If you’ve done any amount of perusal of furniture blogs and communities online, you can’t fail to have noticed a great deal of furor concerning the latest style trends and offerings of contemporary arty designs. Countless websites and forums are primarily interested in the most cutting-edge novelty shapes and fads, whose prevention vastly outweighs the value they attribute to functionality.

But what’s so wrong with the characteristics of existing furniture? The tables and chairs already owned by most of us, the ones that are not too dissimilar to the ones our great-grandparents would’ve owned, are tried and tested compositions- faithfully seating and serving for their entire lives, without the need for gaudy gimmicks.

For a start, trustworthy furniture should be rooted in practical effectiveness:

• You should be able to sit a large person on a chair, and for them to be confident it won’t surrender beneath them.
• -You should be able to relax on a piece of furniture intended as a seat, and not have to perch tentatively.
• You shouldn’t have to spend any amount of attention or thought on figuring out the cultural significance of your table in order to use it properly.
• Your furniture shouldn’t necessitate two people to work! (I’ve literally seen this one, a type of seat that doesn’t balance without a couple of humans teaming up probably for some metaphorically poignant reason).

Furniture shouldn’t be treated as accessories or decoration even; it should be the bones of your home. The best and most reliable furniture eventually just blends in with the room, as if almost invisible. I’m all for expressing your creative impulses or indulging the whim to assert your individuality, but that is the job of objets d’art and the like- not of the seating. Trust me if you buy an unusually shaped chair as a conversation piece, you’ll start wishing you had a nice comfy old couch from which to admire it.

The expression goes “If these walls could talk”, but oftentimes the furniture too has also been privy to entire lifetimes. Old furniture has cradled you to sleep with a good book, given your unexpected guest a place to spend the night, and given your hungover self a place to waste a Sunday afternoon.

More Advice on Buying Old Furniture:

1. What are the benefits of old furniture?

Not only can you save money, but you can get furniture that has character, is well made, and even upcycled with a fresh coat of paint or a few repairs. Furthermore, furniture that has years of use on it usually demonstrates the true quality of its craftsmanship. The hardwood woods used in many mainstays of furniture design–like dressers and dining sets–may still be in great condition and will last for years to come! If you are looking for furniture with vintage style but with modern appeal then furniture from days gone by may just be what you need to make your home unique.

2. How do I care for old furniture?

Caring for old furniture is an art form. It’s all about knowing when to repair, repurpose, or replace the furniture. For example, if you have a couch with a well-worn fabric, you may want to consider reupholstering it instead of getting a new one. On the other hand, furniture that is structurally unsound might be best replaced altogether. Or you could upcycle furniture by converting an old dresser into an eclectic TV stand. Whether to repair, repurpose or replace used furniture truly depends on your individual situation and what techniques you feel most comfortable performing on furniture. Just remember – with the right care and attention, even the oldest furniture can look amazing!

3. What are some of the best tips for buying old furniture?

Shopping for furniture can be a challenging experience when you’re looking to buy used. From vintage furniture to upcycled thrift finds, the selection and pricing can vary greatly. The best advice is to do your research! Keep an eye out for furniture pieces that are in your price range but also good quality. Look for furniture that has been well taken care of, and inspect for any existing damages or defects, as these may require repair or replacement. Be sure to check the hardware and look into the materials used, as well as make sure drawers are in working condition. Through careful evaluation and a bit of knowledge about what to look for, picking up quality furniture second-hand can be an exciting adventure!

There are apparently many reasons that one should aspire to achieve a home décor that makes your abode look fresh out of the pages of a futuristic catalog, but you can’t pretend that one of them is the level of comfortability or character.

Those of you without furniture, thinking about your options, I implore you not to simply swan into Ikea or any of these other tosh-peddlers but instead attribute some worth to characterful furniture with a story to tell. There are dozens of online and real-life places to acquire second-hand or antique furniture, all robust and substantial, and I’d imagine for only a small fraction of the price expected of you from the most competitive furniture stores.