You all know that I love to thrift shop...
You know... before there was a song about having $20 in my pocket.
Well once again, welcome back my friend Kala from My Breezy Room
She is a refashionista of another sort! Furniture!!!!
And today she has some tips of and tricks to share with you!
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Hi guys! I'm glad to be back today to give you some tips about the kind of thrifting
I do on a regular basis. Just like Naomi finds old clothes and refashions them so they
fit in her closet, I find old, outdated and ugly furniture and repair/repaint
it to make it fit into my decor style.
Today I'm going to share a few of my furniture thrifting tips with you.
1) Real wood is the way to go.
Unless you're shopping for a specific chair or something a little different, let's
just assume that most of the time you're looking for a dresser or a table or a
cabinet to repaint. I've learned there is a difference between real wood and particle
board. Real wood is easier to paint, easier to repair and much more sturdy.
2) Thrift stores aren't always the first place to look.
Now that shabby chic has become super popular, thrift stores have jacked up the price
of every piece of furniture made out of real wood. If you only check out the thrift stores,
you'll end up spending way more on a piece of furniture than you have to/should.
3) Never underestimate the power of garage sales.
For the most part, there is just a bunch of junk at garage sales. Especially when
you're looking for furniture made out of real wood, not particle board. But sometimes
it's a lot of fun to go from garage sale to garage sale and try to find hidden treasures.
One time I spent an entire Saturday garage saling with my sister and we came
home with lamps, picture frames and quite a bit of other stuff for under $30.
4) Estate sales are like golden garage sales.
So this may be a bit morbid, because usually they are the product of someone dying,
but families are also willing to get rid of everything for a lower price at estate sales.
Be sure to go to the ones ran by the family and not the ones ran by estate sale companies,
the companies generally have higher prices. The best thing about estate sales is that
they are selling everything, not just things they're willing to throw away like at
garage sales. This means there is more potential to find bigger, nicer furniture.
5) Don't entirely give up on thrift stores.
While I don't think you should spend all your time there, checking in at thrift stores
from time to time can earn you some pretty great scores. I got this dresser I now
use as my TV stand at a thrift store for $4.99.
6) Don't be afraid to ask for a lower price.
The first time I did this I was terrified. I was at an estate sale and decided to buy a
bedroom set that consisted of a dresser, a chest of drawers, and a night stand.
They had it priced for $200. After debating with my boyfriend and making myself
super nervous, I offered them $125. They accepted it before I could finish saying my offer.
That's when I knew I should have gone lower. They practically would have paid
someone to haul that set out of the house. And don't feel bad about it.
Most of the time, people just really want to get rid of their old stuff.
Hopefully these tips help you in your next search for a hidden treasure,
whether it's to add that perfect touch to your living room or find the perfect
nightstand for your bedroom. If all else fails, ask your friends and family if they
have any furniture they'd be willing to get rid of. Actually, maybe you should
start with that step! Head to my blog now for Naomi's tips on thrifting clothes!
Thanks again, Naomi, for having me back here so soon!
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