Consignment shops, including furniture consignment shops in Asheville, have grown very quickly over the last 10 years, based in part, by the recession starting in 2008. This downturn in the economy hit most folks pretty hard and everyone, including the wealthy, stated thinking with a new paradigm, a re-set if you like. This new way of thinking increased the appeal of consignment shops generally as a better place to shop for that item you need, instead of paying for brand new merchandise. Furniture, in particular, has a huge retail markup, evidenced by the continual stream of 50%, 75% sales from new furniture retailers, where they are still making a profit. Understanding this, it just makes sense to look into furniture consignment shops to find the items you are looking for. When you do this, check out the high end furniture consignment shops in Asheville. There you will find name brand furniture for literally pennies on the dollar. Since many high end furniture items are consigned by higher priced homes, the furniture is generally in excellent condition and looks new!
Buying new furniture is a like buying a new car, the moment you drive it off the lot, it depreciates in value. Not only that, but it’s amazing how much of a good deal you can get on a quality piece when you skip the dealership and don’t buy brand new. My favorite pieces of furniture in my house are all items that I found at fine used furniture consignment shops, or that were handed down from family members. Many items I purchased needed no work at all, and those that did were easily fixed by re-covering or a lick of paint. I can name only a few pieces of furniture in our home that are items I purchased new from a retailer. I always look for high end used furniture before I buy new and here’s why:
1. Cost: As I already mentioned, used furniture pieces are almost always less expensive (unless they are a sought after antique). For instance, I purchased a solid oak pedestal dining table with a leaf in it for $80 from my local consignment store. A similar size and style table at Pottery Barn sells for $1,399. I wanted mine to be white so I had a little added investment on paint, but for under $125 and a little bit of my time, I saved over 90 percent.
2. Customization: If you’ve ever loved a look but thought it was out of your price range, chances are it’s because you only considered buying it new. If you can find a piece of furniture such as a chair or couch that you like the shape of, you can re-upholster it in the same or similar fabric that you see on the designer pieces that cost thousands of dollars. You can even have new cushions made to give it a more updated shape and look. Upholstery isn’t exactly cheap, and your choice of fabric will make a huge difference in the cost, but you get a lot more bang for your buck when you start with a solid frame and turn it into what you want it to be. I recently purchased a Hickory Chair for $38 at a furniture consignment store which would normally have cost several hundred if not a thousand dollars. I spent about $100 on fabric to have it recovered in, and it will cost me a few hundred dollars to have a slipcover made although I’m even thinking at attempting it myself. My only regret is that the store had two of them and I only bought one.
3. Quality: At the risk of sounding old fashioned, they just don’t make furniture like they used to. Well, that’s not totally true, but if you want it made the way it was in our parents’ and grandparents’ generations, you’re going to pay the price for a new piece. Many of the pieces you’ll find at major retailers have wood veneers and contain particle board, and they just don’t stand up to the wear and tear of daily life through the decades. Many Fine used Furniture in Asheville you can find in consignment shops that specialize in quality use furniture only.
4. Style: I love a sleek and modern style just as much as the next person, but you can still get that look with used pieces. Mid-century modern vintage furniture anyone? And it’s certainly easy to achieve a traditional look with used furniture pieces. To make a house a home, it’s nice to have pieces of furniture that have stories to go with them. A table that you picked up in a shop while winding your way through Asheville or an old chair that your grandmother used to knit in add character to a home, and create a much more appealing look than opening a catalog to a picture you like and ordering one of everything.
5. Environmentalism: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure” can be a complete understatement when it comes to furniture. When someone no longer has a use for a completely good piece of furniture, there is no reason that good used furniture should wind up in a landfill. The more we can extend the use of objects, the more our planet will benefit. A fresh coat of paint or some new fabric can make a world of difference. Fine used furniture should not be considered “disposable” unless it is truly in disrepair. I am not saying that I have no new furniture in my house. Sometimes I just can’t find the look I want in Asheville furniture consignment stores. But don’t be afraid to take a look and hit that tag sale, or walk into that local furniture consignment store. You may just find one of your favorite items.
6. Access: Fine used furniture consignment stores in Asheville are plentiful and should satisfy any budget. Most furniture consignment stores in Asheville carry a wide range of furniture with the quality ranging from not-so-good, to high quality. If you’d prefer high quality furniture at great prices, try Select Furniture Consignment in Asheville, NC. They only carry high end used furniture and it is all inspected before it is accepted for sale. Whatever your budget or style is, Select Furniture Consignment is worth checking out.