Instead of purchasing new furniture, consider re-purposing a vintage, unique piece that will add character and sophistication to your space.

There is nothing more disheartening than to see beautiful, antique furniture unwanted. As baby boomers grow older, the volume of unwanted family heirlooms is poised to increase in the next few decades. More than 20 percent of America’s population will be 65 or older by 2030. As older adults start downsizing, they will have to part with household possessions their heirs simply don’t want. Where will all this furniture end up? At the curbside or the local landfill most likely. Today Millennial’s rent or own smaller apartments or houses, or they simply don’t want some of the larger pieces from grandparents or relatives.

TIP: New fabric should be of heavier weight (upholstered weight, if possible) and should have a double rub count, the higher the number the more durable. Find material that will last a long time and will hold up to wear and tear.

The average American consumer will toss the old sofa or old chair into a local landfill (or leave it on the side of the road) and purchase new pieces for thousands of dollars. Americans are unfortunately a ‘disposable society’, and want instant gratification by purchasing new furniture from a large department store. Yet some furniture made today is of low quality, and made with cheaper, low quality materials. These newer materials can harbor toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds, and over the life-time of the piece these chemicals are released into the air. The State of California has passed Proposition 65 which requires the State to maintain and update a list of chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Many manufacturers must label a product meeting this new standard and you may be surprised how often this label is on new furniture.

Good upholsterers are a dying breed of artisans and are difficult to find. If you find yourself waiting months for an upholsterer to do the work, consider taking an upholstery course on weekends. It’s fun, rewarding and is actually a great work-out!

Furniture made overseas is often poorly constructed. Large designer labels will weigh down an upholstered chair with concrete bricks to give it stability because the lumber or metal inside the piece is lightweight. I personally discovered this by re-upholstering a 20 year-old Ralph Lauren chair for a client, and was surprised to find bricks under the seat to give it weight and stability. Older furniture is made from heavier quality lumber, like oak, cherry or cedar, and it will hold up longer than a newer piece. Today, some furniture is made from soft wood such as pine and maple, is pressure treated with chemicals, and likely gives off volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) from the glues it is made with. It could also be fortified or strengthened with heavier materials such as metal or steel to off-set the cost of expensive materials. And let us not forget about plastic. Plastic, a cheaper material to make, is in everything nowadays, and plastic comes from fossil fuels and other chemicals.

TIP: Save older furniture. Have vision, be creative and give it a new lease on life!

Older pieces are so beautiful and a lot of care went into their creation. Carpenters, wood-workers and antique collectors have the most respect and appreciation for furniture made generations ago. How can we educate the younger consumers to appreciate and invest their money in good furniture from our grandparents generation? Having vision and some patience and many older pieces can be purchased for a small amount of money. Searching and finding that special piece makes the end-result that more special, too.

Another creative option is to paint the wood before adding new fabric to it. Milk paint is a beautiful and economic product that is safe for children and pets and comes in beautiful colors. My favorite milk paint manufacturer is in Pennsylvania called The Real Milk Paint Company. Click HERE to visit their website and to get ideas and tips on how to paint furniture and items in your house safely, easily and affordably.

Lastly, by saving, re-using and loving a family heirloom or yard-sale piece of furniture, you are creating a one-of-a-kind, custom, unique piece that nobody else has. Maybe your children will love and appreciate it as much as you do! And just as importantly, you are saving the planet and the environment.

Design well to live well.