Buying Furniture at a Thrift Store (or Craigslist)- 7 Tips You Need To Know

7 Tips You Need To Know When Buying Furniture at a Thrift Store (or Craigslist)

I absolutely love decorating my home. It makes me almost giddy to find a new piece to put on the walls or a shelf! But decorating your home can be expensive and since I am also a frugal person I tend to find pieces I can refinish to match my decor. At first I would snatch up anything and everything. If it was a good deal I would take it and I found that I had a lot of stuff that went untouched and hidden in my home.

To avoid buying something that doesn’t actually work in your home there are a couple important tips I keep in mind while shopping for furniture. 

 

7 Tips You Need To Know When Buying Furniture at a Thrift Store (or Craigslist)

1. Check for sticky drawers. Make sure they can easily slide in and out. That is the most annoying thing about my current dresser! I love drawers that are on rollers so I typically will not buy drawers that just slide straight on wood. 

2. Check for damage and stability. Are the legs uneven does it have a door that won’t close? Are there deep scratches? These are things you can fix but you have to know if you really want to fix it. Also check for any warping in doors or shelves.

3. Do a smell test. Open the drawers and cabinets and smell it. If there is smoke or a musk smell you might want to pass it up. You can let some smells air out but typically you will start to smell it through the paint even.

4. Check the size. Do you have a place in mind? Make sure you know the dimensions and take a tape measure with you. Also, know the dimensions of your vehicle! I have had to come back later with my husband’s truck which isn’t a big deal but if you don’t have a truck see if you can borrow one from a friend.

5. Keep an open mind. Maybe it has one of the problems listed above…but do you still love the piece? Is it so visually interesting you have to have it? Keep an  open mind. Maybe some paint and a few screws for stability will do the trick! My favorite makeover of mine is my Antique White Coffee Table. This coffee table had some deep scratches in it but for $7 I picked it up anyway. The scratches ended up being the best feature after painting it!

6. Try new stores. If you have a couple close by be sure to check out each of them. Since I have furnished my entire home with thrift store finds and I sell finished pieces I tend to go to multiple stores weekly.

7. Get to know the owner or manager of the shop. A smile and a few minutes of your time can go a long way when it comes to thrifting! Take a bit of time to talk to the owner of manager of your favorite thrift stores. Share with them your excitement over thrifting. Tell them what you plan to do with your thrift store purchases. Let them know about that “elusive” piece that you’ve been looking everywhere for. If you’re a regular and they get to know you, it’s very likely they’ll start keeping an eye out for things they think you’ll like. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle a bit with your favorite shop owners. Chances are, you could wind up with a nice discount.

Most importantly, have fun!!! Thrifting is a great way to create one of a kind decor for your home on a budget! We’d love for you to share with us pictures of your thrift store finds! We hope these tips will come in handy the next time you find yourself buying furniture at a thrift store or on Craigslist!

Are you interested in refinishing a piece that you picked up recently? Check out a few of my favorite furniture makeovers!

Retro Red Dresser

Round Kitchen Table and Chairs

Coral Kitchen Hutch

Tell us… Have you ever picked up a piece of used furniture and refinished it? What’s your favorite thrifting tip?