I have to admit I am a curbside junkie. When I am driving around a neighborhood I am always on the hunt for treasure on the curbside.
Someone’s Junk is My Treasure
I am a firm believer that one person junk is a home decorator dream come true. Especially in this day of furniture makeovers and DIY Projects.
However, it is important to know what is a treasure and what is junk. You don’t want to rescue something from the curbside only to bring it to find it is more junk than treasure. Then that item becomes your junk to deal with and no one wants that.
What to Leave on Curb
What are items you may often want to leave on the curbside? There are certain things I generally stay a way from. Here is my pass list:
- Upholstered Furniture – I typically don’t pick up upholstered furniture because you never know what smells, bugs and germs are coming with that fabric. Unless you are planning to reupholster the furniture right away, I would pass.
- Furniture Excessive Water Damage – Any item with a lot of noticeable water damage I pass on because it maybe more work to redo than I have time.
- Particle Board Furniture – I never save particle board furniture from the garbage truck. Typically furniture made of particle board is low quality. You are looking for treasure not junk.
Quick Evaluation
The main thing I always do before putting something in the trunk is giving it a good once and sometimes twice over. I am always asking myself a couple of questions while I evaluate a curbside item.
- Do I have an idea of what I can do with this item?
- How long is it going to take to update the curbside item? Do I have time for this project?
- Will it fit in my car?
- And most importantly…What will my wife say when I bring it home?
Depending on my evaluation and the answers to these questions, the item either ends up in my truck or stays on the curb.
What Items to Stop For
What you stop for maybe different from me, but these are generally good items to pull over for a look.
1. Small Pieces of Wood Furniture – Small wood furniture are going items to throw in the trunk. I am always stopping to grab end and coffee tables, night stands and other wood furniture. As long, as the wood is in decent condition I know I can makeover it without costing me too much.
2. Seating – Chairs, stools, and benches are also cool curbside finds and easy to redo with a new coat of paint. I love reupholstering chair seat cushions with a large pattern and color fabric.
3. Large Frames or Artwork – There is south you can do with frames to save you money on home decor. If you see frames sitting on the curb, stop to check them out. If there is artwork in them, remember you can always change it out. Frames are easy to spray paint and repurpose. I repurposed a frame for my daughter’s hair clips.
4. Dressers – These are a little harder to get into your car or van at times. Dressers are wonderful curbside finds. Think outside of the box if you pick up a dresser. You can turn a dresser into a media cabinet, wet bar, changing table and many other possibilities.
5. Doors – Doors also have many thrifty decorating possibilities. Panels doors can be transformed into architectural art, headboards and bookshelves. You can also find low-cost old doors at salvage yards or Habitat For Humanity Restores.
6. Scrap Wood – I often pick up pieces of scrap wood because there is so much potential for decorating my home. Scrap wood can become furniture, shelves, art, and anything you can imagine.
7. Lamps – I don’t see them that often on the curb, but when I do I just have to stop. Updating old tables is so much fun. You can give something old a fresh modern look quickly with a bold paint color and simple white shade. You can go wrong.
Primetime for Scoring BIG
The best time to score curbside treasures is on Sundays and Mondays. Many people do purging or cleaning projects on the weekend.
This means people put stuff they are getting rid of out on the curb on Sunday. These are the best days to take a drive and be on the look out for saving opportunities.
Save Home Decor from the Landfill
Just because something is on the curb waiting for the garbage truck, doesn’t mean it is time for it to go to the landfill.
Whenever I pick up something off the curb I feel I am doing a little part in saving the environment and money decorating.
If you want to save money on decorating your home be on the look out for treasures on curbs. With a little bit of work and not much money, you can turn your neighbor’s junk into home decor.
What have you picked off the curbside? I would love to hear what treasures you have found.
God Bless & Thank you,