Shopping for second-hand furniture is fun, especially if you’re planning on redecorating your home in a retro style. Your furniture is one of the main things that make your house your home, and since the usual case is to choose interiors based on the furniture you own, it can be difficult to change certain items as often as you’d like. That’s why, even when buying something pre-loved, it’s important to bear in mind a few things.

  1. Try before you buy

It doesn’t matter where you’re buying your furniture from; it’s always important to give it a go. Whether this is a new sofa or a new set of dining chairs, you’ll need to confirm that the items are in fit enough shape to take home. You can go through the website of the shop selling Second Hand Furniture Rotorua (or elsewhere), where you may also find a few reviews. It can give an idea about how the service is and whether the restoration is up to par. Remember that sometimes the best bargains will be on damaged furniture that you can easily either fix yourself or pay a professional to fix – either of which might ultimately cost you less than buying something brand new.

  1. Know your measurements

Shopping with exact measurements is vital. After all, you don’t want to get your new product home to find that it doesn’t fit in the alcove you had in mind, and often, second-hand furniture stores won’t let you return anything. When buying bigger pieces, another top tip is to measure the doors in your home so that you know they’ll fit through. This point still stands, even if you have folding doors.

  1. Opt for metal

If you happen to stumble across some second-hand metal furniture, give it your full consideration. Even if it’s rusted, this can easily be fixed with a durable powder coat and outdoor paint made especially for the purpose of recovering metal. Trust us; you’ll be surprised at just how beautiful that wrought iron patio furniture looks once you’ve spruced it up.

  1. Recalled and ‘assembly required’ furniture

One thing to watch out for, and possibly avoid, is second-hand ‘assembly required’ furniture or furniture that may have been recalled. In regards to the first, items that someone else has previously assembled themselves may not have all of the original (and required) pieces, and the structural integrity of the item might have been compromised. Be careful when buying children’s furniture second-hand because there’s a chance it was either recalled by the manufacturer, or it has been damaged and not fixed properly.

  1. Easy reupholstering/re-purposing

While you’re out second-hand furniture shopping, keep an eye out for items that you know you’ll be able to easily reupholster to your preference. You don’t want to buy the perfect item only to find that re-purposing it will force it to lose its appeal. Hardwood furniture is always good to opt for because it lasts longer when taken care of and can, therefore, be more versatile when giving it a new look.

Hopefully, our list has given you a few tips about exactly what you should and shouldn’t do when you’re on the hunt for some not so new furniture for your home. Happy shopping!

Katie
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