Buying vintage furniture is an excellent way to get high-quality furniture for a low price. In the process, you give your home a unique and cool look. Even if a vintage item was mass-produced, it is unusual by the time it is vintage. You also earn "friend of the environment" points because incorporating vintage furniture and accessories into your home is an environmentally responsible action.
Purchasing vintage furniture differs from your regular garage sale or thrift store shopping because you are looking for furniture from a specific era rather than simply any second-hand furniture. It must be at least 30 to 40 years old to be considered actual vintage furniture. Antiques are pieces that are more than 100 years old.
Browse online as well as in vintage stores in Melbourne or the suburb you reside in. You'll find a plethora of vintage furniture websites specializing in certain eras, as well as more general auction sites offering a variety of items and furniture from various eras. Also, look through online classified ad websites for local-only items.
Don’t know where to begin? Use this 10-point checklist to get you started.
- Locate good sources
Look into the various stores for vintage furniture in Melbourne or your region. If you reside in a newer neighborhood, you might want to consider exploring an older area. Flea markets, auctions and estate sales are also great places to look for great bargains. It's beneficial to return to useful resources frequently once you've found them.
Furthermore, thoroughly know the salesmen or vendors you'll be dealing with. They can supply you with a lot of information or alert you when something you're looking for appears. Vintage shops frequently lower prices on items that haven't sold after a particular period. You have a better chance of finding these offers if you check in frequently.
- Do your homework
Just because its antique furniture doesn't mean it has to be of poor quality. Avoid furniture made from low-quality materials or with poor workmanship. Furniture that is well-made or poorly-made can be found at any age. Antique furniture in Sydney or the area near you is no exception. Before you go shopping or bidding at an auction, do some research on the brands of the era you're looking for.
- Beware of certain words
You're not buying a mid-18th-century French original when anything is touted as Louis XV "style" or "inspired," but a shabby rip-off. “Limited edition” is another phrase that has become meaningless due to overuse. The piece could have simply been limited to a million copies. Before you put any money down, be sure you get all of your questions answered.
- Look for lesser-known brands
While it's nice to find well-known brands, don't limit yourself to them. Other manufacturers from the same era may be less expensive, but their products are just as good.
- Check for damage
Look for furniture that has a decent foundation. For instance, drawers should pull out easily and upholstered items should have strong robust frames. Retail vintage stores in Melbourne frequently reupholster high-quality pieces, but this comes at a cost. If you come across plastic furniture, it should not be cracked.
- Bargain for the defects
You can take advantage of any scratches or defects by bargaining. Look through the piece for any damage or changes. If the piece is valuable, utilize any indication of damage to negotiate a lower price.
- Mix and match
Buying entire sets of old furniture can be costly and it can also overcrowd your room. If you're on a tight budget, acquire separate pieces that might go nicely with your other furniture.
- Repair or replacement
Repairs are when original pieces are reattached to a piece of furniture. A replacement is when a previously missing part is replaced with a brand new one. You should be able to know the difference.
- Measure your space
You aren't purchasing antique furniture to keep it hidden away. So, if you're purchasing furniture for your own home, consider the size. In a store, furniture can appear to be excessively large or small. Take your measurements with you so you can buy something that fits and is scaled correctly for your space.
- Buy what you love
After checking a piece thoroughly, finding of its era and built, always buy what you love. If you love French furniture, buy it by all means. Don’t treat these as investments because they will adorn your home and you will have to live with them.
Lastly, collect attractive and valuable items that can also be used. Quality and usability should go hand in hand, so use each component to its full potential. Their very existence demonstrates that they were designed to last.
Also read here to know benefits of teak for outdoor furniture
