Secondhand furniture shopping with HOCK SIONG

Buying secondhand furniture is the recycling of the design world. Secondhand pieces don’t use any more raw materials, do not require any more energy to be produced, reduce waste and pollution, and do not require any additional packaging. On top of these pluses, antiques and previously used pieces have that great sense of story and character.

I had a lovely chat with Brillyn from @hocksiong, a must-go secondhand furniture shopping destination in Singapore. They often find the coolest deals from showrooms and hotels and their keen eye in detail and styling the pieces makes thrifted items look so fabulous and amazing. Watch the video chat with Brillyn from @hocksiong, I cannot thank her enough for taking time out to do this with me.

Here are 10 tips when you shop for a secondhand furniture item.

1. Measure the home or room space you wish to add a thrifted item. Accurate dimensions will help you stay focused when you are in the shop overwhelmed with options. It helps you eliminate all the choices you are unable to fit in your home/space

2. Bring a tape measure or borrow one from the store. Knowing the exact dimensions boundaries ensures you shop with a peace of mind. Do take note if the item can fit through your home stairs or lift as some thrifted pieces comes as a whole set and not in modular pieces.

3. Pop into the shop even when you are not looking as shopping for thrifted items is purely about good luck and speed to get to the store or pay at the cashier (that is based on my experience shopping for items). Most times, I leave empty handed but when the golden hour strikes, the amazing stuff you find can elevate a space I have in mind.

4. If you come across something you particularly like, it might be worth snapping it up, even if you weren’t planning to buy anything. Finds can be rare, and you’ll know if it’s special enough. These special finds can be used as an anchor start to you designing the space.

5. Check the condition and look at it from all angles. Use four senses to help you in the process. Touch the surfaces, smell the wood or the insides of the cabinet, see the shape of the item , feel the weight of the item and lastly knock and hear if the piece is made of solid materials as it is hard to know the exact material composition for some.

6. Keep an open mind. When shopping for secondhand furniture and antiques, you can never be certain of what you’ll find on any given day. If you’re unwilling to compromise on the piece you want, you may never find it. I hardly find a perfect piece that is flawless but the beauty and history behind the piece is usually worth more than a few scratches or dents.

7. Think creative if you spot something you like but it feels dated. There are many ways to refurbish the look through paint, upholstery, door knobs changes to adding to a new coat of varnish. But do check up on the restoration services costs as they might end up being hefty.

8. Build a relationship with sellers from secondhand furniture shops. Sometimes they give you first dibs or they could go an extra mile in helping you with finding the right person to restore your items or to share more insights about the piece you are getting.

9. Look out for major damage. Check thoroughly for splits or cracks in wood.  Small things are easy to repair – missing handles, scratches, sticking drawers, loose or missing veneer, and even chips are easy to fix. The finish doesn’t matter at all, you can easily stain or paint over just about anything.  

10. Start small with getting a side table or a decorative item to build your confidence in shopping for thrifted items. Be creative in thinking out of a box when you convert a dresser into a bathroom vanity as seen in the example below.