12 Best Used and Thrift Furniture Stores to Shop Online
By Wendi Banks 2 years ago
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Twelve million tons. That’s precisely how much furniture — sofas, tables, chairs, mattresses and the like — Americans toss away every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To combat this exorbitant level of waste, more and more online furniture thrift stores are popping up, allowing people to make an environmental impact by buying and selling their secondhand pieces.
But that’s not all. The top used furniture stores online, including AptDeco and Chairish, have become go-to spots for design lovers (including professionals!) hunting for one-of-a-kind finds to add character to an interior. Upgrading a living room sofa, discovering a vintage mirror to complete a mantel setup or snagging the perfect rug to ground a space are all valid reasons to shop online second-hand furniture stores. Not to mention you’re able to save money in the process!
Here, we describe the top online second-hand furniture stores, along with some tips to keep in mind when exploring each site. This guide will come in handy whether you’re interested in buying or selling a pre-loved item.
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Kaiyo prides itself on good customer service. The brand claims they evaluate and clean each piece before it arrives at the buyer’s door. Plus, shoppers can enjoy white-glove delivery service as well as assembly. Take your pick of sofas, beds, seating, storage units, tables and decorative pieces from retailers like Crate & Barrel, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Restoration Hardware and more.
Chairish is a design lover’s virtual playground. Every day, its team of curators adds more than 2,000 antique and contemporary items to the platform. You can also sell any unwanted home furnishings and decor on the site; commission rates are based on your chosen seller plan.
Valuing the environmental impact of buying and selling used furniture is AptDeco’s main mission. Shop a wide array of pre-owned home furnishings by room type, design style or brand, like Anthropologie, West Elm and Pottery Barn.
Need another reason to visit the site? Good Housekeeping‘s very own editorial styling director, Elisabeth Engelhart, is a fan. “GH collaborated with AptDeco for a furniture makeover feature a few years ago and the whole team was fantastic to work with. But I also purchased a large console cabinet for my dining room. The process was seamless, and it was easy to track delivery status. They arrived right on time in a branded van and had the piece, which was large and bulky, in the house and unwrapped so quickly. I think the whole process took 15 minutes!”
Our associate lifestyle editor Alyssa Gautieri looks no further than Facebook Marketplace whenever she’s in need of gently used furniture and decor. “I’ve scored great pieces, from a rolling bar cart that sits in my entryway to a huge black plant stand that otherwise would have cost way more (I got it for $20, plant included). I’ve found so many great items that were in nearly perfect condition — with the seller usually citing that the piece didn’t fit in or match their space.”
It works pretty much like everything else on the social site. Once the seller posts a photo and description of the piece they are selling, all you have to do is send them a message to let them know you’re interested or asking them more questions about that particular item.
Buyers and sellers should arm themselves with information on how to shop and sell safely and avoid scams.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a unique decor find (the vintage plant stand shown here is just one option) or are eager to sell an antique bedside table, 1stDibs has you covered. Their experts are responsible for vetting sellers around the world, offering an eclectic mix of products. There’s also a price-match guarantee, so if you happen to find a piece at a lower cost elsewhere, 1stDibs will sell it to you at that rate. What’s more, if you buy an item and change your mind within 24 hours, you can cancel your purchase — no questions asked.
While One Kings Lane has a wide range of new furniture and decor across design styles, it also features vintage pieces, including these teak tall back chairs. You’ll have to splurge on most items, though. Out of 698 vintage products in its furniture section, 596 are more than $1,000. They do offer a Protection Plan for your items for up to five years.
It’s no secret that Etsy carries so many unique creations, many of which show off some of the top design trends. However, the online retailer also has a fair share of vintage furniture. We’ll admit that searching for a gem that meets your standards and decorating style might become overwhelming, but it’s worth the effort.If you’re looking to sell on Etsy, it’s pretty easy. Once you make an account, you can start uploading vintage, handmade items or art and crafts supplies. However, there is a 20 cent charge for every listing, and a 6.5{7e5ff73c23cd1cd7ac587f9048f78b3ced175b09520fe5fee10055eb3132dce7} transaction fee every time you sell something.
It doesn’t get any better than Sotheby’s Home when it comes to scoring high-end secondhand furniture and art. Since 1744, the revered auction house — with offices in 40 countries — has made it possible to find rare pieces to add to your home. Sotheby’s hosts more than 600 auctions every year, and if you happen to have a valuable piece on your hands, you can connect with one of their market specialists to see if it’s worth selling.
Rejuvenation has made its mark selling timeless lighting, hardware and furniture, but some people may not know that the brand has a solid vintage business as well (the company actually launched as an architectural salvage operation in 1977). Today, you can find vintage furniture — including outdoor pieces — as well as lighting, rugs and wall art. And to streamline the online shopping process, you can browse by design styles like traditional, industrial and mid-century modern.
Craigslist isn’t just for finding a local handyman in a pinch. Believe it or not, there are pages upon pages of used furniture deals to peruse if you have the patience to uncover a gem. Simply enter your zip code to be served up items in your area that are available for purchase. Feel free to negotiate with the seller, too.
If you’re looking to sell something, create your Craigslist account, then select your location. You can post an ad for your items by clicking on “post to classifieds.” You’ll select furniture (or another category), type in the information, add photos and wait for the pieces to sell. After, you can arrange for pickup or delivery.
Both sellers and buyers should read the site’s information about safety and avoiding scams.
Visit eBay to take your pick of used and vintage furniture and accessories for sale by people ranging from avid collectors to the average homeowner. Like many other used furniture sites, you can enjoy significant savings on unique pieces, however it differs because many listings require you to bid on a piece, but you can also “buy now” if you’re really keen on something.
When it comes to selling, it’s pretty straightforward. The site does charge fees that you’ll want to review before committing. Everyone should also read up on how to stay safe when buying and selling online through eBay’s Security Center.
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Director, Dan DiClerico, is a big fan of Renovation Angel. “The organization rescues entire kitchens that are gently used and sells them for charitable causes,” DiClerico says. You can shop furniture, ranging from mudroom benches to breakfast nooks, in addition to appliances and cabinets.
To sell, you need to fill out a form letting the site know about your project. It accepts inventory from showroom displays, and they will handle all the heavy lifting. You can also decide to donate if you want.
What is the main advantage of buying used furniture?
Every year, Americans discard more than 12 million tons of furniture and unfortunately, many pieces end up in landfills. Since certain types of furniture are unable to be recycled, purchasing secondhand pieces is a small yet significant way to do your part to help protect our environment.
Beyond the environmental benefits, you’re likely to save money and, at times, find a more durable option than certain mass-market options available on the market today.
What’s more, if you’re a design fanatic, you’ll love being able to share the history behind the one-of-a-kind piece you discovered on a used furniture site. It instantly adds more meaning to your home. You can’t put a price on that!
What type of used furniture should shoppers avoid?
Used furniture can certainly add character to a space, but proceed with caution when choosing items for your home. DiClerico urges shoppers to stay away from purchasing furniture for a nursery as well as upholstered pieces.
“Used furniture for a nursery or anywhere small children will be present might not adhere to new federal safety standards, including those designed to prevent tip-overs of dressers, armoires and other tall pieces,” DiClerico says.
As for upholstered furniture? “It could harbor bed bugs!” DiClerico says. “If you absolutely must have it, do a thorough inspection (as good as you can online) before you buy; tell-tale signs include tiny black spots and rusty, reddish stains.”
How can I shop used furniture safely?
Savvy online shoppers know how valuable reviews can be, especially when it comes to furniture. If you’re interested in a particular piece of used furniture from an online seller, review their listing carefully and check out their track record. Have past customers experienced any issues with their purchases? Are the listing photos deceiving in any way? Have important details about the item been left out of their listing? Paying attention to red flags like these can help you make an informed buying decision.
How can you get used furniture delivered?
If you’re purchasing an item locally, it’s typically easy to coordinate a delivery time with the seller (feel free to negotiate the rate, by the way) or arrange to pick the item up yourself. Some sites, like Kaiyo, even offer white-glove delivery service.
How do you sell used furniture online?
The key is uploading excellent photos taken with the best camera available to you. Make sure that the lighting conditions in your space are good and that your furniture is as clean as possible. Stick with a simple backdrop or vignette that keeps the focus on your furniture’s special features and angles.
When describing your item in the listing, provide as much detail as you can for potential buyers. Anything you can share about its origin and style can help set your product apart from the rest.
Senior Home Editor
Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital.
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