Many homeowners are veering away from fast furniture and are turning instead to choices that are sustainable and true. Even in an era where furniture are low-cost, many homeowners would still prefer buying vintage to remain financially practical while still having the pieces they want.
Ready-made furniture in mainstream stores just do not fit the vision most homeowners want for their living spaces. Artisanal works are the rave these days, and pre-loved items suffice for those looking for affordable options.
The culture of vintage simply goes with folks who want to live more authentically. Our homes are spaces to express individuality, and maybe it is high-time to refrain from buying cookie-cutter interior pieces, instead opting for economic yet grounded choices.
Where to Get Vintage Pieces
The best place to find these pieces is your nearest antique store. Usually, you can also expect neighbors hold yard-sales from wanting to declutter, so you can discover steals there. This makes the process of finding vintage interesting, as you can get to know the people in your community and their stories through their furniture.
You also do not need to go outside your homes since social media has made selling second-hand items easier. You can easily spot postings of second-hand furniture and various anik-aniks in social media sites, as well as other e-commerce platforms.
You also want to use the keyterm ‘antique’ when searching for items. Many sellers use the term, even though technically, it should only apply to items that are over a hundred years old.
Time for Display
Once you have acquired your vintage furniture, you need to inspect its quality. Most of the time, pre-loved items are still in good condition and are ready to be displayed.
Good Enough As Bought
Sometimes, you just need to give your new (new for your home, at least) furniture piece a good cleaning.
Reupholster it if necessary, and replace worn parts. Just be prepared that vintage items have parts not easily replaceable, so explore alternatives.
On the other hand, you might encounter furniture that have been painted or affixed with veneers that may not work for the look you are going for.
Elevating Wooden Furniture
Furniture made of wood, especially coffee tables, desks, cabinets, and apothecary drawers, are frequently sought after items in the second-hand furniture market. To maximize the vintage feel of your wooden items, elevating these pieces often revolve around bringing out their natural wood grain.
When you do this, you first want to know how old the furniture piece is. It is very possible that painted furniture might have used paint that still have lead content, which can be very dangerous when you sand it. Look for lead testing kits and check for potential lead presence.
If it tests negative or if the woodwork is not that old, you can begin your project. You would want to first remove handles, knobs, and locks. Assess the hardware these are worth keeping, or if you want to update your furniture with fixtures that match your style.
Proceed to sand and remove the old paint or varnish. It is recommended to use Boysen Paint and Varnish Remover if scraping or sanding won’t suffice. Follow it with dusting and wiping off dirt.
Afterwards, use Boysen Oil Wood Stain if you will use the vintage piece in interior spaces, and Boysen Xyladecor if it is meant to be displayed in exterior spaces.
For the former, don’t forget to apply your choice of Boysen Lacquer products as topcoat. For the latter, you can choose between Hudson Timbercoat or Boysen Acrytex Clear as topcoat.
Lastly, screw the old or updated handles, knob and locks.
To visualize what you can do with thrift and other second-hand items, you can check out this article on how to refurbish a wooden chair.
Creating Authentic Spaces
Incorporating new furniture can be a challenge, but doing so gives your home a fresh look.
Maximize the functionality of your vintage pieces. You might be able to reorganize your things using the cabinet or drawers. Just be intuitive with arrangements. You could also try changing your wall colors to bring attention to your new furniture.
Negative Space and Wall Color Bring Into Focus Your Treasured Pieces
Your home can benefit from a second-hand vintage piece, whether creating a statement as an art decor, or providing utility. They have beautified other people’s homes, and now they can beautify yours too.
For more design tips and product recommendations, subscribe to the blog. If you have questions about products mentioned in the articles, send us an email at ask@myboysen.com and our technical team will be happy to help.
