As we’ve mentioned before, adding repurposed or recycled furniture and decor to your home is not only environmentally friendly, it is also becoming a hot trend. This is particularly true in the age of disposable Ikea-like furniture: more and more people want furniture that lasts, and frequently, that can only be found from vintage pieces. And recycling (sometimes called “free-cycling”) can save you money!
Image: Howard Bales / Flickr
Here are some tips to keep in mind when and if you engage in a freecycling project:
1. Be careful of the condition of pieces before you trek them all the way home.You can end up paying too much for something that will simply crumble once you get home, or you can potentially find something priceless for a penny. Look and test before dropping your cash.
2. Choose pieces that work for the space. Just because it looks amazing in the vintage store does not mean it will work in your living room. If you are getting furniture, also make sure the pieces are livable. Can you bump into that armchair or coffee table without getting hurt? Can your child?
3. Think about getting custom pieces built. This will cost you more, but if you find a great piece or material, think about having it shaped to your needs. Old wood is especially good for this: tables have been made out of everything from church pews to bowling alley lanes. The benefit to this is that your pieces will tell a story.
4. Visit garbage dumps and construction sites to potentially scrounge for materials. And keep your eyes open! For instance, First Canadian Place in Toronto is selling off the marble from its exterior as it renovates. Incorporating bank marble in your house will be potentially cheaper than buying new marble, and think about the interest it will create!
5. Take your time. Unlike buying new pieces, the “perfect” piece may not be immediately available. Buying recycled furniture and vintage is a long-term process. As you look, you may find you can never find the exact thing you wanted, but in the meantime, many unexpected things will come your way.
Most importantly, try to enjoy the process of searching! If you want to do it right, it could take you a long time to get a room fully furnished. Unless you have a great time, you won’t last that long.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
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