As with any type of shopping, buying furniture can be a pain if you don’t have a good system in place. To start, it can be heartbreaking to not find those pieces that make your space feel like home. And it’s also very easy to give up and just purchase something simply to fill up space.

As I’ve worked to furnish the first apartment I’ve lived in on my own this past year, I’ve made an intention to avoid the pitfalls I just mentioned. I knew that I wanted my apartment to truly reflect my style. I also wanted to fill it with pieces I knew I would cherish for years.

It’s taken me an entire year to furnish my apartment, mostly because of the time it takes to find good vintage furniture. Thankfully, it’s finally in a good spot, and I’ve learned some tricks that I know will help me find some great vintage gems when the time comes for me to upgrade to a new and bigger place.

Since I know vintage shopping is no easy feat, today I thought I’d share some of them with you. Keep reading to learn a few skills that will make furnishing your apartment with vintage finds a bit easier. 

Make Sure to Comparison Shop Before Committing to a Piece

One thing you’ll find when you visit vintage furniture stores is that prices can vary from place to place. It can be hard to know if you’re being overcharged or scoring a deal. Thankfully, a quick Google search can give you an idea of the price range for the piece you are eyeing. You can also visit other vintage furniture stores to see how much similar items sell for.

I did both these things when I purchased my vintage Lane dresser earlier this year. I found the same dresser at another vintage furniture store for $500 more and online at 4x the price. It was pretty easy to see that I was getting the most bang for my buck at the first store, so I had to get it.

You Can Score a Good Deal if You’re Willing to Restore a Piece

Last time I bought vintage furniture, my delivery guy let me in on a little secret – you can score a great deal if you’re willing to spend some time fixing up a piece. Some vendors sell their pieces for less because they have a few dings here and there. Selling a piece fast seems more worthwhile than taking the time to fix it.

However, this works out in your favor. Paying somebody to fix these imperfections or handling the repairs yourself isn’t too expensive, so you’ll save money whether you choose to fix the piece or not. I personally don’t mind my pieces looking a bit worn since I think it gives them character. But, it’s good to know I won’t break the bank if I need to do any repairs in the future.

Expand Your Search Beyond Vintage Furniture Stores

Vintage furniture stores are great to visit when you’re looking for a curated selection, but that’s not the only place you can find great vintage furniture. While these are hit or miss, you can find some great gems at moving, garage and estate sales. People are usually trying to get rid of these items quickly, so you’re sure to get a great price, especially if you feel comfortable negotiating. Plus, it can just be plain fun to go to these sales and see if you’ll get lucky and score big.

Try Scouting Out Pieces on the Web and Social Media

Let’s be real, nobody has time to go browsing vintage furniture every single weekend in hopes to find the perfect piece. So, it can really feel as if you’re trying your luck at times on the quest to furnish your home. But just because the items we’re looking for are antiquated doesn’t mean our search methods should be as well.

Vintage furniture vendors are savvy enough to know that they can’t just expect to have a steady flow of customers coming through the door without some marketing. Therefore, you can expect many vintage furniture shops and sellers to be active on social media and Craigslist to promote their items. If you want to save yourself an endless amount of trips, I suggest following some local vendors you like to keep tabs on their most recent inventory.

I’ll end by saying that vintage furniture can be really fun and productive if you have a game plan going in. And, even with a good system in place, it also takes some time and patience. But hopefully, these tips will help you feel more prepared next time you’re on the quest to find that piece that makes your home feel a little bit more special.