Furniture sales are booming in the U.S., and Americans are spending more than $113 billion per year on new furniture for their homes.
Have you been thinking about purchasing some new items to upgrade your home? Are you on the fence about whether or not you need to get rid of your existing furniture?
Parting with beloved pieces can be difficult, and it’s definitely not always necessary. It’s important to recognize when you need to move on, though.
Read on for some signs that it’s time to dump furniture and invest in something new.
When Should You Dump Furniture?
First, let’s go over some indicators that you need to get rid of your current furniture. For some people, it’s very tricky to determine whether a piece can be repaired or improved upon or whether it just needs to go. If you’re not sure about a particular item, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
Is It Stained or Torn?
Start by conducting a careful inspection of your furniture. Does it have stains on it that won’t go away, no matter how hard you scrub? Are there tears in the upholstery?
If it’s a beloved piece with a lot of sentimental value, you may want to consider reupholstering it so that it’s still usable. In many cases, though, this can cost more than replacing the item altogether.
If you don’t care that much about the piece, to begin with, it might be better to dump it and get something new.
Is It Just Plain Old?
Some furniture pieces are “vintage” and some are just plain old. If your item falls into the latter category and is making your whole house feel outdated, this is a good sign that you should get rid of it and purchase something with a more modern look to it. This is especially true if you know there’s a slim chance that someone else will want it as it is.
Is It Broken?
Do you have a piece of furniture that’s broken? Maybe the drawer doesn’t open or it wobbles every time someone sits in it or sets something on it.
If this is the case, and you’re not interested in paying to have it repair (or if it’s broken beyond repair), consider getting rid of it. You might be able to find someone else who wants to pay to fix it up, or they might want to take it apart and use the pieces for another project.
Does It Fit?
Have you recently moved into a new home?
When you relocate to a new place, often, your old furniture doesn’t quite fit as well as you’d like. Instead of trying to force it to work in the current location, why not get rid of it and purchase something new specifically for this space?
Doing this can help your home feel like yours and create the feeling of a blank slate and a fresh start.
Does It Creak?
If you have a couch, chair, or bed that creaks every time someone sits on it, is that something you really want to keep in your house?
If you love the way it looks, that’s one thing. If it’s unattractive and doesn’t function well, what’s the point in keeping it around?
You might be better off getting rid of it so you can fill the space with something that people aren’t embarrassed to use.
Has It Lost All Support?
Items like couches and cushioned chairs tend to become less supportive as they age. Do you find yourself dealing with a sore back every time you get up from a particular piece of furniture?
If this is the case, why are you continuing to torture yourself? Why not dump that item and purchase something that provides you with the kind of comfort you deserve?
Does It Smell?
Your piece of furniture might look alright. Does it smell alright, though?
Like stains, there are some odors that are impossible to eliminate, no matter how many expensive infomercial products you use on them. If you find yourself holding your breath whenever you sit on or near a piece of furniture, it’s time for it (and you) to move on.
Have Your Tastes Changed?
Finally, consider the way your tastes have changed. Maybe you loved florals for a long time, but you no longer find them appealing, for example.
If you’re in this situation right now, why continue holding onto a floral couch or armchair that no longer suits your tastes and brings you joy? That couch or chair could have an incredible second life with someone else. Instead of clinging to it because you paid a lot for it or you once loved it, let it go bring joy to another family.
Furniture Disposal Tips
Okay, you’ve determined that some furniture needs to go. You might be wondering how to get rid of old broken furniture, though, or be asking yourself where the dump furniture will end up.
If you don’t want your furniture to end up in a landfill (which is where more than nine million tons of furniture end up every year), you have other options. Try these tips to get rid of your belongings in a more sustainable way:
Host a Yard Sale
Why not try and make some money off of your old, worn-out furniture? If you have items that are still in good condition but have minor wear and tear or aren’t to your liking anymore, consider hosting a yard sale or garage sale to get rid of them.
This provides you with a great opportunity to clear out additional clutter from your home and earn some additional cash at the same time. What could be better?
Sell It Online
If a traditional yard sale or garage sale doesn’t appeal to you, consider selling your old furniture online, too. List the pieces you want to get rid of on an online classifieds website and invite people to come and check them out.
As long as you’re transparent about any problems that may exist with the pieces you’re selling, you shouldn’t run into any trouble, and you can still get some extra money in your pocket.
Give It Away
Some people might not be willing to pay money for a piece of furniture that’s stained, damaged, or has lingering odors. They might be willing to take it off your hands for free, though.
If you just want an item gone and don’t care about getting anything for it, list it on an online classified ad for free. You’ll be amazed at how quickly someone shows up your house to take it from you.
Donate It
Another way to get rid of an item fast is to donate it. Reach out to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army and ask them if they’re willing to take a piece of furniture (or several pieces of furniture) off your hands.
They might even come and pick it up for you, and you’ll get to deduct the donation from your taxes. Everybody wins!
Repurpose It
Maybe you want to get rid of a piece of furniture because it’s outdated or doesn’t suit your tastes anymore. If this is the case and there’s nothing wrong with it from a structural standpoint, you might want to consider repurposing it instead of dumping it all together for something new.
Look into reupholstering and see how much it’ll cost you, or try restaining or repainting the item to make it look brand new. There are lots of ways that you can repurpose an item so that it matches your current aesthetic and refreshes your entire home.
Hire a Junk Removal Service
Finally, you might want to consider hiring a junk removal service. If you have several pieces of furniture that you want to get rid of, working with a junk removal company might be your best option. This is especially true if you don’t have access to a truck to haul away the items yourself.
A junk removal service will come to your house and take away everything you no longer want. You will have to pay a small fee, but many people find it worthwhile, as it frees up their home for new furniture and provides them with a sense of satisfaction and peace of mind knowing that they no longer have to deal with broken or worn-out pieces.
Dump Your Old Furniture Today
Has the time come for you to dump furniture and upgrade your living space?
If so, be sure to keep the tips on how to get rid of old furniture listed above in mind. They’ll come in very handy when you need to move an old couch, bed frame, or another piece of furniture out of your house and want to do so in the most effective way possible.
Do you need more advice on leveling up your home? If so, we have lots of decor and organization resources available on our site. Check them out today for some additional tips and tricks.
