What to Do with Old Furniture? 10+ Sustainable Ideas
If you've ever given your home a refresh, you know part of the challenge is knowing what to do with the old furniture! Or maybe you have inherited some household furniture from a relative...and it's not really your style? In this blog post, we'll share some tips on how to sustainably get rid of old unwanted furniture.
How Much Waste Does Furniture Create?
Similar to fast fashion, fast furniture has become the popular way of furnishing our homes.
Companies typically mass produce sofas, beds, chairs, and other furniture items at a low cost not thinking about the lifecycle or environmental impact of the product.
The EPA reported that in generation of furniture in 2018 America was 12.1 million tons, compared to 2.2 million tons in 1960. That’s a big difference! This number excludes carpets and rugs too!
Now think about what happens to all those items when we decide to redo our living spaces?
This is why it is important to cherish the furniture you have and when you are done with it consider repurposing or finding a new home for the item.
10 Sustainable Ways to Get Rid of or Recycle Furniture
Whether you're trying to get rid of an old couch, repurpose furniture with fresh fabric, or want to find a new home for bulky items, read on for ideas to keep your unwanted furniture out of the landfill.
Donate Furniture To A Charity Or Local Thrift Store
There are many charities and local thrift stores that accept furniture donations. This is a great way to get rid of unwanted furniture and help those in need. A lot of times these charity shops use or resell the furniture which is a great way to find the item a new home and extend it's lifecycle.
Plus, it's a tax-deductible donation! Before you donate your unwanted items, make sure to check with the charity or thrift store to see what kind of furniture they accept.
Some organizations may only accept certain types of furniture, such as gently used items or items that are in good condition. Once you've found a place that will accept your donation, simply drop off it at their location.
For example the Humanity ReStore offers pick up for large furniture items. You can easily enter your zip code on their website to learn what kind of items they accept and schedule pickup services if that applies.
Donating furniture is a great way to declutter your home and help out those in need. So next time you're looking to get rid of some unwanted stuff, consider donating it to a local charity or thrift store.
Just be sure to do your research and make sure the donation centers will actually have a use for the furniture items you're donating!
Sell Furniture Online
Selling furniture online is great because you have a larger audience! Platforms like Facebook marketplace have made it easy for people to connect with consumers looking for a certain piece of furniture.
You can easily take pictures, write detailed descriptions, and post your old furniture items on the platform of your choice. Just be sure to consider the difficulty you might face if you have to ship a bulky item. Try to find people who are willing to pick up the item locally.
Host a Garage Sale
Garage sales are a quick and easy way to make cash. Unlike having to wait for people to find you online, your neighbors will be able to find you quickly.
If you're able to put signs up around your neighborhood to spread the word, you could find a new home for all your items within one day! Here are some great tips for selling used furniture!
Repurpose Furniture Into Something New And Unique
One option for what do with old furniture is to repurpose it into something new.
This can be a great way to give your home a fresh, unique look without having to spend a lot of money.
There are endless possibilities for how you can repurpose old furniture. In this section, we will discuss some creative ideas on how to repurpose your old furniture into something new and unique:
If you have an old dresser that you're no longer using, you can repurpose it into a bathroom vanity. Just remove the drawers and add a sink. You may need to make some modifications to the dresser, such as adding new holes for the plumbing, but this is a relatively easy project that anyone can do.
If you have an old end table that you're no longer using, you can turn it into a dog bed. Just remove the top of the table, add some cushions, and maybe add a new coat of paint. Your dog will love having their own little bed and it will save you from having to buy a new one. For an in-depth guide check out this DIY tutorial.
If you have an old coffee table that you're no longer using, you can turn it into a bench. Just remove the top of the table and add some cushions or pillows. This is a great way to add extra seating to your home without having to buy new furniture. Learn more about this idea in this DIY guide.
If you have an old chest of drawers that you're no longer using, you can turn it into a bar. Just remove the drawers and add some shelves. You can then use the chest of drawers as a bar cart or storage for your liquor bottles.
If you have an old bookshelf that you're no longer using, you can turn it into a plant stand. Just remove the shelves and add some pots. This is a great way to display your plants and add some greenery to your home.
If you have upholstered furniture consider purchasing some new fabric and reupholster the item into something that matches your current style.
These are just a few ideas on how you can repurpose your old furniture. Get creative and see what you can come up with. You may be surprised at how much new life you can give to your old furniture. For more DIY furniture repurposing ideas check out this guide.
Give Furniture To Family Members Who Need It
If you have old furniture that you don't need, why not give it to a friend or family member who could use it?
It's a great way to declutter your home and help out someone you care about.
Plus, it's much better than just throwing the furniture away. Before giving away your furniture, however, make sure that it's in decent condition. You don't want to give someone something that's going to fall apart as soon as they use it.
If the furniture is in good shape, though, then go ahead and pass it on to someone who can put it to good use.
Recycle Furniture Locally
Consider checking out your local recycling center or explore the furniture pick up protocols within your city! Some cities have old furniture removal programs where they recycle furniture. You might have to pay a pick-up fee!
Upcycle Furniture And Sell It
When it comes to repurposing furniture, the possibilities are endless. With a little creativity, you can turn an old piece of furniture into something new and unique. So get creative and start recycling!
Once you've given the furniture a new life you can even sell it for a bit of extra cash! This could be a fun side hustle. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Use an old dresser as a planter by removing the drawers and adding soil and plants.
Turn an old door into a coffee table by sanding it down and adding legs.
Create wall art out of recycled materials like bottle caps, magazines, or fabric scraps.
Make a cat tree out of an old chair by adding some sisal rope and carpet scraps.
Use an old door as a headboard by painting it and hanging it on the wall.
Create a bench out of an old coffee table by sanding it down and adding cushions.
Upcycling is a great way to save money and be creative. So next time you're looking to get rid of some old kinds of stuff, think twice before you toss it in the dumpster. Who knows, with a little imagination you might just create something amazing and launch your next side hustle.
Junk Removal
If none of the actions listed above are possible then it might be time to look for a junk removal company!
Typically you want to save this as a last resort because junk removal companies aren't typically the most eco-friendly option as a lot of times they just send the furniture to the landfill.
Just remember that not all junk removals are created equally! Some dispose of furniture in a more responsible way than others.
If you decide to hire one of these private companies don't be afraid to ask what they do with the furniture. Junk removal services can be convenient for bulk waste as the company that you hire does heavy lifting.
Hopefully this guide helped give you some ideas on how to sustainably get rid of unwanted furniture by upcycling with creative ways, responsibly donating your items to local organizations, or selling pieces of furniture online or at a yard sale.
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