Why is it so difficult to give furniture away?

Saggi

Younger People don’t want good quality …. they want modern ….and modern changes every 5-8 years or so. So they buy new …cheaper furniture , and don’t lose much sleep when they get rid in time for the next modern trend Simples!

Yet they are the ones who bang on to the rest of us about recycling and saving the planet...

I bought an old washing machine on Gumtree (not too old!) It cost about £50 went to collect it and found it was in a huge warehouse filled floor to ceiling with donated items for a homeless charity.

As we left the guy asked us if we didn't want some of the other items!
He said that when people are set up in flats, they want new goods.
The machine is still going strong after about 10years.

When we were in our first house in 1970, we felt obliged to fill our home with old furniture gifted from relatives. I still have most of it!
A new bed but that was the only thing we bought.

I would never pay £500 for a chair when I can get one for next to nothing.
So please keep selling things or giving them away.

We have used Freecycle with mixed results. You have to insist they give you a mobile number and state a time for collection. Make it clear that you don’t hold it. Usually it works out ok if you are firm from the start. Also used British Heart Foundation and some hospice charity shops who collect. Usually seems a 2 weeks wait time for that.

I dont buy cheap anything and when I want a change it all goes to a good home .My children are the same .What none of us do is travel on planes or cruise ships or have new fuel guzzling cars .Easy to think everyone should be the same ,but look to the things YOU could do to "save the planet Saggi I'm 70 next birthday ,is there a rule I need to live with G plan ,which I detested when it WAS fashionable instead of spending MY money on things I like and enjoy.
Evertime I change a room someone else benefits ...that is surely what most people do ?

I used house clearance company in my dads area. Came when they said they would and took everything I asked them to.

Same thing here - younger family members do NOT want their folk’s stuff! They have their own style preferences…
• IKEA, mid-century but want NEW, not old
• simple lines are easier cleaned & cared for
• big box stores are inexpensive - easy to replace on a whim
• not as heavy as solid wood
• don’t want to reupholster or refinish.

I get it. They have a chance to start their own homes, style. Maybe they can afford to do so.

I have two pieces left over from previous marriage. Not even mid-century, but OLDER… think Victorian era, mahogany. Very ornate, a “beach” to clean the curly-cues 😆 But, it is impressive. After asking around and being rebuffed, I’m using them again in my newly refurbished and furnished condo. The dressing table with a mirror is very functional for me. Somehow, it’s working again 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’d have to pay someone to just come a bring it all downstairs to the garbage truck. I’ll let my family deal with it when I’m gone.
Problem solved!
USA Gundy

Blondiescot

Calendargirl

Gosh paddyann, all my furniture is far older than four years.

I would think of four year old stuff as practically brand new, and wouldn’t dream of replacing it.

(This isn’t intended as a criticism, just an observation how we all have different ideas, the same applies to clothes, I have stuff years old that I still wear and think is ok, but others would have ditched yonks ago).

Same here. There's nothing in our house which is less than about 20 years ago. I'm currently sitting on the sofa of our three-piece suite, which we 'inherited' from my inlaws nearly 30 years ago. We had it recovered, but they bought it when they got married - 69 years ago!

Ours is quite old too, apart from the bed, sofas and chairs.

Our old G plan 3 piece suite went to the Red Cross charity as it had a fire certificate; the sofa was hardly worn but I was sick of the colour (it was never right in the first place) and they got £75 for it so a good result someone had use out of it and money went to charity.

Still have our Tapley SL furniture which we bought for our first house, it is relegated to the office now but very useful.

Oh, I've just been sorting clothes and put some back in a spare wardrobe "just in case", Calendargirl.
However, I did throw out some 'mistakes' still with labels or worn just once 🙂

It was easier to get rid of furniture 15+ years ago than now.
So what happened?

Callistemon21

It was easier to get rid of furniture 15+ years ago than now.
So what happened?

More regulation about fire safety etc, more expensive van hire, easier availability of cheap new stuff, and fewer young people able to afford to buy houses (low wages and high house prices) so stay renting longer and buy things of their own?

Upholstered furniture needs a fire safety certificate but some wooden furniture is just not wanted, according to charity shops and upcycling centres.

"Young people don't want it" is what we are told.
They'd rather have cheap chipboard veneered with laminate.

Another thumbs up for British Heart Foundation. They've been twice to our house since we downsized and I'm about to contact them again. I usually book an appointment online stating what items I want collecting. I get a phone call the day before saying what time they will be there. Not let me down yet.

BHF took some of my parents furniture when they went into their care homes. Wouldn’t take the beautiful large unit as said it was too big so advertised it for free but ended up chopping it up. They wouldn’t take the tv stand as they said you can’t give them away!

My daughter will be looking for furniture soon. Moving to a 2 bed flat. Lives in London.

Not only is our house furnished almost entirely with second-hand furniture, but so is DS's and DD's. Our 15 year old DGD has recently completely revamped and redecorated her bedroom, including buying second hand furniture and painting it.

People are too fussy even on free sites. However sometimes it's a matter of timing and transport costs. I keep finding people desperate for furniture but can't get transport to get it there. Large items of furniture like dressers are not very popular at the moment.

MaggsMcG

People are too fussy even on free sites. However sometimes it's a matter of timing and transport costs. I keep finding people desperate for furniture but can't get transport to get it there. Large items of furniture like dressers are not very popular at the moment.

Our home is completely furnished in very old brown furniture. Our daughters have done the same. All the old family furniture has been given out and used, re-furbished/ painted.

However, many don't like old brown furniture. I understand, ok for them.

Yes, transport can be a big issue for some folk on Freecycle. I've had quite a few requests "will you deliver if I pay costs?" Often we are happy to.
I usually say "Oh, I'm going that way anyway" and won't take any money.
I could have wept at the expression on 2 kids' faces when I dropped off my old bunk beds (from my childhood, kept at my parents' home for my kids, and finally gifted when they had outgrown them). The kids had been top-and-tailing on a settee and were so excited at getting their own beds.
I made sure that the parents were aware that they were old, but sturdy.

Some good, heartwarming stories on here!
I discovered Freecycle many years ago when our DC were leaving home and I was keen to slim down our possessions but unfortunately I kept seeing things I wanted to rescue so ended up with an harmonium, a 3 piece suite, tables, a handmade bed. Oh dear.
This evening, as a result of this thread I went on the site asking for a kitchen cabinet for my workshop.
I mustn't have worded it properly because instead of some throw out I am being offered bespoke made to measure designer furniture. Oops!

I know a few posters have touched on the subject of up-cycled furniture but seriously, why not have a go at up-cycling your stuff? Then sell it. Up-cycled furniture is a 'thing' now and if you have a look at sellers websites, the prices they are asking are eye-watering. There are some beautiful items available. You never know, you could make a fortune. You might even enjoy it! Plenty of 'how to' videos on social media. recycleforgreatermanchester.com/blog/beginners-guide-to-upcycling-furniture/

Blondiescot I'm currently sitting on my family sofa which I "grew up with" bought 2nd hand in 1950 and subsequently recovered several times as needed!
This included pink brocade, red boucle, teal/petrol woven fabric, red velvet, - currently pale teal velvet
Now needs doing again.

A friend took my husband's family's g-plan sofa which had also been recovered several times.

I think some of us just like what we have and don't feel the urge to start again.

One of the nicest things about preferring old and antique furniture is that I am surrounded by things, that remind me of people I love.

My hall table and occasional table belonged to my grandmother and I loved them, even as a child, the same with a wonderful revolving bookcase that my parents owned. Until recently I had a dresser that belonged to my sister inthe kitchen, which I did sell, when a kitchen extension meant it was too tall for the house.

My family swap furniture like other families swap clothes and several items encapsulate memories of 3 family members, who all owned it before it made its way to me.

As I said I am not overly sentimental about items, and if they no longer fit they go, but I like the sense of continuity.

A lot of youngster live in smaller houses/flats, many pieces of older furniture are large, cumbersome and darker, they don’t suit the more confined spaces. Having furniture reupholstered, stripped back, stained or remodelled is expensive and time consuming compared with the likes of IKEA.

Jaxjacky

A lot of youngster live in smaller houses/flats, many pieces of older furniture are large, cumbersome and darker, they don’t suit the more confined spaces. Having furniture reupholstered, stripped back, stained or remodelled is expensive and time consuming compared with the likes of IKEA.

I think you're correct for many people. We live in a small, very old farmhouse, pre-Victorian, I suppose. But small is relative init? The ceilings are sky high - room for larger pieces.

I find sanding/stripping/painting old brown wood furniture easy and cheap as chips - we're all different aren't we?

I don’t know what counts as ‘young’ people now (those who demand everything new) but having worked abroad for some years dd and SiL had not so much as a teaspoon when they bought their first house 8 years ago - they were both late 30s - and were only too glad of any 2nd hand donations - from furniture to crockery and cutlery.

They’ve gradually replaced much of it, but dd still buys virtually everything 2nd hand from FB marketplace or Gumtree. She’s found some amazing bargains, inc. a lovely John Lewis extending kitchen table - and very good quality dining chairs for peanuts.