Choosing furniture from antique shops

In recent years there has been enormous growth in the antiques market. This has largely been fuelled by television programmes such as Cash in the Attic, The Antiques Roadshow and Flog It! It is probably also due to a rise in popularity of history programmes, such as Restoration. We have interior design magazines galore nowadays, too, and more people are looking to buy a genuinely old item, rather than get a modern-day imitation.

You are likely to find antique shops in whatever town you live in and so you can easily just walk in and buy something. However, before you jump in and buy the first thing you see, make sure that you have considered the following:

Purpose
What is your antique item going to be used for? Are you looking for an ornament, painting, piece of furniture or something else? If it's a piece of furniture, think about how much use it will get and whether you mind it being subjected to wear and tear that it will inevitably get if it is placed in a room which gets a lot of use.

Cost
Decide how much you can afford before you start buying. It's easy to get into an antique shop and get carried away and end up spending more than you intended. Be strict with yourself, so as not to go overboard. Nevertheless, you should look on your purchase as an investment for the future, so always spend the most you can.

Size
It doesn't matter if you are looking for a dining room table, a dressing table or an armchair; don't spend a penny until you are sure that your furniture will fit into the space you have available. Antique furniture is likely to be expensive, so the last thing you need is to find out that it doesn't fit. Instead, be prepared before you go shopping. Similarly, if you are looking for a painting, make sure you know what dimensions it needs to be, otherwise you might end up with something that doesn't fill the space properly.

Care
Whatever it is you buy from an antique shop you need to know how to take care of it. Get advice from the shop owner, because it's important you don't use the wrong sort of polish or over polish something. Sometimes, depending on the finish, all that will be necessary is a quick dust with a soft cloth. You should never put your antique furniture right in front of a radiator or in direct sunlight, as it can damage it.

At Sunnyside Antiques, we specialise in 17th to 19th century furniture and objets d'art. We also offer a fully comprehensive and professional restoration service, including French polishing, cabinet making, veneering and re-upholstery. Call us today on 01899 850 552 to find out more.