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| THE BENEFITS OF USED FURNITURE |
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When I find a piece of used furniturewhether it's an antique or just a few years oldthat has potential, I feel a tingle of joy. My mind races through my repertoire of ideas for creative ways to bring it back to life, enhance it, or improve it. Many people I know feel the same way. Hunting for the perfect piece and finding a way to turn an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan is satisfying and fun. It has become so popular that many flea markets are seeing their attendance numbers grow and grow. And people who host frequent yard sales tell me their furniture is always "the first to go." There are many benefits to buying used and old furniture for your home: Environmental sense. Given the deteriorating state of our planet, recycling on every level is important. Picking up a previously owned desk or bookshelf may not seem like an environment-saving act, but it's just as conscientious as hauling your aluminum and newspaper to the neighborhood recycling center. The more you recycle, the more responsibly you are using resources, the more you'll save, and the better you'll feel. The test of time. If you find a thirty-year-old chair that is sturdy and solid, you've found a piece that has stood the test of time and survived. Courage to experiment. Say you find a nice little writing desk in an atrocious color at a yard sale. No problem! When you only pay $10 for it, you can paint it, repaint it, and do whatever you like with it. Even big mistakes won't hurt as much when your capital outlay is so small. As a budget decorator on a quest to decorate your apartment, let this be your mantra: I will not be tied to the traditional use of things. Say it to yourself oftenin the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon. But most of all, say it to yourself when you are out shopping. When you pick up something you love at the flea market and you're tempted to say, "But I don't need a big porcelain bowl," don't think of it that way. Realize that, of course, you don't need a porcelain bowl, but you may desperately need something to hold your collection of Western belts. The porcelain bowl then becomes not only something you love but something you can use wisely in your home. Some other nontraditional use ideas: Stack two or three wide benches to create a bookcase. Hang a ladder (not the folding kind-the old-fashioned ones with just one side) on a wall vertically, and it becomes a tall bookshelf; hang it horizontally, and it can hold quilts or blankets. Stack up old suitcases, and they can serve as an end table as well as storage area. Use an interesting chair as an end table, or hang it on a wall and use it as a shelf. Place two large garden urns a few feet apart, add a table top (e.g., glass or wood), and you have a great table or desk. Use a shiny aluminum trash can as a table base. |
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