How To Spot Vintage That's Less Shabby And More Chic

It’s clear that vintage furniture is back in vogue; it can add such character to a house and is often cheaper and better-made compared to buying brand new furniture.

However, like anything else, furniture ages and you need to be careful when buying vintage homeware, because sometimes you can be left with something that is more ‘shoddy cheap’ than ‘shabby chic’. Let me let you in to a few secrets when it comes to furnishing your home vintage style.

Wood

It is possible to get some great wooden buys from charity shops and flea markets - however you want to look out for wooden pieces that have scratch-resistant surfaces, this will ensure that it is as durable as possible. This is easy enough to test before you purchase it – attempt drawing a thin line with your fingernail across the wood to see if it makes a visible dent, if it does then it will be worth looking around for something of better quality.

Also check for veneers — a veneer is a thin piece of premium wood that covers a lower-quality piece of wood. Double-check that the base piece is solid wood or plywood, the only problem with veneer is that it limits the number of times an item can be refinished.

If you can see that a piece is being held together by staples or nails, or whether there is any visible glue lines, this is an indicator that it is not the best quality. You should only choose wooden furniture that has been held together by dowels and screws, this will make it much more durable.

Upholstery

It is easier to tell quality-vintage homeware when it comes to upholstery. More often than not, you can see if the piece is clean, well looked-after and good quality from the fabric. If your sofa has removable cushions, you will be able to have a look inside - good quality sofas will have a block of foam that is wrapped in a protective cover, this is to make it long lasting. It is thought that foam only cushions are much less comfortable and they are also less durable, meaning you will get much less wear from them.

In terms of comfort, the best way to test the feel of the specific piece is by sitting in various spots to see whether you tip or sink.

Another quick handy tip – if the cushions are reversible, you’ll get twice the wear!

However, if you really like a piece that isn’t well-made, these tips shouldn’t stop you from buying it. Just don’t expect it to last as long as you’d like!

Becky is a vintage-lover and often shops in flea markets and charity shops. She also likes shopping for inspired vintage homeware from http://www.nutscene.com/.

Categories: Tous les articles, Vintage