The Do's and Don'ts of Taking Furniture Off the Street
There's one experience that trumps all others when it comes to decorating your place: finding an amazing piece of furniture sitting there innocently on the street, abandoned by a neighbor and therefore yours for the taking. The thing is, that pure elation can give way to pure fear in mere seconds. An example of what typically runs through our heads in moments like these: Oh my God, this table is just what I was looking for! And it's freaking free!!! It looks like it's in pretty good condition, too . . . Wait. Am I delusional? Is this just someone's gross trash? Will I get bedbugs?!?! We're here to stop this destructive thought spiral before it begins. Interior designer, Design on a Dime NYC participant, and avid Housing Works thrift store shopper Peti Lau tells us the do's—and dont's!—of taking stuff off the street.
What's worth taking
"Armchairs, dressers, mirrors, lamps, chandeliers, accessories, sculptures, and art are all fantastic to get secondhand," says Peti. Textiles aren't out of the question, either: "Sometimes I find fabulous rugs that I’ll get professionally cleaned. An amazing rug can be such a good find!" And don't pass over something just because it's a little too short. "I will add sabots [Editor's note: Sabots are pretty furniture feet] to add height and give it a nice finish," Peti explains.
What's not worth taking
To guarantee they will actually be comfy and durable, you might want to purchase essentials new, like your mattress or main living room sofa, says Peti. Ultimately, they are good investment pieces that will follow you from home to home.
Good signs to look out for
"The first thing I look at is the condition of the item and the shape. If it has great bones, and the upholstery or fabric is just outdated, I can easily send it to my upholsterer, who will reupholster it for me," says Peti.
Bad signs to look out for
Bugs are probably number one. Inspect the piece all over very closely—if you spot even one insect, it's a hard no. "Like many others, I’m cautious about bedbugs," says Peti. "So, I double- and triple-check all the nooks and crannies to make sure that there’s no sign of any buggies." Similarly, Peti won't take something with a broken or cracked frame. "Repairing the item ends up costing more than the piece itself!" she says. Minor stains and rips aren't total deal breakers, as long as you're totally head over heels for the piece—both can be fixed by a good upholsterer.
Brought it home? Next up . . .
Secondhand-furniture cleaning 101
For upholstered furniture or rugs, the secret is finding a professional dry cleaner who specializes in textiles. "Because you won’t know where the piece came from and may not be well versed in what the materials may be, it’s important to take it to someone whose knowledgable and will know the right technique to clean that particular fiber," says Peti. Don't just assume you've got it figured out. "Silk and rayon are two very different materials but may have the same ’hand,' meaning they will feel very similar. Silk is a a natural fiber and requires special handling and care. It's also very expensive because it’s a natural fiber, whereas rayon is a synthetic fiber and is less expensive."
Want to update the finish on a wood piece of furniture? Peti says it shouldn't be too tough to DIY. "If there are small patches that need to be refinished, that can be easily be done, as that coating can be lightly sanded down to smooth it out," she says. "Or if you want to change the entire piece to a different stain or finish, you can strip away the polyurethane or stain by sanding the entire item. It ‘lifts’ the finish to its natural state and then you can stain it with a wood stain, paint it a different color, or leave it as is for a shabby-chic look!"
