FURNITURE & DECOR: WHEN TO SPLURGE VS. SHOP SECONDHAND

When it comes to furniture and decor, I’m always hunting for a deal and rarely succumb to paying full price for anything. It’s instinctual of me to search for the best price, bargain, or buy secondhand vs. new.

But as I renovate rooms in our home, I realize that I feel comfortable “splurging” on the same items for different reasons, but especially when I know finding said item on Facebook Marketplace/Craiglist will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

I know you can’t get a good deal on everything, but I also know that you can get a high-end look for less with patience and persistence. It’s just helpful to be aware of which high-end items you can easily find for less and which items are more challenging to stumble upon.

SPLURGE:

MODERN lighting

I struggled with my decision on including lighting under Splurge or Secondhand – because you can get good lighting secondhand.

But I ultimately decided to include under Splurge because there is a difference between mediocre lighting, good lighting, and great lighting, and I never regret my splurges on great lighting. I’ve also never had any luck with great lighting on FB MP, but I know plenty of people who have!

An example of mediocre lighting: $20 boob light from home depot (excessive amounts of these are on FB MP)

An example of good lighting: Safavieh lamps from Overstock (also abundant on FB MP)

An example of great lighting: Anything by Hudson Valley Lighting or Visual Comfort (few and far between FB MP)

I was eyeing this VC lamp for nearly two years and patiently waited for it to show up on FB MP before I decided to purchase it a few weeks ago. I tried to be patient, but sometimes you just have to go for it. I’m glad I did!

ART

Earlier this year, I shared my favorite artists and since then, the work of Alexis Walter and Hillary Howorth have made their way into our home and I have to say – there really is something special about fine art.

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Art can be expensive, yes, but when you find something that speaks to you that’s one of a kind, how do you pass that up? It’s an investment, and just like with great furniture, great art becomes an heirloom. Also, swapping art throughout the house is the easiest/quickest way to refresh a room.

RUGS

Rugs can fall under either category because like lighting, quality rugs are abundant on FB MP & Craigslist. Maybe you’re like me, but I’m so picky about rugs that I prefer to search for specific keywords on Etsy & eBay, where there are usually more options but also more expensive.

I look at rugs the same way I look at art. A quality, hand-knotted rug that’s one-of-a-kind is an investment and quite literally, grounds a room. It pulls all the details together, so it’s one of the first things you should consider when designing a space. I also want to mention that handmade rugs are significantly more durable than machine-made ones.

With sizing, it’s better to err on the larger side vs. the smaller side. I recently purchased this 9×12 Persian rug from Etsy and it’s so large that it’ll basically fill the entire bedroom. It was also out of my price range but I don’t regret it one bit, especially because the colors are versatile and I can use it in other rooms as I please.

PILLOWS & BEDDING

Angelo always says “if you never experience luxury, you won’t miss it” which usually results in me nodding my head and changing the subject.

Only last year I experienced nice bedding (I wouldn’t even call it luxurious – it was just a linen duvet cover compared to our previous shit cotton one) – and I can’t imagine sleeping with cheap bedding again. This also goes for a mattress.

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Tina, who reaps the benefits of these luxuries, wholeheartedly agrees.

Same with pillows. Crappy pillows = crappy room. Beautiful pillows = beautiful room.

Because pillows are quite literally the centerpiece of a bedroom… you just can’t skimp on them. Here’s a post on pillow sizing for the bedroom.

SECONDHAND:

UPHOLSTERED GOODS

I will likely never buy brand new chairs or sofas ever again, because Facebook Marketplace has proven to me that you can get phenomenal, quality upholstered items in good condition for dirt cheap.

A few days ago, someone on IG messaged me about this sofa that she found on FB MP and asked if she should go get it. I mean – just LOOK at it. The color, the shape, the style, the skirt. It’s in great condition and it was cheap too! I encouraged her to buy it and now here it is in her living room. Do you know how much this would be new? A LOT OF MONEY! And she can recover it in a few years if she gets sick of it.

I recently recovered these Chintz chairs and the total cost ($1300) to recover BOTH of them was still cheaper than the price of one similar green chair that I was eyeing on One Kings Lane!

I’d rather find something with good bones and a great silhouette and get it reupholstered – that’s where I recommend spending your money. On good fabric and by supporting a local business. Plus, you can customize it to your liking!

You can check out this post for more info on buying & reupholstering sofas and chairs.

FURNITURE

Like upholstered goods, you can find amazing, quality secondhand furniture for cheap. For context, I was able to furnish most of our home in under 3 years just with FB MP (and maybe a little Craigslist). Case closed.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

If you have the funds, I do recommend splurging on new custom window treatments, because they can really make or break a room. But, you can also find luxe drapery secondhand on a budget if you’re patient enough. Check out this post for tips on finding quality secondhand window treatments.

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Or if you’re crafty, you can DIY Ikea curtains.

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Comments

Susan says

May 13, 2021 at 2:15 pm

thanks for the thoughtful information. Do you clean the upholstery of couches and chairs when you buy them used? I passed up on a couch that I liked because I couldn’t get over the thought that someone else used it

Sarah Katherine says

February 21, 2022 at 9:05 am

Always love these posts! And agree about the lighting – it is nigh impossible to find an attractive, modern chandelier or pendant on FB Marketplace that is not $$$. I also live in Nashville so you think there would be a market for it. Anyways, this affirms I should move on from my searching and go retail.

- aglassofbovino says
  
  February 21, 2022 at 10:02 am
  
  Thanks for reading Sarah!! Yes, Lighting really can make or break a room!
  
VICKY says

March 19, 2022 at 3:32 pm

The sofa that was purchased second hand is gorgeous; however, I probably wouldn’t purchase second hand upholstered furniture second hand unless I know the seller very very well. Too many creepy crawlies that can infest my house. My daughter learned the hard way and it costs her hundreds if not thousands of dollars and lots of work to rid her home from bedbugs brought in on a used sofa.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

SPLURGE:

MODERN lighting

ART

RUGS

PILLOWS & BEDDING

SECONDHAND:

UPHOLSTERED GOODS

FURNITURE

WINDOW TREATMENTS

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