To my mind, there are lots of good reasons to buy furniture that isn't new. I appreciate that some of you might be nervous to do it, especially if you haven't done it before, so here's a little guide for you.

There's a huge variety of furniture available, all sorts of different styles and pieces from the last 100 years or so. And if you are looking for quality and antique furniture, then you have to buy second hand. You have no choice! In fact the definition of antique is ‘a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality’; and generally antiques are at least 100 years old.

Another popular name for second hand is vintage. You might be surprised to know that for something to be considered vintage it only needs to be over 20 years old. Hmmm. Does that mean that I am vintage?

Firstly, Let's talk about some reasons why is it better to buy second hand than new?

- it's often better quality, well made, from solid wood with nice finishes and interesting carvings, legs or other features

- it will be unique to you, because by the time you find it; it will be a one off

- it will be significantly cheaper than buying new

- it is more environmentally conscientious. You are not buying you and you may be saving something from landfill

- can you think of another one?

- if you also enjoy upcycling and restoring furniture, then there is the added advantage of enjoying a creative pursuit too

it's only fair to include some pitfalls too

- look out for things that are damaged, broken or difficult to fix

- be aware that some people will lie to you, so make sure you physically examine what you are going to buy where possible

- be prepared for dusty, dirty, cobwebby environments

- be prepared to be decisive. If you dither you may lose out

- be careful when dealing with people online. Never send money in advance unless you know who you are dealing with

So perhaps I have convinced you that second hand is better. I hope so! Buying second hand clothes is relatively easy because you can search online and receive the items through the post. Buying furniture is a bit trickier because it's larger, heavier and you might want to check for things like damp, damage, mould and woodworm. With that in mind….

Where are some of the places you might look?

There are so many places that you can find good items. wherever you are in the world there will be a number of options. they include

Online marketplaces like:

- Facebook marketplace, gumtree and eBay,

- Specialist websites like Vinterior, the old cinema, Hutch Community

- Etsy and similar

Each of these require a slightly different approach and I have noticed that quality and pricing is hugely variable on sites like Facebook and eBay. Specialist websites and Etsy do tend to have a higher quality, but of course that attracts a higher price.

In real life marketplaces including:

Regional flea and collectibles markets. In the UK where I live there are a number of regional antique, collectable and specialist markets. They attract lots of stall holders and an abundance of potentials customers. The biggest in the UK is held in Nottinghamshire, which is in the middle of the country. I know there are lots of brilliant markets in continental Europe. Do you know where your nearest regional one is?

Local interiors shops, get to know your local dealers. There are a huge variety from the more exclusive interiors shops that style and upcycle their pieces to the people who want a fast turnover, also do house clearances and tend to be cheaper. I'm always really impressed by the passion the shop owners usually have for the work that they do.

Indoor emporiums; like the regional markets that pop up there are also emporium's which are brilliant because they're made-up of lots of dealers who rent a sales space in the emporium. You never know what you might find here.

Charity shops. Some charity shops in each city or area will specialise in furniture. There are bargains to be had and they are definitely worth checking out.

Reclamation yards; these are a personal favourite of mine because you can find some really great industrial items and period features like fireplaces and stained glass windows.

Pop up food and street markets and art trails sometimes attract furniture dealers and up-cyclers. You'll tend to pay a bit more for an item that has been restored and improved. It's usually worth it though

Specialist dealers. If you know that you are looking for a particular item like art deco or mid-century then you might choose to go to a specialist dealer. search online and ask your local dealers that you know for recommendations.

Auction houses, both local and online. Auction houses are probably the most cost-effective way to find vintage and antique furniture. They do viewing days before sale days so that you can inspect items and it's a lot of fun to bid as long as you don't get carried away. The way I manage it is to do my research before the sale day and set a limit that I will go up to for the item I want.

And finally don't forget that your friendly local interior designer may source for you.

How do you know what something is worth?

Internet searches will helpfully give you a guide to price and in the end something is worth what you want to pay for it. My philosophy is if I think something is a fair price I will pay fully for it and if I think it's overpriced I may bargain a little. It pays to be respectful and fair. After all you may want to do business with shop owner or dealer again. And of course you may have to factor in the location, Inconvenience and courier costs.

I hope that's given you food for thought and maybe a new activity to try out this weekend.

The joy of buying second hand furniture!