Decorating Guides
What Do I Do With the Furniture I Don't Like?
Here are a few great ways to clear out unwanted furniture pieces
Do you have a furniture piece like a sofa or a dresser or an almirah that you dislike or have no use for anymore? Does it sit around in your home being an eyesore? Sometimes figuring out what to do with it can leave you shaking your head in confusion. This is why the solutions below could be of help. Let me know if you think of other practical ways to deal with unwanted furniture pieces.
2. Try selling it
Apart from selling it to stores that accept second-hand furniture items, you can list it on websites like ebay, OLX or Quickr. The general rule on such websites is to create your account, take a picture of your product and post it. You can communicate and negotiate prices with potential buyers on the website. For some websites you may have to parcel or courier or ship the items yourself or have it picked up by the buyer directly; in some others, the company takes care of the pick up and drop.
Note: Make sure your furniture piece is in good, usable condition otherwise you might have to take a big cut in price.
Learn how to do new things with old furniture
Apart from selling it to stores that accept second-hand furniture items, you can list it on websites like ebay, OLX or Quickr. The general rule on such websites is to create your account, take a picture of your product and post it. You can communicate and negotiate prices with potential buyers on the website. For some websites you may have to parcel or courier or ship the items yourself or have it picked up by the buyer directly; in some others, the company takes care of the pick up and drop.
Note: Make sure your furniture piece is in good, usable condition otherwise you might have to take a big cut in price.
Learn how to do new things with old furniture
3. Consider repurposing it
Sometimes, just reupholstering furniture isn’t enough … what will you do with the piece looking all new and fresh when you honestly have no real use for it in the first place? In a case like this, you could choose to repurpose it – ask your carpenter to break it down and use its parts to make different items. Say, for instance, you have a teakwood console – it can be broken down and the wood from that can be used to make small side tables, a chair or a wooden mural.
Here’s how to repurpose old items at home
Sometimes, just reupholstering furniture isn’t enough … what will you do with the piece looking all new and fresh when you honestly have no real use for it in the first place? In a case like this, you could choose to repurpose it – ask your carpenter to break it down and use its parts to make different items. Say, for instance, you have a teakwood console – it can be broken down and the wood from that can be used to make small side tables, a chair or a wooden mural.
Here’s how to repurpose old items at home
4. Donate it
If you really don’t have a clue about how to repurpose an old bit of furniture, and you haven’t been able to sell it or pass it down to family or friends, why not donate it to those in need? Find local charities, old age homes, orphanages or institutions that can make good use of your couch or table. While some charities pass on the furniture pieces to others who are in need, some others may use it themselves.
If you really don’t have a clue about how to repurpose an old bit of furniture, and you haven’t been able to sell it or pass it down to family or friends, why not donate it to those in need? Find local charities, old age homes, orphanages or institutions that can make good use of your couch or table. While some charities pass on the furniture pieces to others who are in need, some others may use it themselves.
5. Sell it to a scrap dealer
If the furniture piece is still not gone after trying all of the above, it’s time to call the scrap collector (kabadiwala). Contrary to popular belief, these collectors are adept at taking small scraps to even large furniture pieces, which they either resell it to other dealers or to recycling centres.
Read more:
Let it Go: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Paper Clutter
Tell us:
What do you do with furniture pieces for which you have no use? Share your ideas in Comments below.
If the furniture piece is still not gone after trying all of the above, it’s time to call the scrap collector (kabadiwala). Contrary to popular belief, these collectors are adept at taking small scraps to even large furniture pieces, which they either resell it to other dealers or to recycling centres.
Read more:
Let it Go: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Paper Clutter
Tell us:
What do you do with furniture pieces for which you have no use? Share your ideas in Comments below.
Some furniture can be passed down from one family member to another. Ask around – maybe a cousin is moving into a new place and needs those cane chairs that you have no use of. Maybe your neighbour is looking to buy a sofa and yours would work well.