If you’re looking for a way to give your home a unique and elegant look, investing in antique furniture might be your best option. Not only can the right kinds of antique furniture look beautiful, but many pieces are much sturdier than modern furniture.
Of course, just because something is technically an “antique” doesn’t mean that it’s worth buying. You need to make sure that a piece of furniture will go with the rest of your decor and that it’s in good enough condition to belong in your home without too much restoration. Nevertheless, finding the right kind of antique furniture is well worth your time as long as you follow these words of advice.
Know Where to Look
Antique furniture can be found in numerous places such as antique shops, auctions, estate sales and antique shows. Keep in mind that most of the high-end pieces may not be on display at antique stores. Many shops and shows are composed of individual booths that dealers rent out so that they can do business. If you see some pieces that you really like from a particular dealer, take down their information and see if they have anything else. They might have something else to offer you that will be perfect for your home.
Make Sure You Can Repurpose an Antique Before Buying It
You may be tempted to buy something just because it looks nice, but you might also end up with something that you cannot use. Maybe it will be too difficult to restore, or maybe it will clash with your own decor. Whatever you do, never just buy something on impulse. Having an antique desk or sofa may be a point of pride for you, but it should still fit in with the rest of your furniture.
Look for Gently-Used Furniture
The legal definition of an antique is something that is over 100 years old. There is plenty of 100 year-old furniture that is in excellent shape, but time is rarely that kind to anything. When you look for antique furniture, look for things that are gently used. Some damage is okay if it can be repaired – you might even be able to negotiate a better price for something that is “damaged” – but try not to buy something that is past the point of no return. If it will be more expensive to restore a piece of furniture than it will to actually buy it, you might want to find something else.
Look for Quality Materials
Part of the appeal of antique furniture is that it is built to last. Even if you need to refinish a heavy wooden table or buff out any scratches, you should still be happy that you found something made from such sturdy wood that has lasted for over 100 years. Superficial damage can be fixed as long as the structure of a piece is sound.
Shopping for antique furniture isn’t as simple as going to a store and picking out what you like. It’s more akin to looking for buried treasure, and you may have to look long and hard to find anything that you can use in your own home, let alone something affordable. Keep looking around at antique shops and individual dealers, and you’re bound to find some beautiful pieces of furniture that will give your home the classy, elegant look you’ve always wanted.
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