Furnishing your New York City apartment can not only be time-consuming, but also has the potential to be very expensive. Depending on the size of your space and the look you are going for, you could get into financial trouble. Ideally, you want to find pieces that are cost-effective and long-lasting. It’s easy to fall into the hands of IKEA or Target, but those pieces lack character and break down easily. Luckily, numerous second-hand stores line the streets of both Manhattan and Brooklyn, providing opportunities to achieve the perfect home look for cheap.
Supporting small businesses is also a great way to give back to your community. The exchange is mutually beneficial and holds sentiment. So, we did the start of your hunting for you and made sure to choose well-reviewed stores so you don’t have to worry about accidentally collecting a few new friends in the process (hint: bed bugs). Below is a list of both in-person and online shops to get you started on your furnishing extravaganza.
Cheap Furniture Stores in Manhattan
Manhattan renters can check out some of the following stores to build a great home look for cheap:
Furnish Green – 1261 Broadway #301
With a showroom near Herald Square, Furnish Green handpicks unique vintage and antique pieces that fill their space daily. Sourcing around 15-35 new items a week is a great option if you are looking for long-lasting furniture to decorate your apartment. They are open from Monday to Saturday, 10 AM – 6PM, and have knowledgeable employees to assist in your hunt. Some items are pricier than others, but if you look hard enough, you can find something cheaper. Furnish Green offers storage, seating, mirrors, lighting, accents, art, rugs, and a ton of other things.
The great thing about them is a pick-up and delivery option if the item is too large to transport home. Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, you can pay a price to have your purchase shipped. This is ideal if you do not want to carry a chair on the train. I’ve done it. It’s possible, but not ideal. Before you visit, you can check out the store’s website to see its stock items.
White Trash – 304 E 54th St
If you are interested in mid-century modern finds, this is the place for you. All of their furnishings are sourced from the 40s through the 70s to achieve a more rustic look. Because of their small space and reasonable prices, the furniture they offer is always rapidly changing. Their inventory is sourced from all over the world, with some really unique pieces in store. Whether you are looking for furniture or decorations, White Trash offers a fantastic array of pieces. This business also has an online inventory, helping you plan before shopping.
Olde Good Things Antique Store NYC – 302 Bowery
As one of the highest-rated places during my research, Olde Good Things Antique Store popped up and even made me want to visit. With their vintage clothes and furniture collection, this store provides its customers with mid-century modern pieces. They even upcycle industrial oak and maple wood flooring to make tabletops that they sell. This store is often visited by those who want to rent their pieces for photoshoots and movie/tv/commercial sets.
To give you an insight into how unique their collection is, they have a quote on their website which states, “Olde Good Things recently pulled fireplace mantels, andirons, and log holders from the 1931 Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Towers. Including a paneled room that Winston Churchill had installed there. Also, the mantel from the President’s Suite and many other nice pieces of furniture. We recovered truckloads of crystal chandeliers, Italian hand-blown shades, cut crystal flushmounts, and bronze pairs of wall sconces from EF Caldwell and other high-end lighting manufacturers.” Their range of furniture is impressive and could help you easily settle into your new place!
Cheap Furniture Stores in Brooklyn
Brooklyn renters have numerous opportunities to achieve the perfect home look for cheap. They’ll find plenty of furniture between vintage, second-hand, and thrift stores.
Reuse America – 387 Bushwick Ave
Reuse America provides a warehouse jam-packed with vintage furniture, décor, and clothing. Based on the reviews, people claim that this place provides its customers with knowledgeable and friendly employees, amazing and unique pieces, and some really incredible prices. You can also check out their Instagram account @reuseamericany because all of the pieces listed there are also for sale. If you are looking for a particular item or have a certain inquiry, they advise that you text or call them at 718-807-6529 so that they can better assist you. This is yet another place where they offer low-cost delivery; however, it is stated that it is only local. If you are not local, they have pick-up days in which you can leave your item there and retrieve it during the allocated times with transportation that is more convenient for you.
Green Village Used Furniture and Clothing – 276 Starr St
Featured in both the New York Times and New York Magazine Best Of, Green Village Used Furniture and Clothing specializes in antiques and old school relics. They have a warehouse of over 10,000 square feet filled with vintage finds and junk to satisfy your thrifty needs and wants. The number of items they have surpasses most stores that I have seen, so I really recommend going, even if it is just to check it out. It is conveniently located just off the Jefferson stop on the L train, so if you find some good stuff, it will be easy to lug around.
Online Stores for Cheap Furniture
Avoid the big-name retailers and shop within your community! Depending on your neighborhood, there may even be a local “Buy Nothing” group that you can join. This franchise involves neighbors posting their free items, and members can claim them. Note that you can only be a part of one group at a time. Otherwise, look at some options for buying second-hand in your neighborhood:
Facebook Marketplace
If you have read any of my other pieces, you will know how much I love and adore Facebook Marketplace. This is the holy grail of all furniture finds and I could not recommend it more. Not only is it extremely therapeutic to sift through their selection, but you can find some really superb pieces. The prices are almost impossible to beat, and I have found some of my favorite household items on this function. Perhaps the only issue that I have run into with Facebook Marketplace is obtaining the item I want. Living in NYC most people do not have a car, so if you want a bigger furniture item you may have to ask a friend or hire a moving service.
Craigslist
Craigslist is very similar to Facebook Marketplace in terms of online retail. You are buying a usually previously owned item off someone in hopes of it completing your ideal space. You will run into the same issues, but it is worth it for the most part. Don’t be nervous in getting scammed because that does not happen as often as you think. Just make sure you pay for the item only upon retrieving and inspecting it. The likelihood of you coming across a scammer is small, and people are just on there to get rid of their furniture. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Conclusion
After all your shopping, get ready to start decorating your space! For additional articles on how to purchase space saving furniture for you NYC apartment or other options for buying used furniture, we’ve also found some good articles on CitySignal!
Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.
