Are you considering giving your home a brand-new look, but your budget is having second thoughts? If you’re currently watching your pennies, you can still refresh your space: Just think vintage or used furnishings first, which can be a great and economical way to decorate your home.
However, if you’re cringing at the thought of dusty wood, tatty upholstery, and peeling paint, ForRent.com is here to help out with some ideas! Here, we’ll give you some basic ideas on where to start on your vintage/used journey, how to find thrifted/used gems, clean them up, and give them a DIY polish.
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[fdembed] Where to Start?Put on a pair of comfortable shoes, and trek out for some treasure hunting (or, flex your fingers to do some internet hunting).
Used furniture is easy to find; however, if you want to save some bucks, you’ll want to avoid specialty vintage/antique outlets (which will usually have higher prices as a result of their curation and restoration efforts). Online auction sites may not always be the best bet either, due to high delivery costs and seller markups. Estate sales also tend to be for the higher-end budget.
Alternate places to begin your search include local online boards (search your local board under “furniture”), swap meets or Facebook® online groups, and neighborhood yard sales. You can also go ahead and simply ask your friends and family if they have anything they’d like to unload!
One tip: Don’t be afraid to haggle. Always ask for a cheaper price, or if dealing with people you know, perhaps a swap. This is actually expected at swap meets and yard sales. Also keep in mind that whatever you find is going to need a little work. So look for items that can be restored without insane amounts of time and effort. For example, make it easy on yourself by seeking detachable sofa cushions, pieces that require simple adjustments, etc.
Finally, an important thing to keep in mind: You’ll have to scrap the idea of used furnishings and go ahead with buying new if you cannot find a basic style in vintage that you like. You can change the covering, but you can’t change the bones.
Found a Promising Piece? Get it Clean!
So, you found something that looks as if it has potential… but despite the promise it holds, it’s not exactly right. Never fear. The very first thing to ask yourself is: Can I clean this? What will it look like once I do?
Okay, duh, right? However, many people cannot see beyond the dirt, smells, stains, etc. that cover an old but otherwise attractive piece of furniture. A thorough cleaning and stain removal process is easier than you think and can work wonders. Cleaning furniture is usually an inexpensive process, but will require a little elbow grease on your part. However, the work will be well worth it.
First, you can air the item outdoors for a few hours, which should get rid of some of the initial mustiness. Then grab a cart full of products that you can experiment with in your quest to remove dirt and odors. Some of the best include simple staples such as baking soda, stain remover, deodorizing cleaning solutions, and vinegar. You should be able to spend less than $20, and get right to work.
You may have to forfeit the idea of using the piece if it has mold, active insect infestations, or smells of smoke (which can be a stubbornly persistent odor). These situations can be fixed, but reserve your efforts only if the piece is priceless. You also will want to say “sayonara” if a necessary cleaning might damage delicate wood or finishes you’d like to preserve.
Try Reupholstering
Another great DIY idea that can give your vintage find new life is giving it a new skin via reupholstery. While you will still be keeping the stylish bones of your thrifted find intact, you can kill two birds with one stone. Number one, you can choose a color or pattern to match your overall décor. And two, you’ll have a fresh covering, which offers peace of mind — no infestations, dirt, germs, and cooties from days gone by!
The average cost to reupholster varies widely, but keep in mind the quality of the fabric tends to drive the price. Keep this in mind and shop carefully. You can get fabric for as low as $40 a yard plus batting (the fluffy stuff underneath) for around $50 a yard.
We have been giving tips as to when you should throw in the towel and give up, and in terms of upholstery projects, if the frame of the item you wish to upholster is damaged — it’s just not worth the time and effort.
Try the Refinishing Route
So you’ve discovered yet another nice piece which fits into both your overall aesthetic and your budget. It’s sturdy; it’s stylish … it’s scratched and shabby. Ugh. But before you dismiss it, consider: can you refinish it? There’s more to the refinishing process than simply slapping on a coat of paint, so be forewarned; but if you’re willing to put in the labor the results can be glorious.
Ready to give it a try? You’ll need to strip the item of its previous coating, sand it down if it is a wooden piece, prep it, apply your choice of finish (paint, stain, lacquer), and then apply a topcoat.
To give you a ballpark idea of the costs involved, a professional can do a chair or small table for you for around $250. However, grabbing all the products at your local home improvement store and rolling up your own sleeves will cut that figure in half.
Here we go again: Even if it hurts, toss out the idea of refinishing if you’re dealing with a priceless antique. Refinishing it will likely bring down its value. If you believe you are working with a rare or valuable item, have it appraised before altering it.
Hack It
Sometimes you find an item that seems just a tad off. Is it the hideous plastic drawer pulls? There’s only two dining chairs and you need four? Something? Chances are you can figure out a brilliant hack that makes a delightful solution out of a problem. Put your mental muscle to work, don’t be afraid to get a little “out there,” and definitely don’t shy away from simply trying things out.
Need a few ideas? Try replacing the hardware on an otherwise suitable piece, repurposing items (you can make a beautiful bench out of an old baby crib, for example), and just getting wild.
You’ll find most hacks require only minimal investment. For example, replacing hardware can be done on the cheap if you scour websites for online auction houses. And of course, it doesn’t cost a cent to move, reassemble, or reconfigure items into whatever vision your creativity is guiding you towards.
Last and not least, just go ahead and say “no” to reconfiguration and/or hacks if you really don’t need the item and you aren’t inspired in any way by it.
Taking the used/vintage route requires a lot of ingenuity and even a dose of bravery, but most who embark on the journey find it well worth the time and effort. Enjoy the adventure, as well as the compliments you’re sure to receive on your one-of-a-kind collected décor!
Sources:
http://www.angieslist.com/articles/it-worth-cost-reupholster-old-furniture.htm
http://www.ehow.com/info_8771630_average-cost-reupholster-couch.html
http://www.lowes.com/projects/other-activities/refinish-wood-furniture/project
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-refinish-an-antique/index.html
http://www.thewoodworksinc.com/strip_refinish/refinish_quote.php
http://www.refinishwizard.com/cleaning_antique_furniture.html
