It may not be clearly defined, but every piece of furniture has its expiration date. Over time, furniture changes color, starts to wobble, or becomes dented, scratched, or burned due to wear and tear. Sometimes, we decide to get rid of it while it’s still good because it doesn’t go with the décor or we don’t use it anymore. We want you to know that there are better things you can do with your old and used furniture than kicking it to the curb for the garbage truck to pick up. Whether you’re moving, renovating, or you just want to de-clutter, we have some ideas for you.
What you should do with unwanted furniture depends on how many items you have, what condition they are in, and how quickly you want them gone. Before you start, take inventory of your old and used furniture and consider every option.
Selling Your Old and Used Furniture
Having a Garage Sale
A garage sale might be your best bet, especially if you want to sell multiple items. This is a great way to make money and maybe even get to know your neighbors. Pick a Saturday when the weather is nice and move the furniture you want to sell outside. You can add other used items you don’t need anymore, like lamps or books. Be open for negotiating the price and do not expect to get a full refund for every item. After all, the main goal is to get rid of things you don’t want sitting in your home, money is really just a bonus.
Selling Online
This is probably the fastest way to sell old and used furniture. Take pictures of the items you want to sell from different angles making sure the lighting is good, create your post, and set up a price. You should get the first offers within half an hour or so. In case you’re not getting any offers, consider lowering the price. If the buyer can’t pick up the item they have purchased, you can drop it off yourself or hire Golans Moving and Storage and have professionals do it.
Giving Away Your Old and Used Furniture
Donating
Feel bad about getting rid of a decent furniture item? Why not give it to someone who really needs it? Some institutions will be able to pick it up so you don’t even have to drop it off. Some of the largest charitable organizations that take used furniture include Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America, Donation Town, and The National Furniture Bank Association.
Let Your Friends Have It
Remember a friend telling you how much they love your chairs or how comfortable your sofa is? This is an opportunity to make that person happy by letting them have it (and to check whether they really like it or they said that out of politeness – which is also fine, we don’t judge). Offer to help your friend carry it to their car or be a really good friend and drop it off yourself. For heavier items, it is best to call professional movers and have bulky furniture pieces moved hassle-free.
Recycling
In case your old furniture is in such bad condition that no one would take it, the only thing left to do is to dump it. This is the quickest and easiest way to get rid of unwanted items. However, that doesn’t mean you should just leave everything at the curb. In fact, in some regions you cannot dump furniture at the curb at all. There are proper ways to dispose of unwanted furniture that are good for the environment.
Furniture is made of recyclable materials such as wood or metal. You can recycle furniture just like you recycle cans or bottles. Just take your unwanted furniture to the nearest large recycling bin or community recycling facility or have it picked up.
Many cities offer furniture disposal options. Although most regular waste management trucks can’t pick up furniture, there are often special trash removal services. Have in mind that some trash removal services charge extra to collect old furniture with your regular trash. Some of them only do bulk pickups on certain days, sometimes once a month or a few times a year. Also, the number of items they can take may be limited. There may be some special requests, too. For instance, some services won’t accept upholstered furniture unless it is sealed in plastic. So, before you do anything, google to see what you can do with your old and used furniture in your region.
Other Things You Can Do with Your Old and Used Furniture
So, your furniture doesn’t look good anymore but you’re still attached to it and you’re not ready to say goodbye? Maybe you simply can’t afford new pieces? These are both valid reasons to keep your used furniture. What you can do is give it a fresh new look and a second life. If your antique furniture is still functional, there are many ways to make it look new again and makeover your house.
If you still love your old sofa but it has become an eyesore, you can reupholster it. Sometimes wooden furniture only needs a fresh coat of paint to be good as new. Old drawers and tables can be turned into bookshelves. Your options are endless.
Those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do it themselves can embark on a DIY project. If you have enough time on your hands and want to learn a new skill, watch DIY tutorials online, read some books or take a class to learn about things you can do with your old and used furniture you want to keep. It can be fun! If you prefer having a professional do it, it will cost you more. However, this is a safer choice for pieces that are really important to you.
