You’ve planted your garden. Your grass is perfection. The only thing left to do is to sit outside and enjoy it. The one thing ruining the view is the uncomfortable plastic chair that also happens to be the only piece of patio furniture you have. You finally have a place where you want to sit and enjoy your morning coffee, but there’s no place to sit.
It’s time to upgrade your patio set. Outdoor furniture can be pricey. Is it really worth it to drop that kind of money on something you can only use when the weather is nice? If you want nice furniture, but are restrained by a budget, or if you just enjoy getting a good deal, consider buying used outdoor furniture.
Many people change their decorating yearly, so there are many great bargains to be had. Shopping for used outdoor patio furniture is also an excellent option for those who want designer furniture, or who are on the lookout for a unique piece.
Shopping in second-hand and consignment stores you can find barely used designer furniture, as well as vintage items and one-of-a-kind pieces you would never be able to find anywhere else.
For the DIYers and those who are trying to decorate sustainably, second-hand shopping is a great way to find a project and keep items out of landfills. If you shop for items that are still usable but may need some repairs, you can find amazing bargains.
Not sure how to go about second-hand shopping for used outdoor furniture? Or maybe you don’t have any decent used furniture stores near you. Don’t worry. We’ve put together this guide to help you find the final piece to your beautiful outdoor decorating.
Where To Find Used Outdoor Patio Furniture Online
There are a growing number of consignment stores venturing into e-commerce. There are also marketplaces and online ad services to help sellers local to you advertise.
If you are a fan of online shopping, or can’t find what you want in a brick-and-mortar retailer near you, give online shopping a try. Online shopping expands your search to retailers in any part of the country and the best part is you can do it from your couch while wearing your comfy pants.
OfferUp
An online marketplace like OfferUp is the perfect place to find used patio furniture. A search will pull up listings that are close to you, and you can contact the sellers directly. Some of them are open to offers, and you may be able to get an excellent deal on a nearly new set.
Facebook Marketplace
Like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace will find listings close to you. You can find sellers who are willing to negotiate on price, or who will work out some kind of trade. Since these sellers are near you they may require in-person pick-up instead of providing shipping.
Chairish
If you are shopping for used outdoor furniture to find unique pieces, this is the website for you. Chairish sells gently used and vintage furniture, which ranges from lightly used modern sets to beautiful mid-century patio sets that will make a statement.
They curate their collection, and will only allow high-quality used pieces in their inventory. Chairish allows 2 days for buyers to return pieces they find unsatisfactory. Some items are eligible for free shipping.
Second-hand Furniture.com
Second-Hand Furniture.com is a site that compiles all the listings for other sites and allows you to browse through multiple furniture listings and compare prices on similar items.
If you find a piece that interests you, there is a link provided to that listing so you can purchase it. This can save you time in your search, but it may miss some listings.
eBay
You can find some true gems by looking through the listings on eBay. You can find more contemporary pieces as well as vintage pieces. If you don’t mind a little DIY, you can find unique items such as cast iron mid-century chairs for low prices that will be perfect with a little elbow grease.
Craigslist
You can often find listings for used outdoor patio furniture on your local Craigslist site. Items on Craigslist can be traded for, so you could get lucky and find an excellent deal.
Sotheby’s Home
Brought to you by one of the leading auction houses in the world, Sotheby’s Home is a site to find upscale designer furnishings that have been gently used.
You can find unique vintage pieces, as well as fine designer pieces for a fraction of the price. The prices range higher than the majority of consignment or resale shops, but these items are hundreds of dollars cheaper than they would be new.
Modern Resale
If you have a modern design aesthetic, then Modern Resale is the right resale shop for you. They specialize in used modern style furniture, including outdoor patio furniture.
You will be able to find unique pieces on this site, and each listing includes what the piece would cost new, so you can see your savings. They do long-distance delivery for non-local customers, and they request you to inspect your purchase upon delivery and notify them as quickly as possible.
Divine Consign
Divine Consign is a woman-owned consignment shop that specializes in the resale of gently owned designer furniture. They have a beautiful selection of used outdoor patio furniture for those who want a high-end look at a discount.
Offline Sources For Used Outdoor Patio Furniture
If buying used furniture online isn’t your style of shopping or nothing is quite what you’re looking for, there are other ways to find a good deal on used outdoor patio furniture.
Thrift Stores
Some people have experienced thrifters, and others have never given it a try. If you’re new to thrifting or secondhand shopping, it might not occur to you to check out thrift stores for used patio furniture. It is definitely hit or misses, but Goodwill, Savers, and the Salvation Army all carry furniture, and this includes patio furniture.
Architectural Salvage Yards & Junk Shops
Architectural salvage yards are good places to find vintage cast iron furniture. Junk shops can be another place to find a deal, especially if you’re looking for something to refurbish.
What To Look For In Used Outdoor Patio Furniture
When shopping for used furniture, especially outdoor furniture there are a few things you should be concerned with, and a few things that are no big deal.
When buying secondhand, especially vintage pieces, signs of wear and tear are to be expected. A few tiny dings or nicks are nothing serious. Even pieces that may not seem to be salvageable at first glance, may actually be diamonds in the rough.
The seller should be open to giving you a good description of the condition of the item you are interested in. For individual sellers who will not accept returns, try to only focus on pieces that have photos taken from multiple angles so you can get an idea of the condition.
Rust
Look for rust spots on cast iron furniture. Rust isn’t necessarily a reason to pass up a piece of vintage metal furniture.
If the area isn’t rusted through, you can use a wire brush and a commercial rust remover to remove the rust. There are also recipes for homemade rust removers. After removing the rust, you can paint the furniture with outdoor spray paint that also blocks rust.
If you enjoy the worn look and have a cottage or industrial-style yard that lends itself to shabby chic, you can even work with the rust as a look. Brush off any areas of loose rust with a wire brush. Cover the piece with a clear coat to preserve the patina, and keep the item from rusting through.
Faded Plastic
Try to avoid plastic furniture that appears faded or feels brittle. Plastic is weakened by the sun, and this furniture will likely not last very long.
Upholstery
Maybe the upholstery isn’t the color you prefer. Or it’s faded and old with a musty smell. This is a non-issue. Upholstery can easily be redone to your taste on a budget.
Give the cushions a once-over to make sure they aren’t moldy or damp. These can also be easily and inexpensively replaced. In fact replacing your outdoor furniture upholstery is an easy way to update your outdoor patio furniture every few years.
Strapped furniture
If you enjoy the look of vintage strapped and laced pool furniture, and all you can find are frames with ratty and rotten straps.
Don’t let that deter you. Clean the frames, and find someone in your area who can replace the straps. You will end up with a mix of new and vintage that is completely unique.
Glass Tops
If you’ve fallen in love with a vintage piece that was glass-topped, and the glass is cracked or missing. Snatch it up if the price is right.
You can either replace the glass and still come out ahead, or get creative. Make your own top from glass mosaic or tile to have a one-of-a-kind piece that perfectly suits your design aesthetic.
Size
The set you picked up for a song isn’t such a bargain if it ends up being too large for your space. Measure the area you have, and stick with looking at furniture within those dimensions so you don’t fall in love with something too big.
Storage
Consider how you will store your outdoor furniture in the off-season. If you have put time and money into refurbishing a vintage set or hunting down the perfect gently used designer patio furniture of your dreams, you want to be certain it stays nice during the winter or rainy seasons.
In some climates, just simple furniture covers might be enough. In areas, with harsher winters you may want to move this furniture indoors. Be sure you have room to store your patio furniture if you plan on storing it indoors when the weather turns.
Wicker
Wicker is a classic material for outdoor furniture. If you find a wicker set that seems to have a few loose strands or looks “well-loved” you may be on the fence about if it’s worth your money or not. Don’t be afraid to purchase it if the price seems right.
WIcker can be repaired by a professional, and you can even learn how to repair it yourself. You can give used wicker furniture a second life, and if you clean it and keep up on repairs, you can get years of enjoyment from it.
When shopping for used outdoor patio furniture keep an open mind. You may end up with something completely different than you had originally pictured, but that’s part of the fun of shopping used.
Looking for ideas on how to decorate your outdoor oasis? Check out these tips on how to create the backyard of your dreams.
