Flipping furniture involves fixing up and giving new life to old pieces of furniture. It’s a fun hobby that just about anyone can do. Plus, you can even make money while doing it!
To try your hand at flipping furniture, follow this beginner’s guide from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
The type of furniture you flip is your choice! You can choose to stick with one specific kind or try different ones.
That being said, there are certain factors that will make some pieces easier and more profitable to flip than others.
We recommend beginners start out with larger pieces that are made of real wood. This includes things like dressers, tables, and chairs. Larger items tend to be more profitable than smaller ones.
Stay away from furniture with fabric, if you can. Flipping things like couches will require you to do upholstery, which can be difficult for beginners.
When choosing a specific piece of furniture, look for higher-quality ones that appear to be in good shape. If your item is already in good condition, it will last longer, and you can sell it for more money.
Plus, it will be easier for you to work with. Things that have a lot of damage require bigger, more costly repairs.
Also try to find something that doesn’t have a lot of intricate details. Many little details are going to be harder for you to paint and work around.
Make sure you don’t spend too much money on the furniture you buy, either. We recommend finding a piece that’s under $100, especially when you’re just starting out. More costly items are going to be a lot harder to profit on.
Before buying a piece, figure out how much you are able to spend while still making your ideal profit.
There are many places that you can find affordable, used furniture to flip. To get the best pieces, try shopping at a variety of places on the list, rather than just one.
Your local second-hand stores are a great spot to find cheap furniture. Just make sure you go to places that actually have furniture, as some thrift stores only sell clothing.
Once you find a good second-hand store in your area, start going there regularly to look at their furniture selection. You don’t want to miss out on any good pieces!
You can also find some quality pieces at antique shops, but they tend to be more expensive than regular thrift stores.
Garage sales are another excellent place to find old furniture. Keep your eye out for any local yard sale events by checking online or reading the newspaper.
There’s also a wide selection of places online where you can buy used furniture. Two of the most popular ones are Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
Oftentimes, people on these sites are just looking to get rid of old items. So you can find lots of good deals. Sometimes, there are even free listings!
Make sure the piece you’re interested in has multiple high-quality pictures posted. You should be confident that the item is in good condition before going out of your way to pick it up.
Chances are, someone you know (or even you!) currently has old furniture they want to get rid of. Ask your friends and family if they have any pieces they don’t want. And they might end up giving it to you for free.
Before you begin flipping furniture, make sure you have all the proper tools and equipment. These things are an investment, and they will be a larger cost up front. But once you have them, they should last you a long time.
Below are some of the main things to have on hand when flipping furniture:
The first thing you should do is thoroughly clean the piece of furniture. Use your all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the whole thing. For tougher spots, use a degreaser.
Then, remove any hardware on the piece. This includes things like knobs and hinges.
Next, you’ll want to sand down the surface. If you’re going to be working on any larger pieces of furniture, we recommend investing in a power sander. These are easy to use and will help the process go much quicker
Now, you should decide if you want to paint or stain the piece. Both are good options, so do whichever you prefer. Just keep in mind that some colors will sell better than others. Try to avoid brighter colors, as neutrals will sell better.
If you’re painting the piece, apply a primer first. Then, you can apply your paint or stain. You should put these on in thin, even coats. Make sure you let each coat dry before adding a new one.
Once your paint is dry, add a sealant to protect your finished piece.
Once the sealant is set, you can reattach any hardware. Feel free to spray paint the hardware or get new ones to better match the refurbished piece.
Once you’ve finished flipping your piece, it’s time to sell it! There are a few things you should keep in mind in order to make a profit and successfully sell your piece.
When choosing a price for your piece, it’s best to first do your research. Look online and see what similar pieces are selling for. Also consider the amount of time the project took you, as well as how much the piece and supplies were. And make sure you’re charging enough to earn a profit.
We recommend pricing your item slightly higher than you expect to make from it. That way, if someone negotiates with you, you’ll still make as much as you wanted to.
The most common place to sell flipped furniture is online. Typically, you can sell it on the same sites you bought the original piece from, including Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, especially if it’s just a side hustle.
When creating a listing, make sure you post several quality pictures of the piece. You should show potential buyers a number of different angles, as well as up-close, detailed photos. You can also dress the item up with different props to make it more photogenic.
In the description, provide as much detail as you can. If the furniture piece is from a popular brand, include that information. Provide the dimensions of the piece, too.
If there is any damage/flaws, make sure you make note of that. Also tell buyers your payment and pickup/shipping policy.
If you’re serious about furniture flipping and want to make it more of a business, consider creating your own Facebook page or website devoted to it.
You can also sell your pieces in-person at a booth. Keep in mind that you will typically have to pay to rent out a booth space. You can find spots like this at craft fairs, flea markets, boutiques, and more.
For more tips and guides, check out our other DIY Projects articles.
