Without comfortable furniture, your home wouldn’t truly be a home. In fact, furniture is one of the greatest reasons why people enjoy living at home. According to New Uses, “Furniture should be viewed as an accessory. It can make rooms comfortable and visually enticing.”
The problem is that a lot of people believe they’re forced to purchase new furniture when the old stuff needs to be replaced. Depending on the materials used to make it, furniture can be quite expensive.
Since most of your home is filled with furniture, it would cost a lot of money to replace all of it. A great solution to this problem is gently used furniture. As long as it’s high quality and gently used, there is nothing wrong with buying it second hand.
There are many stores that sell used furniture. The most difficult part of the process is knowing how and where to find the products. Fortunately, some simple tips can make the process much easier.
Always Trust Your Natural Senses
Furniture that has been inside of a stranger’s home could’ve been subjected to a number of different odors and contaminants. A great example is pet odor. The odors produced by smoking and pets might never go away.
When considering the purchase of gently used furniture, some consumers get caught up in the great deal and forget to use their natural senses. If your senses tell you to choose a different couch or recliner, then it’s probably a good idea to trust them.
Try Before You Buy
If possible, you should always try products before you buy them. It doesn’t matter where you’re planning to make your purchase. If you’re purchasing gently used cabinets, you should open and close the cabinets to make sure they work properly. Check to make sure the recliner actually reclines.
Understand Mattress Risks
Many stores sell gently used mattresses. While the deals on these products might be very tempting, it’s important to understand that mattresses can harbor harmful germs.
Many of the bugs found on mattresses aren’t visible with the naked eye. A gently used mattress might seem like an excellent deal, but you should be aware of the risks involved. There are plenty of horror stories involving used mattresses purchased from Craigslist and similar sources.
Save Money with Reupholstering
Many pieces of gently used furniture are in need of a facelift. They might have strong structural components but could use a visual makeover. Reupholstering is a lot like renovating an old home.
By reupholstering used furniture, you can avoid purchasing it new and stand to save a decent amount of money on the products.
Look For Hardwood Furniture
As long as it’s taken care of, hardwood furniture can last for a very long time. Maple and oak can last for an especially long time. When you’re looking for gently used hardwood furniture to buy, try to avoid products made from soft wood.
For example, furniture made from pine lumber is notorious for being structurally weak. Pine is a great material for products that aren’t required to withstand pressure and weight over time.
The Advantages of Used Furniture
Believe it or not, used furniture can be high quality and cheap. When you buy products that are gently used, you’re taking advantage of the immediate depreciation in value that is absorbed by the original purchaser.
In many cases, the furniture is like new, but the biggest difference is the reduced price that you pay for it. The craftsmanship and quality are almost identical to new products, but you won’t have to pay nearly as much money.
Combined with the above tips, these advantages should make it much easier to find and purchase furniture that has been gently used.
