Unfinished Furniture Guide To New Second Hand Furniture

Unfinished Furniture Guide To New Second Hand Furniture Welcomes You!

Welcome!

Why does unfinished furniture or even second hand furniture appeal to so many of us? It is a common held belief that most of us prefer or at least would enjoy the finer things in life. Isn’t that what TV shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and MTV’s “Cribs” are all about? Maybe there’s more to it than that.

It’s a well-known real estate fact that an unfinished basement increases home value more than a finished basement. Why is that? I think it’s because we are dreamers. We love potential. A basement with possibilities is far more exciting than a finished game room or well stocked bar. As Americans, we love freedom. More than that, we love freedoms. The freedom to choose unleashes creative thought processes. In much the same way that an empty canvas inspires the painter, so does unfinished furniture to that do it yourself minded individual or couple. The desk or chair or TV stand can match or contrast our existing decor if we so choose, because it is our choice. Light or dark, textured or smooth, indoor or outdoor is the destination or potential, and we get to select the journey to get there.

We also love transformations and improvements. From remodeling our homes with carpentry and decoration to remodeling our bodies with plastic surgery and weight loss pills we are in love with improvement. How else can you explain the overabundance of self help literature on the market today? How else can you explain TV shows like “Extreme Makeover”? It’s the American dream really. To come from nothing or nowhere and become something or someone, this is the American fascination. Could that be why second hand furniture is so appealing to us? Of course, most of us are frugal and can see the value without waxing philosophical. Many times it is a great value, above and beyond potential, that appeals to us. In today’s economic climate we can hardly afford not to be frugal or to take advantage of great value. That being said, I believe there is more to it than our thrifty nature would imply. We want to see how we can breathe new life into this inanimate object that once belonged to someone else. We want to see just how we can take advantage of something that someone else felt was unneeded. Potential.

We will talk more in future articles about the advantages and drawbacks, the challenges and excitement when adding unfinished furniture or second hand furniture to your home, garden, patio, or favorite place. I believe you will find that few pieces of home decor can be so rewarding.

Tags: chair, decor, desk, frugal, game room, home decor, Second Hand Furniture, thrifty, TV stand, Unfinished Furniture, value
Posted in Second Hand Furniture, Unfinished Furniture · May 4th, 2009 · Comments (0)

Cheap Unfinished Furniture – A Strategy Guide

How would you like to save a bit of money, have all your decor finished in the same style throughout your home and feel proud that you did it all yourself with cheap unfinished furniture? Use this strategy guide to learn all the aspects of finishing your own furniture with less money and your own handy-work.

DIY Advantages

There has been more demand from consumers realizing the benefits of finishing furniture themselves; companies in the industry have responded with greater selections. One of the biggest advantages of buying this type of furniture is that you can see the smallest details of any imperfections in the piece before you purchase.

Furniture pieces that are already stained and finished in the store can hide a multitude of sins until you bring it home for further inspection. You may find style weak points, knots, mismatched pieces or discolorations in the wood. Manufacturers supplying unfinished pieces must use higher grade lumber knowing that any defects can be easily spotted when purchased.

Unfinished pieces will cost less because you are doing part of the manual labor to complete the project. You can easily buy new pieces to match up with the style, wood, paint or finish with other pieces already in your home. Finishing unfinished furniture is not difficult; sales people can give you help and there is information available on the Internet too.

Things to Consider

Inspect the wood carefully before you even consider purchasing. Run your hand over all surfaces of the piece to evaluate if it has been sanded and feels smooth. What is the overall condition of the wood; are there holes, knots or sap streaks running through it? If the quality looks good but it still requires some final sanding then it may be a good buy depending upon how much work you are willing to do.
How are all the pieces joined and are they properly joined and functional? Most pieces are attached together by wood glue, nails or staples. Check any structures with legs looking for wobbly conditions and drawers should fit properly and slide easily.

Always take measurements of any piece that you are considering to make sure it fits in the location you have chosen. In addition, some people do all the finishing work in a garage without measuring doorways and never realize they cannot get the piece through the door into the house.
Any pieces that are the wrong style or size should not even be considered. If a piece does meet the style, size and needs some minor changes such as moldings, trim or a preferred hardware then it is a potential candidate for you to consider.

How much work you are willing to do will determine the final decision as to whether you want to purchase. Be realistic about changing out hardware, fixing splintered areas, repairing splits, reattaching legs, cleaning and filling knotholes or sap pockets and realigning or repairing drawers.

Wood Type Choices

The two most popular types of wood used for unfinished furniture pieces are pine and oak. Pine is chosen often because it costs less than oak and most color coating types will work with unfinished pine. This type is much softer than oak and it is not as long lasting because of this characteristic.

Oak is durable and long lasting, which is a particularly good feature for expensive pieces. This wood typically has tighter grains compared to pine and shows beautifully when sanded stained and finished. It comes in white or red oak, both work equally well accepting stains and finishing nicely.

Options

It is a good idea to decide how you are going to finish all the pieces before purchasing. Buying unfinished furniture pieces is a lot like having a blank canvass before you. It is up to you to decide if you want to paint, stain or varnish. You might purchase several pieces of the same style for the living room such as bookshelves and coffee tables; stain in different colors. You may prefer oak in the living room and trendy pine furniture in the bedroom.

Plan a bit for the future because you may be so overjoyed with the outcome of your cheap unfinished furniture project that you might just add some additional pieces.

Tags: Buying unfinished furniture, cheap unfinished furniture, Finishing unfinished furniture, unfinished furniture pieces, unfinished furniture project
Posted in Unfinished Furniture · July 28th, 2010 · Comments (0)

Buy Second Hand Furniture – A Guide For Beginners

If you have not thought about how to buy second hand furniture, you could be missing out on a great opportunity. Not only will it give you the chance to custom-create furnishings to fit your own tastes and preferences, it will also save you a considerable amount of money considering that you will not have to visit expensive furniture stores to find it.

Wherever you plan to acquire your furniture, the very first step begins before you leave your home. You need to know that the furniture you choose is the correct size and shape for the room where you plan to place it. An essential start in selecting the right furniture is to measure the area where you want it to be located. The height, length, and dimensions can be determined with a measuring tape. Be sure to take this information with you when you shop. This will ensure that the item you select will fit properly, and look good.

Making plans to buy second hand furniture works best when you know that it will enhance the overall appearance of the room. If you take a clear look at how the room is set up and how it is decorated, this will give you a basic idea of the style you want. Whether you are looking for a classic piece of furniture, an antique, something modern, or something very unique, it should coordinate nicely with your room. When you have both the measurements and the style in mind, it should not be difficult to find the piece of furniture that is right for you.

This kind of purchase provides you with many options for personalization. You may want to leave it in the condition it is in when you buy it, or you may prefer to customize it to suit your particular needs and tastes. If you prefer the latter, the good news is that it is not difficult at all.

Depending upon the age and condition of the furnishing, customizing it may begin with sanding. This process does not have to be intimidating. If you wish to sand the piece, it can be an afternoon do-it-yourself project with lovely results. The purpose of sanding is to obtain a smooth finish, so that any additional work will look its best and last for a long time.

Using varnish, stains, or paint on the sanded surface is one option. The specific product you use depends upon the result you want. You can use a deeply colored stain for a classic effect, paint in your favorite color to match the decor of your room, or whichever product produces the effect you want.

Some people also like to use decals. These can be used either in addition to, or in place of, paint or other colorings. While there are many different kinds of decals from which to choose, they are especially nice for furnishings in a kitchen or in a child’s room.

When you are checking out the possibilities to buy second hand furniture, the condition of the item should be your main concern. While old, stained, and even battered furnishings can be redone to look great, it is the construction of the piece, which will affect how satisfied you are with it. You can check it over carefully, making sure that it is not warped, and that the bolts, screws, and other metal parts are not damaged.

Although most of these features can be repaired if they are not in good condition, it will mean much more work for you. The less damage there is to the piece, the less you will need to do with it. Warped wood may not be repairable, and damaged metal parts may need to be replaced. It also means that the furniture will last longer. The piece that is sturdy and well-made is the piece that you and your family will appreciate having in your home for many years to come whether it is antique or contemporary second hand furniture.

Whether you have a fondness for furnishings in a particular era, love the idea of personalizing your home, enjoy do-it-yourself projects, or simply want to save money, deciding that buying second hand furniture will give you all of these rewards is a great choice. When you keep these handy tips in mind, you can beautify your home while enjoying every minute of the process.

Tags: buy second hand furniture, buying second hand furniture, classic piece of furniture, furniture, furniture stores
Posted in Second Hand Furniture · May 2nd, 2010 · Comments (2)

Second Hand Furniture – Buyers Beware

Furnishing your home can be quite an expensive experience, but an easy way out of most of that expense is to buy second hand furniture.  While you might initially think that you’ll be getting beat up rejects, that’s not the case at all.

Most of the used furniture on the market is in very good to excellent condition– the way it would probably look about a month or two after it comes into your home.  So if you’re getting concerned about quality, just tell yourself that you will end up with just as good a product as you would have if you had bought it new, you’re just saving yourself a bit of cash, and jumping ahead a few months.

Of course, as with any furniture purchase, you do need to make sure that you will be getting a piece of furniture that not just looks good, but will last as well.  Shop with caution and make sure to ask questions and thoroughly examine the item before buying it.  Whether you are going to second hand furniture stores or answering classified ads, you will always need to

If you are buying directly from the original owners, take a look around their home.  Do they smoke?  Do they have pets or children?  If either of those are the case, you will have to be slightly more cautious.  Anyone who is trying to sell second hand furniture is going to present their goods in the most positive light possible, so you take a good look over the piece for any excessive signs of wear.

Make sure to smell the insides of any drawers or cabinets.  Do they smell of smoke, urine, or mildew?  Open any drawers and apply some weight with the palm of your hand.  Do they creak or seem to give more than you would expect?  And of course, make sure to look over the exterior to make sure that it meets your standards.

When looking at second hand furniture for sale on the internet, you will need  to be just as cautious.  While you obviously can’t scout out the owner’s home of examine the item yourself, ask the seller for pictures of any defects, scratches, or stain.  If the seller claims that the piece is in perfect condition, put on your skeptical hat.  I have never seen a piece of furniture that has left the factory that is in mint condition, and there is no reason to believe that a piece of furniture that has lived in someone’s home for any amount of time wouldn’t show it.

Tags: Second Hand Furniture, second hand furniture for sale, second hand furniture stores, second hand office furniture, sell second hand furniture
Posted in Second Hand Furniture · December 8th, 2009 · Comments (1)