How to Find Great Furniture at Thrift Stores

I am 27 years old, and I have yet to buy a quality piece of furniture. My couch and coffee table were purchased brand new from a Meijer retail store, but everything else was used when it went into my apartment. A good portion of that furniture came from thrift stores and yard sales, and most of it took me only a few months to find everything I needed. If you're looking to find great deals and bargains on furniture by shopping at yard sales and thrift stores, try some of these tips.


Shop Often.

Thrift stores are an excellent place to find furniture, but you need to shop as often as possible. Their merchandise changes often, and while some things tend to stick around, others have a quick turnover. Many thrift stores have a limited supply of furniture due to the amount of floor space it takes, and the nicer furniture tends to go quickly. If you see something you like, grab it now before it's gone.

Shop Around.

No two thrift stores or yard sales are the same, and they won't have the same merchandise or furniture. By shopping around you are increasing your chances of finding the perfect piece of furniture for your house. Just because the thrift store down the street only has a few pieces of furniture, doesn't mean that the one in the next town won't have hundreds of items.

Shop Early.

When it comes to yard sales, the earlier you can hit a sale, the better. This is when the majority of the merchandise comes out, and when you'll find the biggest selection. As it's early in the day though, the sellers might not be willing to make a deal with you, but it never hurts to ask.

Shop Late.

At the end of the day sellers begin to get a little worried about getting stuck with their merchandise, and this makes them more willing to haggle over their prices. You might want to make note of sales where you saw furniture you liked early on, then head back there towards the end of the day. Some of the furniture might be gone, but some of it might still be there.

Don't Look for Specifics.