SECOND-HAND FURNITURE AND UPCYCLING BOOM

Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash

Amidst the cost of living crisis, 37% of people are spending less on furniture compared to this time last year, a survey from Nextdoor finds. With thrifty Brits instead looking for different ways to refresh their homes or breathe new life into furniture with 19% undertaking more upcycling projects this year.

Over half (57%) of Nextdoor users are actively using the platform to source second hand furniture. The app has thousands of pieces of furniture, posted by neighbours, with over 127,000 items of these being offered for ‘free’.

Nextdoor, connects people with their local community, making it the ideal place to look for a local bargain. As well as saving money by buying second hand, collecting an unwanted item is also a great way to meet the neighbours. Now, the platform is teaming up with interior designer Micaela Sharp to inspire the nation to upcycle used furniture, rather than buying brand new.

As we head out of the long spring and into the late summer, more people will be looking to give their homes a refresh as part of a spring clean, and with interior DIY hacks going viral, Nextdoor provides neighbours with the best local source for finding free furniture that needs little tweaks to turn it into something incredible for very little spend.

 

“What may be old and outdated to one person, may be treasure to another. Times are tough for households all over the UK right now, and buying new furniture is expensive. Nextdoor users can be resourceful and utilise their neighbourhood to enjoy a home  refresh and save money. By using the network, neighbours can find furniture round the corner, so it’s easy to collect and the upcycling process can start right away. One in four items are listed on Nextdoor for free, so users can save money whilst also investing in a fun project for their home.”

Laura Roche, Managing Director of Nextdoor UK

 

When it comes to buying second-hand, 44% of Brits have previously bought a piece of pre-loved furniture, with coffee tables being the most popular at 37%. According to the survey, 41% of people say the price encouraged them to purchase used items and 34% said pre-owned items are better value. Over 8,000 people on Nextdoor are searching for info about upcycling with 36 active groups of upcyclers on platform.

The most popular pieces of furniture posted on the platform are tables (over 16,000), sofas and beds (both over 12,500), showing there are so many items available nationwide. Other popular items include over 8,000 chairs, over 4,700 desks and over 4,000 cabinets, with items for every room available.

Photo by Johnny Briggs on Unsplash

When it comes to buying furniture, 37% have spent less on new furniture in the last 12 months compared to previous years, of which 28% of people who bought brand new had bought a sofa. But with over 12,000 sofas available on Nextdoor, choosing second-hand could have saved them money.

When it comes to upcycling, many are put off by the handmade element, but there has been an increase in upcyclers and crafters over the past 12 months. The survey found that 19% of people have completed more DIY than in previous years, and 21% of these have done so to refurbish old furniture. By having a go at learning these skills, people can save money on simple tasks and Nextdoor have found a significant number of posts mentioning ‘DIY’, ‘refurbish’ or ‘interior design’ to date, with almost 12,500 posts this year.

Micaela Sharp, interiors expert who has appeared on Channel 4’s Changing Rooms and Discovery’s Woodland Workshop, believes refurbishing is a simple and fun way to save money:

“Upcycling allows people to be creative and make one-of-a-kind pieces for their home by breathing new life into old furniture. The DIY can be as simple as you need it to be, so there’s no worry when it comes to being a beginner. Whether it’s a lick of paint, sanding or sewing, these skills can be straight-forward and easy to pick up.”

Micaela Sharp, Interiors Expert

Nextdoor is completely free to download. To sign up to Nextdoor or to find out more, visit www.nextdoor.co.uk.

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