You don't need a thick wallet to create a comfortable, stylish home.
A small budget just means you'll have to get creative. Scour flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores. Learn to recognize quality. Don't be afraid of a little repair and restyling, but be aware that some bargains are just too costly and complicated to restore.
Load It
- Sturdy, intact pieces with solid joints, corner blocks, dovetailed drawers, wood drawer glides, smooth door and drawer action, and solid back panels.
- Slightly wobbly tables or chairs of simple construction that just need to be re-glued.
- Ugly or missing hardware, unless the hardware is unusual and integral to the design.
- Broken glass door panels or small tabletops.
- Cosmetic problems like scratches, dings, gouges, peeling paint or varnish, or finishes you just don't like.
Leave It
- Flimsy, rickety, or stapled pieces with drawers and doors that don't open and close properly, lightweight metal drawer glides, or cardboard back panels.
- Missing doors, drawers, legs, stretchers, rungs or molding.
- Broken or missing hardware when it's the hardware that makes the piece special, like carved wood, Bakelite, Lucite, or Art Nouveau metalwork.
- Broken or missing glass tabletops on medium to large tables. Beveled glass thick enough for safety can cost hundreds of dollars.
- Peeling or missing veneer and inlay. Chipped veneer or inlay, unless you plan to paint rather than refinish.
Lighting Bargains
Rug and Carpet Bargains
Artwork Bargains
