Contrary to what you might think, I’m actually not comfortable buying a lot of second hand things. I don’t have a reason, except that it all feels kind of dirty to me, whether it is or not. My sister brought home some vintage looking glasses and it was a couple months of dishwasher washes before I’d drink out of them. I’m just kind of weird about it. A huge exception to that is furniture, wood furniture in particular. In fact, now that I think about it, most of my furniture is used – the only exceptions being our bed, couch (we have a used one too as you can see), and kitchen table.

If you haven’t caught on to the trend of buying second hand furniture, either on your own or from someone who restores it, you’re missing out on some awesome deals. Here are my top reasons why you should buy used furniture.

Today’s furniture is mass produced and more cheaply made.

Granted, most of the older furniture was mass produced as well unless you find some really old hand-made furniture, but it was just more sturdy. It’s rare to find dove-tailed drawers anymore, but that’s the first thing I check for when buying used furniture. Even if an old piece is in bad shape, it’s generally made more structurally sound and can be fixed much easier than the less sound furniture you’ll buy new from the store.

Old furniture is more affordable.

When you go to a shabby chic shop or a place that sells painted furniture, you may suffer a bit of sticker shock. But this is furniture that is generally 100% wood in original styles and was hand painted. Compared to the popular particle board you’ll find in retail stores (which is unbelievably expensive for something that only lasts a couple years), you’re getting your money’s worth from the used furniture. Plus have you checked out the replicas of old furniture that are available and aren’t made of real wood? They’re generally far more expensive than older, restored furniture.

Furniture made of solid wood lasts longer. 

Old, solid wood furniture lasts longer because you can keep restyling it to fit your needs and it holds up to the test of time. My husband came with a set of sturdy, mid-century dressers (before it was cool) and I’ve already repainted them twice! Don’t feel like you’re qualified to paint your old furniture? It’s much easier than you’d think. Get the furniture painting guide + supply for free here. But if you’re not up to it, chances are high that you have a friend, family member or neighbor who has made a hobby/business out of painting furniture who would be delighted to help you out!

You’re most likely supporting your local community. 

Where did you buy your used piece of furniture? Did you pick it up at a garage sale or estate sale? That money is going to a family in your local community. Did you buy it from a shabby chic shop? Most of those vendors are locals. Did you stop by a thrift store and find a great deal? A lot of thrift stores donate a certain percentage of their sales to a local charity. If you’re all for supporting small businesses and your community, buying used furniture is right up your alley!

Believe it or not, there’s actually some trade secrets to finding good quality used furniture, so I created a guide to help you out. Download it now to learn everything you need to know about buying used furniture.

I’ve been building my home decor around pretty neutral colors lately, so there’s not a lot of changing out I need to do for new seasons, however doing nothing doesn’t feel right either. We all know we have to make soup, buy fall-scented candles and add soft, warm blankets as the weather gets cooler, but this fall I’m looking to invest in a few different things to make my home feel well rounded and cozy.

Plants + Baskets are first on my list.

Specifically, plants in baskets. I’m working on increasing the number of plants in my home, because they add natural color and texture and “give a room life” as the experts say. I love simple white planters in different designs, but they are hard to come by at an affordable price. I’m still searching clearance sections (regularly checking out Homegoods stores is key here!) but baskets are in style all year round, unlike planters that are mostly available in the summer months. My recent pinterest pins are reflecting this newfound obsession. Just see this pin and this pin and this pin if you aren’t quite sure about the plants in baskets idea. You can pretty much use any basket you want and find a plant that goes well with it. So fun!

I’m pairing dark furniture with white details.

Plenty of white helps keep everything feeling breezy, which is still a feeling I want around my home in the fall and winter. It just makes me feel more peaceful. I recently painted the walls in my kitchen white and I love it! I can’t ever decide on a pop of color, so I’m going with a pop of non color instead. So I’m on the lookout for white planters and quirky white decorations like these pig bookends. If you’re going to be stuck inside all winter, you better be stuck with some stuff (and people) that makes you smile!

I’m looking for practical ways to make my couch the center of my home.

Ok, call me lazy, but I love me a good Netflix binge. When high school football is over, I’ll be spending the cooler weekend nights cuddled up on the couch. And I love our couch! We specifically picked out a sectional that was perfect for naps and lazing around (and I’m loving these sectional sofas from Arhaus right now – they are so perfect!) – although I haven’t got to enjoy near as many naps on it since Graham was born. So this fall I’m adding a rug, a side table to keep a warm drink handy (we haven’t had a table since we got rid of the coffee table when Graham started pulling up), and plants to liven up the space. And of course there will be plenty of pillows and blankets handy in case the opportunity for a midday nap presents itself! For those of us that aren’t drinking the pumpkin spice kool-aid, textures and layers are the key to bringing the same warmth to our homes.

I was doing some online window shopping and found some stuff I love from Arhaus – doesn’t that furniture just look so cozy? I could definitely spend the colder months here!

Deciding on a decorating style is the single hardest part of turning your house into a home. You like it all or you hate it all. Or you like opposite styles and don’t know how to bring them together. And who has the budget for all of this stuff anyway? But maybe your DIY skills look a little too DIY and that’s not the look you’re going for either.

For all of these problems, my solution is to give it more time.

Decide which types of projects you can DIY, and which ones you shouldn’t.

Remember when Pinterest got popular just a few years ago? I was like YES!!! I CAN DIY ALL THE THINGS! And I did, and then all the things looked pretty DIYed. Weird, I know. I’ve learned which kinds of DIY projects I like and can pull off, and which ones to avoid. Sleek painted furniture works for me. (Get my furniture painting guide here!) Homemade poorly painted canvas wall decor does not. You can check out this early blog post for proof. And at the time I was super proud of that project…we all make mistakes. It took time to realize how bad that was, ha!

Take the time to find the right pieces to help express your personal style.

As far as incorporating all the random styles you like, it’s possible! I read somewhere that you need have at least 3 items of each style you introduce so it doesn’t look out of place. So say you like farmhouse with a little bit of a beach vibe – if you just put a huge random seashell as your centerpiece on a table surrounded by a farmhouse stuff, that might be a little weird. But if you sprinkle beachy decor throughout your home, in at least 3 different ways, then the styles will come together. But once again, take your time. Make sure they’re the right pieces. Visit a good mix of local shops, chains and discount stores (like HomeGoods) and even thrift stores to find the stuff that really feels like you!

Budget for the higher priced pieces you really want, and keep your eye out for something better.

For those of you on a budget like me, time is your best best friend. No one is going to die because your front room is completely bare while you take more time to decide what you want and save up money for the right pieces <— speaking from experience here, as my front room only has one piece of furniture in it. Wide open spaces for the win! You can use a site like shopstyle.com and save the pieces you have your eye on and get notified when they’re one sale. And by taking a little time to think things over and shop around, you might find something you like better for a better price.

My dining room chairs are the perfect example of this. I was searching EVERYWHERE for some fun original chairs, and almost broke down and spent 100s of dollars on the same chairs everyone else has – because you can only go so long without any chairs. At the last minute, I found these for sale at a local vintage shop for $100 for the set and I knew right away that these were just what I had been looking for!

Refine your style – add new things you love and get rid of things that don’t work anymore.

The best part of taking your time is really getting to refine your style over and over. If I had been able to decorate my home the week we moved in, I would HATE it by now. The things I thought I liked at first would be so boring to me now. I wouldn’t have found those chairs for my kitchen! After 2 years of living in our home, I LOVE how some of my stuff is finally coming along. Our master bedroom has a nice modern, mid century vibe that gives me all the feels and I’m so excited about my plans for the kitchen!  It pays off to slowly bring in things you love and move out things you don’t love anymore. You end up with a revolving decor style, which is what we all have anyways thanks to fantastic marketing that keeps us looking for the next best thing. Most interior designers agree that a room is never truly “done” so take your time and enjoy the process!

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