Making Second-Hand Furniture Work in Your Apartment

Decorating and furnishing your apartment with second-hand or throw-away items…it doesn’t sound so promising, does it? However, once you’ve tried it, you’ll see it’s a great and thrifty idea, especially when you’re first starting out, or if you’re short on cash.

You may especially be strapped if you’ve just moved. Moving can take its financial toll. You’ve got to pay movers, a security deposit, and maybe even a realtor. If you don’t have a lot of “stuff”, this is a great opportunity to get to know what you like…to start from the ground up, so to speak. “What calls to me?” you might ask. “Am I into sharp and high-tech or simple and functional?”

Either style can be achieved when you’re mixing and matching with second-hand pieces.

Ready to explore the world of second-hand decorating?

Nothing beats discovering a gently used piece of furniture that is exactly what you’ve been looking for, or at least a close second – and which will fit the bill function-wise, looks-wise and economy-wise. Who needs brand new when you can make do with a second-hand find, pocket the savings and use the money to pay the rent..or go on a weekend getaway?

If the item is being recycled or if a friend or family member is donating it, the savings – since it costs you zilch—can be tremendous.

Once you’ve decided to furnish your new abode with recycled furnishings which have twice the charm, here are a few tips you might find useful:1

1. Check out thrift shops, church bazaars, garage sales and thrift shops and see if you can spot what’s known in design circles as shabby chic – these are usually floral designs with chipped paint and muted pastel colors or grey and beige. Old-fashioned lace is also big. Too, keep any eye out for classic furniture – standard, stark, antique, vintage furniture made of wrought iron and wood.

2. Get out that paint brush. Nothing says “you” like a new hue. Feeling like adding some magenta, chartreuse or neon-lime into your life? Touch up your chairs, cabinets, tables, mirrors and bookcases. You might even go for a brand new wall color – baby blue or mourning dove grey, for instance – if it’s all right with your landlord or landlady. Reassure him or her that you will return the wall color to its standard white before you leave – and then keep your word.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of light – A pink light bulb will add an attractive and serene glow to a corner. Or, opt for those three-way light bulbs – the ones with a low-to-high range. Use the low-wattage when you want to cast a soft light on the area and the higher watt when you need to turn the corner into a work or reading table. Place a vintage shawl or second-hand print up on a wall by this light, to add interest and definition.

4. Baskets – all sizes – are often available at second-hand stores…or you might see a few roomy ones that a neighbor tossed out. Take ‘em home, wash them with gentle soap and water, dry with a rag or paper towel and use them in the bathroom to store toiletries, tissue boxes, towels (rolled up) and toilet paper. In the bedroom, the prettiest ones can be a receptacle for your books and knick knacks. Out in the hallway, use them to collect shoes – a marvelous substitute for leaving your shoes on the floor when you come in.

5. Make your drapes your own – Buy a bolt of fabric that calls to you. How about a thick crushable suede or velvet? It doesn’t take much DIY’ing to attach a few circle rings to the top of the fabric. Then, just slip the cloth on a rod that’s already installed or buy a tension pole (sometimes used for shower curtains).

6. If you’re going for a sofa, love seat or bed, the most important thing you need to do to “make it yours” is to scrub it down to get rid of any offensive smells. Use a wet sponge dipped in white vinegar and coconut- Castile soap (Kirk’s is a good all-natural brand). The vinegar removes odors and disinfects and the non-abrasive soap removes any residue of grime from the surface. Rinse the sponge a few times and use plain water the last few times you pass the sponge over the piece of furniture.

7. Your kitchen can benefit from a second-hand makeover, as well. Invest in pretty storage bins or baskets, a few small vases made of an unshatterable material and – if you’ve got the room – one or two slim lamps for your counter. After you’ve got rid of any clutter, these will add aesthetics, personality and functionality.

Remember, think positively!