Antique furniture can certainly be a talking point in any home. However, when it’s unneeded, it can cause clutter, especially if you’re reluctant to throw it away.

You might have accumulated unneeded furniture through numerous means. A relative might have died and you’ve inherited their old tables and chairs, or perhaps you just want to redecorate your home and your old furniture no longer suits the new style. Either way, it seems a shame to throw out home pieces, especially if they’re still in good condition. It’s therefore understandable if you’re reluctant to get rid of your old décor.

So, what do you do with unneeded antique furniture? Read on for our four practical ideas.

Store

Just because you don’t need your antique furniture right now doesn’t mean you won’t need it in the future. Perhaps the item is an old family heirloom that you wish to pass down but you don’t have any space for it at the moment. A good idea is to put your furniture into secure storage units to keep it safe and out of the way. This is also a great idea to give you some time if you’re still undecided over what to do with the furniture yet.

Donate

There are lots of charity shops that will take furniture if it’s in decent condition, many of which will arrange for their own pickup. You can also ask around in case there’s anyone within your friend circle or community who might need some home furnishings. Consider posting on your social media or putting up a notice on your local supermarket noticeboard. You could also phone round local schools, hospitals, churches, or other community buildings to see if they might be able to make use of it.

Upcycle

If your antique furniture isn’t quite to your taste, why not consider customising it? There are numerous imaginative ways you can upcycle old furniture, from different painting techniques to dazzling embellishments and more. You could even revamp the piece into something completely different altogether – there are no limits to what you can create. Not only is breathing new life into old items sustainable and good for the planet, it’s good for your mental health. Creative projects are  soothing for the soul and can help contribute towards mental wellbeing. Maybe ask a friend to help you or ask a local community group or commission an artist to help. It could also be a fun activity to do with your children or younger relatives.

Sell

If your antique furniture is in decent condition, why not try to get some cash out of it? You could list it for sale or auction on a site such as eBay or post it on a social media group. Don’t worry if you’re not tech-savvy – there is always the local newspaper classified section where you can request to list your items, or you could even put up a poster on your local noticeboard. You might also want to place your furniture with an auction house or other place that specialises in antiques. Depending on the type of business, they’ll either buy the furniture from you or else they’ll sell it or auction it on your behalf and take a small percentage of the profit.

Conclusion

There are lots of uses for unneeded antique furniture that can give it a new lease of life. Selling or auctioning old items is always worth a shot, but it’s nice to donate as well. It’s also worth remembering that just because your old furniture is unneeded doesn’t mean it’s unwanted. You can place it in storage for the time being or you can decide to get crafty and upcycle it. With our practical advice, there are lots of things you can do with your antique furniture.