that do not require a lot of prep.

3~Make sure it is the right size.

I keep measurements written down of the things I need or the spaces they will be going in.

There's nothing worse than hauling a heavy piece of furniture home only to find out it won't fit through the door.

4~Look for things in pairs.

I have found it really hard to find 2 matching anything.

If you find matching pieces and you love them, scoop them up before someone else does.

5~Don't think too long.

Because while you are wandering around the store contemplating buying them, someone else may swoop in and scoop them up. 

6~Shop on sale days.

Most thrift stores offer specials where furniture will be half off, or discounted. 

There is also senior citizen days as well as other promotions that thrift shops offer. 

You can also get coupons for donations.

Even though the stuff is cheap to begin with, why not save more?

If you do go on a sale day, plan to be there at least 15 minutes before the doors open.

I've also been known to go the night before a sale day and if I find something I love, go back the next morning right at opening and head straight over to it.

7~Shop around.

There's plenty of thrift stores. If you don't have luck at the first one, head to the next.

You have to have patience, but great pieces will surface eventually!

8~Details.

Look for furniture with great lines. 

Curvy pieces, appliqués, fun knobs. {although those can be changed out}

If something has great "bones" you are good to go.

9~Only buy it if you love it.

If you are kinda wishy washy about a piece, maybe it's not meant for you.

Or, maybe it needs more work than you are willing to put into it.

Pass it by, something else will come along.

10~Re purpose.

When you see a piece, for example, the shelf below that is in my master bathroom,

 try and visualize it as something else.

At the bottom of this piece 

{not shown in the picture}

I added hooks to hang jewelry knowing it would be going in my bathroom.

 The shelf above was a really tacky dark brown color and it was dirty, very dirty.

But it was $6.99 and it had great bones.

I knew with a little paint and some new hooks it would make a lovely shelf to hold toiletries on.

I searched for years

{not even joking} 

for smallish dressers that I could use for night tables.

I happen to walk into a thrift store one day right at opening and saw 2 of these that had just been put out. They were $59.99 each if I remember correctly. 

I literally stood by them until a sales clerk walked by me so I could have him mark them sold.

I did not want these getting away!

Here is what they looked like before I painted them and added new knobs. 

They really weren't that bad, but the colors didn't go with the rest of the room, so they got a mini makeover.

Hopefully that helps you when you are out in search of the perfect piece of used furniture!

Just remember, there is nothing a little elbow grease can't fix.

xoxo