Is my furniture worth saving?

When it comes to upcycling furniture, people often ask whether their furniture is worth saving. It’s a common dilemma. You want your home to ooze style and character but can’t decide whether to keep your existing furniture or invest in something new.

One of the things I love most about working with furniture is its unique and odd quality. Every piece has its own charm and individual story to tell. Children’s furniture has grown with the child and bears all the marks of childhood. Antique pieces are robust and showcase the techniques craftspeople used to design and build with. Family heirlooms have heritage and tell incredible stories. I love hearing about the history of pieces when I visit clients. 

So in response to the question ‘Is my furniture worth saving or spending money on?’ I usually come back with a few questions of my own…

Does your furniture have a place in your home?

By this I mean does it fit snuggly into an alcove or take pride of place in a well-used room? If you find yourself constantly moving furniture around trying to find the right place for it, then it probably doesn’t have a place in your home. This doesn’t mean it can’t be transformed into something new. If you’d like to turn it into something that will look at home in your home, it can be arranged! 

Does your furniture have a use?

Imagine you gave the piece of furniture away, maybe to a friend or charity shop. Would you miss its usefulness? Storage, dining, display, comfort and utility are all valuable uses of furniture. Would a new piece give you the same loyal service and meet your needs?

Does your furniture have sentimental value?

This is a pretty easy one to answer. Many items I work on have been in the family for years, often gathering dust at the back of a garage because the shape, size or style doesn’t fit anywhere. People have an emotional connection with these pieces because they tell the story of their family. If the thought of parting with your furniture fills you with dread then, Yes, it’s worth investing in. 

Are you concerned about the environmental impact of throwing it away?

We’re all becoming more conscious of our personal carbon footprint. And rightly so. The Odd Thing is no different. In our workshop we reduce waste, recycle and re-use as many materials as possible, never sending anything to landfill unless it’s reached the end of its purposeful life. 

If you feel strongly about reducing your impact on the environment, Yes, it’s worth saving your furniture from landfill and looking into alternative uses or reviving it through upcycling.

And finally, the most important question of all…

Do you love it?

Or perhaps more importantly, if you invested money to make it beautiful once more, could you love it again?

If you answer Yes to either question, then my answer is Yes, your furniture is worth saving.  

For a chat about your upcycling or furniture transformation project you can Contact Us here. We promise to take extra special care of every Odd Thing that enters our wonderful workshop.