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An antique oak hutch, a grand piano, a rich cherry wood dining table, an elegant brass bed -- think of how your eyes are drawn to such star pieces when you enter a room. Now add a cozy farmhouse table, an inviting armchair, a handy nightstand for your books, and a whatnot to display your Hummels, and you have your supporting players. With furniture, as with appliances, you should buy the best you can. You'll enjoy your handsome, good-quality furniture for years to come.Department stores and furniture stores. Both of these stores have a wide selection of furniture, from low-end pieces made with particleboard and veneer to high-end solid wood pieces. Both venues are worth checking out, especially when they are advertising sales.
Price clubs. These outlets usually have some furniture year-round, though the selection tends to reflect seasonal needs. The quality is generally high and the prices are often excellent: for instance, an oak double bookcase (48 inches wide by 84 inches high) for $199.99. You can find an even wider selection on their websites. On the Costco website, we spotted a mission-style Morris chair in solid oak with black Italian leather seat cushions and matching ottoman for $549.99, plus $121 for shipping!
Discount superstores. You won't find fine furniture at these stores, but they do offer a variety of everyday furnishings that make excellent fillers or supporting pieces. Dining-room chairs, computer desks, stools, side tables, and so on can be had for very reasonable prices.
Consignment Store Bargains
Selling both new furniture (sometimes floor models) and used, consignments stores can yield some excellent buys. A recent ad offered a used carved teak rolltop desk for $698 that would sell for $1,600 new! Or a new Bassett solid maple china hutch/buffet for $348, marked down from $700. Consignment stores are well worth investigating.
Thrift Store Bonanzas
Furniture is a category in which thrift stores shine. We know a couple who purchased a complete bedroom set -- full bed with headboard and footboard, two nightstands, a dresser with mirror, and a bureau, in beautifully finished solid cherry -- for less than $500! As you canvass thrift stores, you'll find that some stores carry more furniture than others and that some seem to acquire better pieces. If you are looking for a specific piece or style, tell the salespeople what you want; they may be willing to call you if it comes in.
Great Garage Sale Finds Scouring garage (tag or yard) sales can also pay off handsomely. Look for ads or signs indicating that the sale will include furniture and go as early as possible. Make sure to check out garage sales in more affluent neighborhoods. Though you may pay a tad more, you also may find higher quality furniture. Tables, dining chairs, consoles, sofas, and end tables are among the pieces often sold at garage sales.
Flea Market Facts
Although flea markets are a wonderful source of furniture, old and new, you have to work them like an expert to get the best merchandise at the best price.
- Go early. Take your cue from crafty antiques hunters and arrive as the vendors are setting up their booths.
- Shun costly repairs. Worn wicker may be selling for a song, but wicker costs an arm and a leg to reweave, so it's best to pass it by. Mildewed upholstery is almost impossible to freshen, so just leave it alone.
- Chat up the vendors. Vendors are often collectors and tend to know who is selling what. They also frequently own shops or have some pieces at home that they might be willing to bring the next weekend.
- Comparison shop. A number of the vendors may have similar pieces. Check each piece carefully and bargain. Vendors will often come down 10 percent if you ask.
- Stay late. Vendors don't want to have to repack wares, so they may be willing to lower their prices significantly toward the end of the day to make a sale. You can often score some excellent bargains this way.
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