Buying Antique Furniture

Buying antique furniture can be a daunting task. Antiques can be hard to pick out and hard to know if what you’re getting is the real thing. There’s nothing that can help you more than knowledge, get out there and learn as much as you can about antiques, and soon enough you will be able to start picking out quality pieces all on your own.

If you’re new to antiques, you probably don’t have a good idea of what style suits your taste and your decor. Antiques are great, but if they look out of place in your home you won’t like them nearly as much. Look into the different styles of antique furniture to get a feel for which ones will fit in best. There are a great many styles so this may take some time. Once you know the names of the styles you like, it will be easier to search them out, as sellers will classify their pieces this way.

Researching antiques will be your biggest help now. Get to know antique furniture terms, as they will come up often in listings and catalogs. Get a feel for how your desired pieces are constructed so you know what to look for when you are out shopping. Keep in mind that antiques will often have rougher edges, and boards of differing sizes. Even though antiques are old you do want to keep an eye out for pieces that are in good condition. Don’t take home a piece in poor condition just because it’s an antique. Try to watch for pieces that do not have all their original parts, as this lowers the value. If you’re really not sure, ask questions of the seller, or even bring along an expert who can help you tell if a piece is really worth it.

The next step is figuring out where to go to find antique furniture. There are many shops that specialize in antiques, though be careful as they may not always have the best quality on hand. Try frequenting antiques auctions and listening to what others have to say about the pieces. You can also find a wide selection of antiques online, though it is recommended that you learn as much as you can about a piece before purchasing, and if possible meet the seller and take a look at it. It can be hard to tell just from photos online what the condition the furniture is in and whether it has had parts replaced. Asking plenty of questions is key to finding a nice antique from an online seller, so don't be afraid.