If you are on the market for a purchase for your house, whether it is furniture or accessories, you may be wondering whether it is better to buy new or used hand. Or you can worry that what you buy in a used goods store may not be as good as something brand. According to our economical experts, this is simply not the case.
In fact, some household furniture is actually better (and more valuable!) If you buy them from a second hand. So what should you snap on your next hunt without a second doubt? Our experts spill the secrets.
1. Wooden furniture
Furniture can be an intelligent purchase of second -hand, especially pieces from the middle of the 20th century, says the interior designer Gideon Mendelson. Vintage furniture was often produced from solid hardwoods such as oak, walnut and mahogany, which made these pieces much more durable than some of today's furniture, he says. In addition, vintage furniture often offers swallowtail and hand-carved details that used to be standard, but today additional costs.
Test your furniture for stability. If the piece wobbles, stiff or sticky drawers, missing hardware, damaged joints or a weak structure, costly repairs or restoration may have to be required. Think about whether you are ready to invest more in your piece before buying.
2. Decorative ceramics
Do not hesitate to buy vintage ceramics when you recognize them because these pieces are “more durable and beautifully designed than today's mass producers,” says Mendelson. In addition, vintage ceramics are often unique, handmade details that you cannot find in recent iterations. And ceramics do not tend to reduce a value over time, so they are a stylish, worthy of investment to economy.
Examine your piece for cracks or chips because they can influence the value and functionality of your ceramics.
3. Carpets
Also keep the carpets on your radar sparingly. They often offer “better quality fibers and highly qualified craftsmen who made them,” says Mendelson. Vintage carpets often have complicated patterns, designs, colors, unique patinas and durable materials such as wool or silk.
Vintage carpets can accommodate years of dirt. So check your finds for large fades or stains that cannot be cleaned or repaired. And check the support of your carpet to determine whether it is structurally intact.
4. Upholstered furniture
Interior design Jonathan Savage suggests looking for padded furniture that has a firm wooden frame that he says of is “difficult to beat”. Solid wood frames, especially older people, were meticulously produced with conventional techniques to ensure their structural integrity. In addition, you can always breathe new life into your piece with an intact wooden frame by repeating it in a fabric that reflects your style, says Savage.
Reupholstering can be an additional cost. If you can.
5. Decorative lamps
“A few wonderful vintage lamps is always a great way to give a home and eclecticism at home,” says Savage. Older lamps often have distinctive designs that you will not see on today's market, regardless of whether you are looking for a modern Art -deco or a more traditional style from the middle of the century. Older lamps were also constructed with materials such as copper, glass and brass instead of plastic or other materials with low quality. This means that vintage lamps can be great for future resale, as some collectors are actively looking for them.
Always check the cabling of your lamp and put it on signs of frays or damage and be sure to put them in to check if it works. Your lamp may require professional re -wiring or restoration. Factor too.
6. Mirror
For another timeless and practical addition to your home, you cannot go wrong with vintage mirrors, says Mendelson. Older mirrors were also built from “high-quality glass, wood and metal frames”, which made them a permanent purchase. Savage prefers vintage mirrors to new because he says that the decorated or gilded designs can give every room a simple elegance.
In addition, mirrors can keep their value over time, especially if they find a piece from a certain period or designer. Check your mirror for damage, moisture or mold and always examine the frame for durability.
7. Kitchen goods
“Kitchen dishes can often be a valuable purchase on the used market,” says Mendelson. In some cases, it can actually take longer than new pieces. Vintage glass goods, cast iron pans, wooden tensile, vintage -pyrex or ceramic dishes can be all first -class finds. Always check rust, cracks or chips. Avoid urgent lases that can give a low radiation.
8. Art and wall decoration
You can find hand -painted art for a fraction of the costs for new ones. The work of art goes beyond paintings and can mean different things for different people. Perhaps it builds a small wall exhibition of vintage watches for you, hangs up a stacked couple of lush landscape oil paintings or shows a black and white ancient etching of your favorite city. Whatever you choose, it is important to be intended in your selection. Choose parts that feel sensible to you and have a rough idea of where you hang them before you buy.
If you intend to buy works of art to sell it, you should tire of reproductions or prints that can be marketed as originals. And check the quality and condition of your frame. Determine whether you have to carry out repairs on the front, back table or dust cover.