The thrill of the hunt quickly goes south when you realize the plaid Herculon sofa you snagged for $15.99 will set you back at least $500.00 to reupholster, not including the twenty some yards of fabric you have to buy. Impulsiveness is part of the buzz, but if you’re a thrift shopper who is seriously shopping for recyclable materials, you need a plan. You’ll save time as well as money if you know what you’re looking for, within general guildelines, and limit yourself to one frivolous purchase a week. Don’t get me wrong, I veer, and I veer bad, but I’m getting better. What you want to gather is a well edited supply of simple, basic materials to work with, kind of like a blank canvas with a little something unusual about them. Below is the list and photos I’ve compiled after many expensive years of unfocused fun. I am pleased to share.
1. Unique side chairs that are structurally sound. Always useful and easy to recover.
2. Low, plain coffee tables for a coffee table or an upholstered bench/ottoman.
Couldn’t pass on these charmers.
3. Right now I’m loving the $6.99 computer chairs for reupholstery.
4. Real leather skirts and coats, odd colors are the best for making all sorts of stuff.
Read It! Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design
Want to learn to reupholster anything? This book is for you.
5. Tea carts-cool and lots of potential.
6. Pair of simple, upholstered chairs. If there are two, buy both.
7. Retro or unusual lamps. You can plug them in to see if they work. Shades can be found later. Same rule as above-buy two, if available.
8. Ottomans or footstools with unsual legs or a unique base.
9. Solid, unusual sewing machine tables-great for an entry table and twice the treat if the sewing machine works. Take it out for a tabletop machine and use the table elsewhere.
10. Down filled pillows-I only buy the ones that seem barely used.
Here are a few extras I probably bought on red day.
At Goodwill, you’ll get half off during the designated “color” week. If you’re lamps are priced at 11.99 each, with a green price tag, and it’s green week-you win!
Salvation Army seems to run random sales, mostly on clothes, but if the furniture tag has a date six months old or longer, it’s half price. (These policies are somewhat subjective)
Garage Sales-always offer cash and less than the asking price.
To the person who mentioned how expensive it is to have a piece reupholstered: you can DIY, or do DIY slipcovers. Upholstery fabric is expensive, but used drapes at the thrift store are not–and I have found some great fabrics that way.
To the person who asked whether people fumigated things: I put fabric things, up to the size of comforters, in my freezer for a few weeks, and of course everything gets thoroughly cleaned. For furniture, I inspect carefully before buying, and again at home (smell everything), and I see it up close and personal when I clean it. I also have a quarantine area in the garage if it’s going to be a day or two before I clean it. Learn about diatomacous earth.
As a person who is a collector & restorer of vintage sewing machines, I beg you, please, don’t separate the machine fron the cabinet. The vintage sewing machine community is very active, so if you find one of these machines, please consider buying it then selling it on craigslist or ebay. They aren’t potential boat anchors and there are people who enjoy restoring them. Even the parts are valuable as these are the first machine to be brought into the home and are engineering marvels.
Re-wiring a lamp is simple and inexpensive!! Don’t pass a thrift store lamp up just for non working reasons. The hardware/big box stores sell kits.
Couldn’t agree more! We refinished a sewing table (same one you have up #9) and our client is now using it as a table in between two chairs in her kitchen. Such an amazing and unique piece! We even build a shelf inside so she can open it up for more surface area. Would love to share a photo of it with you if you’re interested? Thanks!