WHEN BUYING vintage furniture

Garage sales and flea markets offer great opportunities to nab a vintage dresser to refinish. Know when to buy a used dresser and when to pass:

Inspect the piece to make sure it is structurally sound. Are the legs sturdy? Are joints loose or cracked? Are the drawers falling apart, or do they just stick? Sticking drawers are an easy fix, but pass on any dresser that requires extensive repairs.

Don’t be put off by cosmetic flaws like a nicked finish or missing hardware. Finishes can be redone; hardware can be replaced.

Check for insect infestation. Signs of termites or beetles? Leave it behind.

Check for mold or extensive water damage. A water ring can be buffed away, but furniture that has been through a flood requires professional help—worth it only if it’s a valuable antique, which you wouldn’t be painting and decoupaging anyway.

Measure! Know the measurements of your doorways—all of them. Besides height and width of the furniture piece, also check its depth. Will it get to where you want it and then fit the space? If not, move along.