Where to find furniture

Feb 13

Are you interested in starting a side gig of flipping furniture? Do you want to find a few pieces for your own home? Are you struggling to figure out the best way to find furniture to restore?

I have been restoring and repurposing furniture for a few years as a business and for personal use for more than ten years. During that time, I have developed some strategies for locating affordable pieces that need some love.

Here are 10 ways that I find furniture to restore:

Craigslist
When I am looking for furniture and even when I am not (it’s a bit of an obsession at this point), I check Craigslist frequently. You will find a lot of options, often for very cheap or even free. Check the furniture section but also be sure to check the “Free Stuff” section. You will have to glean through a bunch of other stuff, but you can sometimes find some great pieces that people are just going to throw out.
Facebook MarketPlace
MarketPlace is a great place to find people in your local area that are moving on from old pieces. They tend to be a little more pricey than Craigslist, but you can find some good deals if the item needs some work. Always see if the seller will negotiate with you.
Trash Day
Trash day is my favorite way to find diamonds in the rough. Your neighbors may not have the time or desire to sell their unwanted dresser, but with a little work it may be a great find. Where I live, I often have to ignore great dressers because I have too many projects to get to.
Friends and family
Tell your family and friends about your new hobby. They can be a great resource to acquire items. You may have to be selective so that you don’t end up being a dumping ground for unwanted items, but this can be a very low pressure method to practice your skills if you are having difficulty finding projects.
Facebook community pages
There are tons of community groups that care about reusing items and provide a resource for members to pass on unwanted clothes, household goods and furniture. These groups can be simply curb alerts or possibly coordinated pickups. Be sure to check the groups rules in regard to monetizing the items as some will specify that in the rules.
Resale/Thrift Stores
Thrift stores can be an inexpensive way to find refurbishable pieces. It’s often necessary to go often to find the best pieces. Check with the employees to see if they ever have sales. Some stores will give bigger discounts when they have too much inventory.
Garage/Yard/Estate Sales
Often the least expensive way to get your next restoration conquest. Always try to negotiate as most people are just looking to unload these items. Walking in your local community is the best way to find sales happening as well as flyers advertising upcoming sales. Facebook, Craigslist and other local publications are a great resource for finding sale dates.
Flea Markets
Where I live on the East Coast, flea markets are abundant. All summer long, you can drive out to multi-day events. This is probably the most expensive way to pick up a project, but you can get great deals from time to time. The variety of styles and conditions vary a lot, so you will have lots of options. Always remember to negotiate, or at the very least, ask the vendor if the price is negotiable.
Auctions
Auctions are the most unpredictable way to purchase furniture. It can also be very time-consuming with a lot of waiting around. With that in mind however, you can get some great deals if you go with an open mind. It’s important to go with low expectations, since you never know who your “competition” may be for a given piece. Know the price you are willing to pay and try to stick with it, especially if you are looking to sell the piece later. You don’t want to pay too much to begin with. Be ready for an adrenaline rush when you do “win”!
College Move Out/ Move In Dates
If you live near a college or university, find out when move in and move out dates are. Trash days leading up to and after moveout can be a great time to find discarded items. Similar to curb alerts and trash days, but at a much larger scale, you will have a lot more to choose from.
Good luck finding your next piece of furniture, I hope these tips help in some small way!