Thrifted Treasure Series Part 7 - Wedding Furniture
Hattie and I have been thrifting furniture for Abi and Julia’s wedding during the past 8 months. The hunt was super fun and we collected an entire living room for just over $500.
Photo credit: Sydney Akagi Photography
It started with an embroidery color sampler and a mood board. This kept us focused on style, textures, color, and specific furniture pieces that we needed.
I highly recommend a mood board because it is easy to get distracted while shopping…especially if you are gathering items over several months!
As we purchased each item it was wrapped for dust protection and stored in our garage. The first time we put all the pieces together was a few days before the wedding. Wheew! It was a great relief to see that them played nicely as a group!
This is what we bought, where we found it, and what we paid….
Sofa, Retails Thrift Store, $150 (first purchase and anchor piece)
Side Table 1, Free on the side of the road, $0
Side Table 2, Goodwill, $6.99
Side Table with marble top, Goodwill, $6.99
Coffee Table with marble top, St. Vincent De Paul, $29
Settee, Habitat for Humanity, $79
Side Chairs, Habitat for Humanity, $16 each
Rug, Habitat for Humanity, new $149
Before
The side chairs were sturdy but the blue seat fabric was not exactly what we wanted. It was an easy fix so we consider ed them winners at $16 each!
I took the seats off and added padding and recovered them with green velvet that I had in my stash.
After
Things to consider when buying vintage furniture:
Give it a jiggle…you want sturdy legs and backs.
The sniff test…check the fabric for stains and odd smells.
The sit test…is it comfortable for your intended purpose?
Check for water damage on wood pieces…can water spots be fixed or hidden? Furniture polish can refresh old wood if it’s in good shape.
Can it be improved or updated…will simple fabric replacement upgrade the look? Is it within your skill level or would you need an expert?
Photo credit: Sydney Akagi Photography
Is the price right…consider cost of any improvements you need to make and add that to the price. Is the additional cost worth the effort and enjoyment?
Space test…do you have an immediate purpose or location for the piece or will you need to store it for future use?
My heart hurts just a little bit because I sold the whole furniture collection shortly after the wedding. I value the space in our garage more than keeping the furniture.
It went to a nice young women who just bought a house with her grandmother! She said it was perfect and nice to have it already curated!
Oh!…and…we made $40 on the deal! lol
I also bought a vintage piece for the wedding that I plan to keep... at least for a while!
We all lovingly refer to it as “the cake stand”. I found it at a consignment store for $235. It is solid and in near perfect condition. And it has storage! That makes it a keeper in my book!
As the saying goes…They just don’t make’m like they used to!
The wedding guests and brides enjoying the lounge area!
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