The Rules Of Buying Online Antique Furniture

 You already understand the following reasons for purchasing online antique furniture: It's more environmentally friendly, adds personality that anything mass-produced can't, and is frequently of much greater quality than anything you can find in big-box retailers. But there is another issue to consider: How? Given that so much of it is traded online or via social media. In other words, how can you confidently spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on something you've never seen in person and couldn't get your money back?

In order to uncover the telltale indicators that a piece is a solid gamble or that you should walk away, we spoke with vintage specialists. They advise adhering to these guidelines the next time the ideal mid-century credenza on Instagram entices you.

Get more pictures and request a video.

Your eyes should be your first resource while making internet purchases. There won't be any chairs to sit in or wood grains to stroke. Any online vendor will have already uploaded a number of images of the item you're interested in. Still, you should always request more, mainly if the item contains drawers or doors. You should also request photos of the item's underside.

Requesting "close-up photos of details or damage or anything you can't see well in the [original] photos" in order to provide them with information. While sellers can (and often do) add filters and other effects to images, it can be more challenging to do the same with videos. If the vendor declines to supply further images or videos? Step aside.

Keep a close eye on the wood.

An item with characteristics uncommon in mass-produced vintage furniture & decor Oxford House, such as "intricate designs, carvings, and subtle features, like brass or bronze mounts," will likely be of high quality, according to an antique and vintage store.

The kind and thickness of the wood veneer are additional indicators. A piece of furniture that has been well-maintained won't have a veneer of inferior quality. Pay great attention to the drawer interior photographs as well.

Maintain structural integrity at all costs.

Even if you find the bed frame of your dreams, a small crack in the base forces you to continue looking for another one because it is unusable. All of the specialists we spoke to suggest verifying structural integrity twice or thrice. Drawers must open and close (ask for a video demonstrating this), and furniture legs must be level and unbroken. If you have your eye on an upholstered item, the same applies. You should ensure that online antique furniture is comfortable to sit on because major upgrades to the springs and cushions of upholstered goods can be costly.