Finding Great Thrift Store Furniture

9/1/2013 by D. Cammarota

The best place to start looking for secondhand furniture is usually online. Searching for things like "used furniture" or "used furniture store" with your zip code included will generally yield both local secondhand furniture dealers and directory sites that provide listings of multiple businesses that offer used furniture. Sometimes local pawn shops or consignment shops deal in used furniture, but thrift stores are generally the best place to find a wider selection. There are even a number of on line thrift stores that offer great photos and descriptions and even reasonable shipping, so finding a great piece has become almost effortless.

Once you find a thrift store online, furniture should be examined very carefully. This is easier, of course, if you are visiting a furniture thrift store in person, but you can also take measures when buying from on line thrift stores. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the secondhand furniture dealer to send multiple photos and be specific in what you ask. Be sure to get undersides to see markings and ask for images of joints to determine age and value.

Buying secondhand furniture can be a great way to save money and find unique pieces for your collection. Whether you are shopping from on line thrift stores or simply finding a local thrift store online, furniture shopping is faster, easier and can yield seemingly endless pieces to choose from.

Comments

  • Kevin on 9/1/2013 5:46:06 AM

    Just make sure the furniture is clean and does not smell. The better shops this won't be an issue.

  • Marjora V. on 10/7/2013 11:33:42 PM

    I found some great vintage furniture in a thrift store but I was worried about bugs. They fumigated it for me and dry cleaned, so it is worth asking!

  • Diane on 10/19/2013 3:02:48 PM

    Great consignment store inside the Stagecoach House in Hope Valley. It's called River Threads. No matter what door you go in, just take a left; can't miss it. Gaye and Jess are fantastic! The store is spotless, and truly has some terrific high fashion clothing, purses, boots and shoes, and jewelry! The clothing is clean, and there is no "musty" smell that so many consignment stores have. It's worth the trip!

  • Di on 10/19/2013 3:06:56 PM

    Go to River Threads in Hope Valley; inside The Stagecoach House. Wonderful experience! I'm a "regular"! True designer clothing and jewelry, and the owners are wonderful!

  • Jimmy on 5/2/2014 6:41:26 PM

    There really are some wonderful furniture gems to be found in thrift stores as long as you have the time to look around. If you like browsing through thrift shops trying to find that certain piece of furniture that grabs your attention, then I'm sure you will like antique stores and consignment shops just as much. Find antique stores, antique malls, consignment shops, and thrift shops by City or Zip using Antiques in North Carolina, comprehensive directory.

  • Sue on 8/9/2014 5:29:23 PM

    One more time at 17th and Van Dorn in Lincoln Nebraska is great! Sara is great and has wonderful clothes, purses, shoes, accessories, reasonably priced!

  • Karen on 11/5/2014 7:37:07 PM

    Just picked up a beautiful round oak leather top coffee table at the thrift store 10.00 so excited to put this in my own store.

  • Joe Pella on 12/13/2014 12:26:46 PM

    There is an awesome new thrift store in Maple Shade, NJ called Shade Thrift! Everything they sell is clean and in great shape! The store is huge and neat and clean and organized. It's a must see!

  • Maria Beauchamp on 8/3/2015 6:17:16 PM

    I've been to that thrift store...Clothing at the Castles. It was a nice store.

  • debra friedman on 2/8/2018 10:55:00 AM

    Looking for vintage and mid century house wares. Best locations in Detroit?

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