'Everyone loves to bag a bargain': Where to find designer furniture and homewares on the cheap

As every devotee of vintage wares can confirm, there’s something entirely wonderful about pre-loved furniture. Beauty and integrity, qualities extending far beyond a sense of nostalgia, can indeed be found in salvaged interior items from decorative keepsakes to big-ticket furniture pieces. And, then there’s the joy of fossicking for vintage gold.

But don’t just take our word for it. As the ever-expanding vintage furniture community proves, secondhand is anything but a hushed word. In recent times, there has been a strong shift to repurposing pre-owned homewares. Best of all, it’s a sustainable movement that makes perfect sense. For reclaimed furniture can be friendly, not just to the budget but to the planet.

Interior designer Petrina Turner, of Petrina Turner Design, has long been a fan of pre-loved furnishings.

“It’s a great way to inject a sense of history or place into a space, as it can provide a really special narrative,” she says. “It’s easy to fall into the habit of thinking new is best, but I believe if there is something already available that speaks to the project, you don’t need to purchase new all the time.”

Start with what you already have is Turner’s advice.

“Do you have pieces that you love the shape of, but are a bit worn or tired?” she asks. “Consider giving them a spruce-up.”

Happily, unearthing someone else’s decor gems is easier than it has ever been due to the growing number of online furniture marketplaces for buyers and sellers.

In 2019, long-time friends Deb Achhorner and Emilia Harrison founded one such retailer, Two Design Lovers, “for people who appreciate good quality and great design, and want to find it fast”.

“Sustainability is really important to us,” says Achhorner. “We saw a need for a better way to access beautiful, high-quality secondhand furniture that too often ends up in storage or, worse still, landfill.”

What advice can they share for nabbing vintage goodies at affordable prices?

“Everyone loves to bag a bargain,” says Achhorner. “To us, the best bargains are on top-brand designer pieces. They’re of great quality and craftsmanship and can be picked up secondhand for a fraction of their original retail price. Our tip is to invest in a couple of iconic pieces. They’ll anchor a room, look amazing and are more likely to be resellable should your needs change in the future.”

And, as Achhorner says: “It might sound like a cliche, but great design doesn’t go out of style. Authentic design is enduring for a reason – materials, functionality and aesthetics have all been highly considered to create a beautiful piece of furniture.”

What are the traps to avoid when trawling online for vintage wares?

“Look at detailed photos and descriptions of defects when buying secondhand furniture,” says Achhorner. “We take care of this on Two Design Lovers because we curate the selection, which includes checking condition and provenance.”

Achhorner also advocates being patient and persistent.

“Secondhand shopping is all about the thrill of the chase and the anticipation of what you might find,” she says. “On Two Design Lovers, we’re getting new consignments daily, so it’s a good idea to keep checking for new arrivals.”

In 2020, seasoned interior decorator Melissa Giuffrida launched Collecte – an end-to-end marketplace for pre-owned, authentic designer furniture. 

“The market is flooded with cheap replicas and low-quality pieces,” Guiffrida says. Consumers are confused and don’t know if they’re buying real or fake goods.

“Major cities across Australia are disposing of approximately 50,000 tonnes of low-quality furniture pieces each year into landfill. In furniture terms, that’s equivalent to 800,000 three-seater sofas or 6.85 million chairs thrown away every year. These low-quality and replica pieces are damaging design integrity, designer’s livelihoods and the environment.

“If you buy goods from Collecte, you know that you are always buying authentic pieces and supporting design across the world. Collecte delivers on this promise by reviewing every listing to provide a curated marketplace to our users,” she says.

So, immerse yourself in the thrill of the secondhand furniture hunt. You’ll be amazed by the treasure-trove of stylish offerings, awaiting a fabulous new lease of life within the walls of your home.