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Thrift Style Living Guide: Why Cheaper Furniture Doesn't Have to be Cheap

9/2/2013

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Because I'm a licensed auctioneer and estate sale fanatic, I’ve developed an appreciation for fine furniture. I love the craftsmanship and quality of antique and mid-century pieces. But so often I see cheap, trendy, mass-produced furnishings that are poorly constructed and made with inferior materials.

Trendy, discount furniture with sleek lines, shiny surfaces, bold colors and plush cushions often looks good in the store . And if you’re on a tight budget, it’s tempting to buy cheaply made furniture in order to save a few bucks. But furniture like this isn’t a good investment of your hard earned dollars because it doesn’t usually hold up well over time. Before you know it, you have to replace them with something new.

You can distinguish quality furniture from inferior pieces in several ways. For example, if you want to buy a coffee table, look on the table’s underside. Cheaply made furniture is often held together with screws, glue or staples. Quality furniture, on the other hand, generally has cut joints that lock in place.

Other tale-tell signs of shoddy furniture include the presence of particle board instead of real wood or the use of fake leather instead of genuine leather.

So if you are buying furniture, here’s what you’ll want to consider:

1.      Does the furniture display fine craftsmanship?

2.      Is it made of quality materials like solid wood?

3.      Examine the design of the furniture. Will it stand the test of time or is it just a fad?

4.      Is it likely to increase in value over time?

5.      If you had a yard sale several years from now, would it be in good enough condition to sell?

Frankly, buying cheaply made furniture doesn’t make good, economic sense. Why buy a piece of furniture that will be worn out in just five or 10 years?


Now, you may be thinking that you can’t afford to buy quality furniture on a tight budget, but that’s not true. That’s because you can purchase fine furnishings at affordable prices at places like estate tag sales.

In the coming days, I’m going to share with you my secrets for shopping estate tag sales so you can find furniture pieces that are built to last.

In the meantime, I hope you guys have a Happy Labor Day!

LaCheryl

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    About LaCheryl

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    I love saving money, and that's why I have a passion for estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales.  Click here to learn more.




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Disclaimer:This website is meant to inform however, seller and buyer should always beware. Nothing takes the place of common sense.