Furniture Recycling - How to Evaluate and Buy Quality Used Furniture
Written by faith | 2Recently I spoke to three 30 year olds about purchasing furniture. One shared that he went to a consignment shop with success for many items. My daughter needs lots of items from upholstery to wood pieces and wants to be responsibly green so she searches online for used furniture near her home. After my post on Heath Ceramics, Alek commented and I investigated her blog. She shared her favorite furniture that she moved from Paris to Seattle. Her proximity to great flea markets in Paris places her in an enviable position.
So where am I going with this post? I want to provide some considerations about purchasing new or used furniture and I hope to receive some comments from readers.
On a personal level as an interior designer, I advocate for furnishings made in the United States and share information with clients about where products originate. The closer the manufacturing source to Seattle, the better to reduce environmental impact.
The percentage of furniture produced and imported into the United States is much greater than most people realize. Confusing this issue is furniture that is ‘finished’ in the United States vs. manufactured.
To save dollars and reduce environmental impact I encourage a search of auction houses or consignment stores. This is a smart idea for wood furniture and wood framed chairs since you can touch, see and sit.
Used Upholstery Issues
About the evaluation part, upholstery is tricky. The expensive parts of re-upholstery are the labor and fabric, especially on pieces like sectionals and sofas which use 10 to 20 yards of fabric or more. Here are some questions to ask:
- Is the original a quality product?
- Are there cracks in the frame; are the cushions ‘dead’?
- How are the springs, or webbing?
- What will replacement fabric and labor cost?
If the outcome of this evaluation results in a nay, there are alternative options. Contact an interior designer for critical advice about style, suitable fabric, size, and overall construction considerations and order. Or purchase from a local manufacturer. Use a recommended, professional upholsterer to build the frame and upholster a sofa, sectional or chair. There is no long distance shipment. You can also observe the progress and develop a relationship with the upholsterer.
Please share your comments and suggestions.