Promoting Reuse is what we do!
Recycle, reuse
Interiors By Consign – Promoting Reuse for nearly 30 years!
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Each year, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture, creating mountains of solid waste that have grown 450 percent since 1960. A lot of the waste has to do with the way furniture is being made in our increasingly disposable society. If you have been furniture shopping online or even in lower end stores lately, you are aware of the trend toward particle board and cheaply made pieces. Even some of the better brands are now making a line of furniture that is not made as well as their signature line to reach people that want furniture delivered to their door in a matter of days. “It is quite a big problem, both spatially and also because of the way a lot of fast furniture is made now, it’s not just wood and metal. The materials don’t biodegrade or break down,” said Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and author. “We’re creating this leviathan problem at landfills with the furniture that we get rid of.” You might assume that the furniture being thrown out is old and out of style but that is not the case. Ashlee says “it's usually newer furniture that is being tossed. It’s things like a chair that’s missing a leg or things with cosmetic damage to them. That’s because it's just not built to last and there aren’t repair programs for it. It was intended to have a short lifespan.” (https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/sustainability-fast furniture
Solid wood furniture can be refinished, painted and repurposed much easier than items made of particle board. Very often in our stores we feel for customers that have spent good money on a trendy table, only to find out when it is damaged it cannot be repaired. There is certainly a market for furniture delivered to your door – especially in big city apartment buildings and temporary living situations. We recommend customers never buy a sofa or piece of furniture that they plan to sit on often without first trying it out. In our stores we get lots of items consigned that are newly ordered, even from high end furniture makers, but are not comfortable when delivered. Sofas and chairs fit everyone differently depending on height and body build. Buying mistakes can be expensive and heartbreaking. It is also important to look closely at the dimensions of furniture items bought online. Often these items are not scaled correctly and feel like they are made in miniature. To avoid disappointment, be aware that most mass produced furniture is not going to last more than a few years.
Re-homing gently used, upscale, quality consignment furniture is not only a great way to recycle and reduce household waste – it is also a way to score a quality piece of like new furniture, at a discounted price! Your furniture can be a beautiful addition to another home and a blessing at the same time. We are so fortunate to hear stories (and see pictures weekly) about where our consignor’s furniture ends up and how it is being reused in a new space. Customers often find pieces in our store that were cost prohibitive when brand new. We love seeing people fall in love with a brand name, well- made piece of furniture, knowing when it is placed in their home no one would ever suspect it had a previous life. Sustainability is about meeting current needs without damaging future generations; that is exactly what we help customers and consignors do daily. Both our Huntsville and Madison locations continually have furniture that was just used to stage a home or was a buying mistake and never used. We also have many solid wood tables and pieces that are made to last. We specialize in consignment of brands like Hickory Chair, Hancock & Moore, Bradington & Young, Lexington, Baker, Restoration Hardware, Bassett and more.
For nearly 30 years, Interiors By Consign has been recycling and re-purposing furniture through our South Huntsville store! In addition, Our Madison location is celebrating it’s 5th birthday this year. We strive to provide a needed service to our consignors and a valuable product to our customers. We also seek to promote and support local small businesses in our community. If you have questions about how our consignment process works, please stop in and see us at 8506 Whitesburg Drive in HSV and 181 Hughes Rd in Madison. You can see our current inventory anytime and get tips and advice on downsizing and more @interiorsbyconsign.net
Ashlee Piper is the author of the book “Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet”.