Sorry guys! I love your meatballs! And, um, your clogs? Oh dear…
Today’s topic of discussion down at the F-O-X was, for once, not about my underwear. Instead, we discussed where to find inexpensive furniture that’s not IKEA.* You know, the kind of furniture that doesn’t require you to own an Allen wrench for it to resemble more than a stack of pre-fab “wood.”
And here’s what I uncovered for you, my frugal little Chickadees:
1. Thrift stores like Saver’s, Value Village, Unique Thrift and Goodwill. This is for folks who love the thrill of the hunt, want the lowest prices, and are willing to work for their deals. You’ll have to do a lot of digging, be patient until you find a piece that works for you, and be willing to do some repairs. However, the payoff is extremely, incredibly low priced furniture.
2. Consignment stores, starting with our old friend, Turn Style Consignment, located throughout the Twin Cities. Known primarily for consigning clothes, they’ve branched out into furniture and home décor. You can buy new items for your home, as well as consign what you own.
Main Street Consignment in Hopkins, now on its 23rd year, with 10,400 consigners. You’ll find higher end items; good quality used furniture that’s been well cared for. They sell the consignments for 1/2 off the original price or less. You can also consign your furniture, as long as it meets today’s standards for color and style, and is in excellent condition. On their website, I found a real leather couch for just $695, cheaper than the one I bought on sale at IKEA.
Movables Consignment, in Minneapolis. They consign and sell gently used antique, vintage and contemporary furniture. Best of all, they will “rescue” upholstered pieces that have good lines, but are in poor condition, and reupholster them – the owner is a professional upholsterer. Prices are very reasonable, and you’ll find unique, one of a kind, and updated pieces. Plus, since they’re located in the artist district, they carry one of a kind paintings and such.
3. New and Used at Cort Furniture Clearance Center in Bloomington. They sell new and gently used home, children’s and office furnishings and decorations, even TVs, DVD players, microwaves, and the occasional vacuum cleaner. If they offer it on the rental side, they can sell it in the Clearance Center. Cort as a sale going on now until April 15 – sofa and chair sets starting at $279, dining sets from $169, and bedroom sets from $259. And remember, because the things they buy are meant to be rented out, they only purchase high quality, built-to-last items. As their manager said, their stuff is “not junky!”
4. Websites like craigslist.org and freecycle.org. Once again, you’ll have to do a ton of digging and leg work (and possibly some repair work). Also remember, if you’re picking up an item from someone’s home, bring a friend with you. One, because they’ll help you load up the furniture and two, for safety. But the payoff is the pricing – cheap and even FREE furniture and home goods.
*By the way, I do like IKEA and other “some assembly required” furniture, like the stuff you find at Target and Walmart. You can find great pieces that will work in your design scheme for very little money. But remember, you get what you pay for, and their offerings may not be the most durable furniture you’ll ever own.
REMINDER – Leave a comment, and your name will be entered in our prize drawing for March 1st. One lucky commenter will receive a $20 gift card to my favorite store, Target.
11 Comments
Ooh, a prize drawing! I just commented on the video version of this post on your facebook so I’ll duplicate that here:
Thanks for all the consignment and outlet tips! I’ll keep this in mind when we are ready to stage our house for sale. Another place to look is hotel furniture liquidators. (got that tip from HGTV) I know there is one in South St. Paul but I haven’t been in it.
I found a sweet sewing machine table for $10 at a thrift store last year. I’d been wanting one for ages, but didn’t want to buy one brand new. It could use some minor tlc, but I can use it just fine without the repairs. Funny thing is, an employee was using it for a mobile table as he worked, and I just asked if it was for sale. Yay, me!
I purchased an Apple IIe computer new in box at Goodwill for $20.00. It fetched $380.00 via eBay. Treasures to be found.
I live in the DC area and even the thrift/consignment stores are on the high side. BOO!
I haven’t been to that Hopkins store in eons – I should probably go -but I really don’t need more *stuff* and in fact, I should probably think about leaving a truck load or two there…
or maybe one truck load at each of the places you mentioned above…hmmmm
My dear chick, please don’t forget garage sales! I’ve gotten and sold tons of furniture at garage sales, and the season will be upon us in a couple short months!
I love Ikea – and our latest purchase (a coffee table) was a G-dsend and took my hubby 5 minutes to assemble. Over 2 years later it still looks like new. Haven’t had any luck with thrift stores on furniture but we got a wonderful Lazyboy recliner from Freecycle which promptly became my dog’s chair. However, puppy has shredded the bottom of it so now it needs reupholstering.
good tips!
My sofa is a $40 Goodwill find-originally from Dayton’s (anyone remember them any more?) We re-donated the old sofa I had in college (also a GW find) and they marked it the same price! Sure it’s a little on the ugly side, but it’s a great piece and someday I’ll have it recovered.
I’ve found more cool furniture at both Savers and Unique Thrift. The great thing is they often don’t know just how good the stuff is, so it’s cheap, um, I mean inexpensive.
I also like Corner Door in Wayzata. My first “grown up” piece of furniture, a chaise, was purchased there & I adore it.
The stillwater gw has some amazing bargains. Hudson is considering opening up a gw also. The tag sales are the best. I have redone several lamps priced at a $1.49 and they look incredible!!
Remember my chaise lounge for $5.00 from Craigslist? And my little loveseat for $25? Etc. Etc.
I have also found that it does indeed pay to help friends whilst moving. I have scored a brand new rug, bookcases, storage pieces, TWO armoires, and a lovely candlescape. It is a win-win.
I do love me some Ikea, though. For kids it is excellent. Also, I am very fond of their light fixtures. I have one in the back hall, several in the living room, etc. My comforter is from there, as well as many of my rugs. Their prices really are great. And their clearance area is where I buy most of my stuff. Also? Their GF almond cake is AMAZING.
Don’t forget about the massive sales at the big department stores. They clearance out floor models and you can get some amazing deals there.
Of course some of us don’t get free chairs from the guys at Savers just by smiling at them, either.
I have acquired a lot of furniture curb shopping, at estate sales, and from friends/family who are clearing things out. My folks enjoy refinishing furniture, so an ugly $5 coffee table ends up looking quite nice. And you can do a lot with paint, fabric, stain and decoupage. If you really want to get crafty, you can visit DIY.net or the Better Homes and Garden website and look at modified furniture. BHG has a great set of armoire modifications online. I want to turn one into a bar, since theirs came out so cute.