What to do with your used furniture

Our taste changes, we move, we get married, we want a new beginning, we break up, we get divorced, we retire, we get a new job, we evolve.

With every life change there’s always a bunch of furniture that we want to get rid of.  And what do you do with all the pieces that you no longer want? The resale value of your most precious purchase goes down drastically the second it arrives in your home. I get asked this question daily from clients and friends and I feel like I never have a good answer. So I’ve tried to assemble a list that can help. And I’m hoping that you can help…. If you have a blog perhaps repost this list and add your ideas. Or add the link to this blog post to your Facebook page. I think we all need to help, and do what we can to be environmentally responsible!

If you have any great ideas or resale sites to share, PLEASE leave it in the comment section. I will add them to this blog post as soon as you do.

1. REINVENT WHAT YOU HAVE

Before you throw anything out, ask yourself if you can reinvent what you already have. Any old piece can look amazing with some paint, fabric and imagination!!   This is obviously a personal favorite, as I think creating something new out of something old, gives you the best piece.

2. CRAIG’S LIST

You of course know this one. Craig’s list is perhaps better for purchasing than selling I believe, as you won’t get a lot for your good items. But it’s a great source and perhaps the most wellknown out there.

3. FIND CLEVER RESALE SITES

I was excited to find this site – www.hipswap.com. A clever company that allows you to find people selling items in your neighborhood. And they have a delivery service that picks up and delivers from buyer to seller and vice versa. Check it out! That takes the pain out of delivery and meeting with customers.

You can google and find tons of online stores that sell recycled furniture as well. If you know any fantastic sites you would like to recommend, please post!

5. ESTATE SALES

Estate sales are great if you are moving and have a large amount of items you need to sell. They can arrange a sale at your property. Or if you have fewer items they can pick them up, and sell them at an auction house. You can plug in your zip code on the Estate Sales Network website and find companies near you.


6. AUCTION HOUSES

For antiques and high end items search out good auction houses. Every city has them.  They range from the big famous houses like Sotheby’s, Doyle’s in NYC to small local auction houses.

Many local auction houses have their advertised big yearly auctions, but also weekly auctions with less expensive items.

7. DONATE TO CHARITY

A large charity will pick up your items, and give you an itemized list that you can use for tax purposes.

I would love to hear from you!

If you have any great sites, organizations, local or national, or ideas I would love to add them to this blog post!

Okay…adding reader links and comments–

Apartment Therapy launched a “Classifieds” section about a week ago, and any AT member can post a piece they no longer need or want. There are some great finds to be had there!    (THANKS MEREDITH & GWYNETH!)

http://classifieds.apartmenttherapy.com


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30 thoughts on “What to do with your used furniture

  1. Hi

    What type of gold paint was used on the wing back chair (brown and white fabric). I want to paint a chair gold but can not find the right
    gold paint.
    thanks
    Heather
    PS love your blog

    1. That wing chair I actually never repainted. But I know Krylon spray paints have some good gold colors. You can buy them at Home Depot or any local paint store.

  2. FYI tip for all furniture thrifters. If you want great period or vintage era pieces check out The Salvation Army, this is one of the oldest known national thrift stores and a majority of elderly people donate their gently used furniture here (from antiques to mid century and 6o's mod). I have found some of the greatest pieces here that I spruced up with a little love, and most pieces are not marked up like you often find at privately owned thrift stores.

  3. FYI tip for all furniture thrifters. If you want great period or vintage era pieces check out The Salvation Army, this is one of the oldest known national thrift stores and a majority of elderly people donate their gently used furniture here (from antiques to mid century and 6o's mod). I have found some of the greatest pieces here that I spruced up with a little love, and most pieces are not marked up like you often find at privately owned thrift stores.

  4. Jill, THANK YOU! I think this was probably one of the MOST HELPFUL post's you've done! Bravo, sister!
    Thanks! Julie
    (keep in mind, this is coming from the girl who works as an interior designer, at an interior design firm, that has a huge showroom of furniture that we sell on a daily basis! And, so much more that we can resource!) So, it's iromic that this is my favorite post! Bu,t I'm so grateful you're getting the word out b/c there are alot of people that can't or don't want to buy "new furniture"- or furniture crafted from other countries- even arifact's & aged piece's, that we'd still put in the category of "new furniture for sale" b/c their hasn't been a previous owner. Basically, thanks for the post!

  5. Very interesting ideas suggested! I often used to take help from Craigslist to deal with my old furniture. And it's glad to see you've also suggested it. Craigslist is a great place for dealings and I often that place instructive for me. Thanks.

  6. What a good information man you have shared in this website at all..!! For antiques and high end items search out good auction houses. Actually such type of information of furniture will increase the beauty of a room. I am so pleased to get this allocation in this website at all. Take it up…

  7. We’ve been in our new home only three weeks now. It has one of the most open floor plans we’ve ever had. So really, anything we purchased would work in this house.

  8. The beauty of knowing how to upholster furniture is that you have the power in your hands, of transforming any piece from a dull, worn look into a colorful and lively one. You simply cover the piece with some fabric that you like together with some stuffing and that’s it! furniture southaven ms

  9. The beauty of knowing how to upholster furniture is that you have the power in your hands, of transforming any piece from a dull, worn look into a colorful and lively one. You simply cover the piece with some fabric that you like together with some stuffing and that’s it!tupelo ms furniture

  10. True to say, their have many good discussion and I mostly prefer your allocation of used furniture. Looking ahead to your site for more interesting things like that. Keep it up 😆

  11. I HAVE A BEDROOM SET THREE PIECES IT 1 YEAR OLD LOOKING TO SELL FOR 650.00 DOLLARS BECAUSE I AM MOVE OUT OF STATE BY AUG NEED TO SELL IT,

  12. You truly allow it to become seem to be so easy with all your powerpoint presentation but I discover this condition to be in fact one thing which i think I might certainly not comprehend. It seems way too sophisticated and intensely vast personally. I am looking forward for your subsequent publish, I'm going to try and have the hang of computer!

  13. Well I've stored some useless stuffs in my store and was thinking what to do with those actually!! Since I read this post I was so pleased with joy to know my useless products could be usable by following above suggested ways. Thanks very much for helping me out.

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