Thinking about a making a furniture purchase. Do you shop at an Ikea, or local big box furniture store? Or maybe order something from Wayfair or Overstock? Stop that thought process and think about buying upcycled furniture. Why? Here are 5 amazing reasons why you should buy flipped furniture, or flip it yourself!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Yup, this first reason is an obvious one. You have an older piece of furniture hanging around your house. It doesn’t match your decor, the finish is worn and could use an update. You can toss that to the curb and buy yourself something new, or you can turn that piece around and keep it for many years to come. Save older pieces of furniture from the landfill is better for the environment and reduces our carbon foot print. We all need to do our part.
Here’s an opportunity for you to get creative and paint or refinish that tired old piece into something you will love for years to come. And if you need some inspiration check out my article on that! There is a growing trend of local small businesses making a living refinishing and flipping furniture that if this isn’t a project you want to tackle you can have done for you. And that leads me to the next point…
support local small businesses
Whether you decide to take on the flip yourself or purchase a piece from a local flipper you will be supporting local businesses. There has been an emergence of people making a living off of flipping furniture. I think many of these artists are looking for creative ways to work from home, support the environment and use their talents to make a living. They are often stay-at-home moms, artists or creative people in your local community that deserve our support. Many will take commission pieces so if you have a heirloom or that eye-sore laying around that could use a refresh, consider a local flipper.
Even if you flip the piece yourself, you can support local businesses. You can purchase a quality vintage piece from a local thrift store that supports charities in your community. Places like The Restore, Savers or Amvets all sell used furniture at a discount and support local non-profits. Some quality paints are sold in local stores like Dixie Belle and Fusion Mineral Paints. Purchasing your paints or supplies from a local hardware store can help to support local small businesses in your community as well.
Stop the disposable furniture trend
Sorry IKEA lovers! It’s hard to decorate a house or apartment especially when you are just starting out, or you don’t have a lot of cash. I get it, but buying cheap furniture doesn’t make “cents!” (Forgive my pun) They don’t withstand the test of time, and you will be buying replacement furniture in a year or two. If you are living in an apartment and planning to move or buy a house, these pieces are easily damaged and are hard to repair. They will likely end up in the trash and you will be spending more money to buy a better quality piece of furniture.
Older pieces of furniture are often of great quality. Dove tail drawers, solid wood construction and are built to last. Even battered vintage furniture can be repaired and refinished breathing new life into an old treasure. So many good reasons to buy flipped furniture that will make you feel good about your choice.
Custom Look
We have all been there, hunting every store and website for the perfect piece of furniture to fit the space, color and style of your needs. You might find a piece that meets one or two of your criteria, but misses the mark on others. Maybe you found the perfect piece but its out of your price range at a designer store.
Making that piece yourself, or commissioning it, opens up so many more options! There are so many options for furniture paint in an array of colors, or if you can’t find a pre-mixed color there are DIY recipes to make chalk paint and milk paint from regular latex paint. I have also painted furniture with latex paint and loved the results.
Get creative!
For those who love to be creative, go for it! Do a project with your kids or just because you want to paint or make some art. We all need a little more creativity in our lives and making a custom piece from a family heirloom will be something to treasure on so many levels.
Being creative isn’t for everybody, but I will argue that a job well done can make anyone feel proud. Not every furniture flip requires painting or detailed work. Many solid wood pieces need a good cleaning and oil rub to buff out the beauty. Adding peel and stick wall paper to drawers or the backing on a book shelf can transform a piece with little artistic skills.
Or, for those non-creatives, you can work with your local furniture flipper to design the piece to your liking, matching exactly to your color or decor. Pinterest has so many great ideas and inspiration, you can easily show your designer wheat you want!
