Finding Apartment Furniture: New vs. Used

When finding apartment furniture for your place, you have the option of looking for both new and used items. Knowing the pros and cons of both new and used furniture will help make furnishing your apartment a seamless process.

The Ins and Outs of New Furniture

New furniture is great because it’s easy to find exactly what you want. If you’re looking for a new desk, for example, you need only visit the websites or aisles of Target, Ikea, or Pottery Barn (to name a few) before you find the general style-and price-you’re looking for. Need a chair to go with that desk? Purchasing new furniture also takes the guess work out of creating a coordinated room, as you can easily find matching pieces all in the same store. Even more, depending on where and what you buy, stores often have the option of delivery, making your life easier.

Perhaps the biggest draw to new furniture is just that-it’s new. You’re less likely to end up with flawed pieces. Unless the item you purchase was a sample in the showroom or store, you can expect to take home something unscathed. Unfortunately, in many cases you’ll spend more money purchasing new furniture than you would purchasing used. Cost is often the biggest drawback to buying new furniture. Another drawback is assembly, as many chain stores sell furniture that comes as pieces in a box rather than pre-assembled.

The Ins and Outs of Used Furniture

Shopping for used furniture can be fun. One option is to check garage sales and consignment stores. Nowadays, though, the most common way to find used furniture is through Craigslist. Depending on the city in which you reside, there are literally hundreds of furniture items posted for sale daily on the site. Many times sellers price items to make a quick sale, meaning your money will stretch farther. You can also try to bargain with the seller to get a better price, something you can’t do in a retail store. As a general rule, unless you’re buying an antique, used furniture will cost you less. Another benefit? Used furniture comes already assembled.

The search process is one of the biggest draw backs to purchasing used furniture. For instance, if you have an eye for interior design, it may take you months before you find all the right pieces for your room when you have to constantly visit garage sales or scour Craigslist. Also, you have to act fast if you see something you like. Used furniture, especially when priced correctly, tends to sell quickly. You don’t have the luxury of a stock room. Though there are exceptions, you’ll also likely have to pick up the furniture from the seller, which can be a hassle if you’re buying pieces all over town.

Is New or Used Best for You?

Take into consideration your overall objective before you begin furniture shopping. Are you looking to furnish your place inexpensively? Quickly? Is your ideal apartment one that’s furnished so everything matches or coordinates? Do you like the idea of everything being new? Once you know the general idea of what you want, you can begin searching for your furniture-new, used or both!

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Rachael Weiner: I’m a communications professional for a non-profit, which financially necessitates my status as an apartment dweller. Constantly “on-the-go,” I’ve resided in five different apartments across the United States over the past five years. Roommate issues, budgeting, organizing and handling problem neighbors are my specialty