WITH energy bills, fuel and food prices rocketing, giving your house a glamorous makeover might not be at the top of the to-do list.
But with the right skills, not only can you furnish the home of your dreams, you can even make a tidy profit out of the hidden gems you pick up.
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In the upcoming Channel 4 show My Second-Hand Home, savvy bargain hunters compete to see who can kit out their home for next to nothing.
And Gabby and Tom, both 29, managed to spend just over £800 on second-hand and pre-loved items to transform their three-bedroom Victorian cottage in Wales.
Sharing their secrets with Sun readers, the couple say the best places to look are on Facebook’s Marketplace, local auction houses and charity shops – but one rule they advise is opting against pricey antique shops.
They also freshened up the drab furniture for pennies, thanks to paint they found at supermarket Aldi.
“I have always loved second-hand furniture and I wanted to buy some to furnish our new house together,” explains Gabby.
“We managed to find about 30 items to furnish two out of the three bedrooms and the two living areas in our house.
“One of my proudest items is the ladies armchair. Tom loves his desk too. We wanted to keep to a modern feel but with traditional items.”
In the show, two competing couples are given 28 days to find second-hand items before furniture valuer Greg Bateman casts his expert eye over their overall worth.
Whoever sees the biggest increase in the furnishings’ total value wins back the money originally spent.
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While Gabby and Tom won’t reveal who won, they were stunned to find their £848 investment was now worth more than £2,400.
Amongst the couple’s amazing finds were a side coffee table for a pound, a double metal bed frame costing £15, and a beautiful Art Deco mirror, also £15.
Other purchases included a large wooden desk for £20, a ladies armchair for £120 that needed upcycling, a Singer sewing machine table for £50 – which they then turned into a lounge table – and a large painting for £85.
Gabby and Tom’s top five secrets to bag a bargain
HAVING kitted out their home for just £800, the thrifty couple reveal their tips:
- One man’s trash – You can find lots of amazing items on Facebook’s Marketplace for next to nothing or at a much lower price. Auction houses or any charities running shops at a local refuse tip are also great.
- Upcycle – Don’t worry about the item’s condition. You can easily upcycle a scruffy looking piece of furniture with a lick of paint. Aldi has a great pot of furniture paint.
- Mismatching adds character – Even if you don’t find what you are looking for but find another amazing discovery, buy it. The best-priced items go quickly. There is no time for dithering. Buying random items can give your house a stylish edge.
- Unsold bargains – Check out what hasn’t been sold at an auction house and see if the vendor will do a deal. Tom’s £20 desk hadn’t been sold and the vendor wanted a quick sale.
- Plan ahead – Start thinking about Christmas and look out for items you could either upcycle or hide away as a present. Old items are built to last.
‘Antique shops are rip-off, auction houses are best’
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The pair were fortunate to stumble across a local shop run by a charity, which rescued items destined for the nearby refuse tip.
“The charity filters through everything to upcycle,” says Tom.
“Anything from kids’ bikes to candle holders and vases. We picked up a candle holder and vase for 50 pence there.”
“We got a lot on Marketplace on Facebook too,” Gabby adds. “But my advice is if you do see something on there that you like, you need to act quickly as they sell fast. We were of the view that if we liked it and it was a good price, then we bought it.”
Antique shops were not, however, great value for money.
“They are good but overpriced,” said Tom. “It’s lovely to go for a nice experience but you will find things cheaper and better quality at an auction house.”
‘Cheap Aldi paint helped us save tatty pieces’
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Eager to prove they had what it took to be crowned the best second-hand bargain hunters, the couple also repainted some of the items with Aldi’s furniture paint to give them a fresh and modern look.
“Aldi has good paint,” says Gabby. “We bought a Singer sewing table and it wasn’t in great condition. But we knew that whatever we did wouldn’t make it any worse!”
For Tom and Gabby, the new TV competition gave them the push they needed to find items on a shoestring budget – especially as they’d already blown most of their cash on renovating and installing a new bathroom and kitchen.
Now, they have their eye on another big project.
“We have still got the items we purchased six months after filming,” said Gabby. “They are in great condition and good quality.
“We loved it. We are having a baby later this year and we will definitely get some second-hand items for our baby. You can find some amazing things.”
My Second Hand Home airs Sunday, August 21 on Channel 4. For more info about Greg’s auction house, visit batemans.com.
How to spot a hidden gem
GREG Bateman, managing director and senior valuer at Batemans Auction House, knows exactly what makes a hidden gem.
Here, he reveals what types of furniture to look out for… and where to look.
- Don’t overlook electricals – There are some amazing charity warehouses dotted across Britain and you should never forget you can pick up some electrical bargains like fridges, televisions, and ovens. Even if an oven has a blemish on the side, by the time it is installed, you won’t be able to see it and you can get yourself a massive discount.
- Danish furniture – Anything that has a ‘Made in Denmark’ stamp on it could be very interesting. Danish light elm furniture is hugely popular and you can see the quality in the design. So, if you do find a cool vintage Danish design, go for it!
- Back in fashion – 1950/60s mid-century furniture is another great find as it is very in demand. Remember to go for the lighter colours as that is what most people are interested in right now.
- Built to last – Quality will always pay for itself in the long run. In 99.9 per cent of cases, second-hand antique furniture is far superior in quality. Look out for items that have solid sides, backs and not chipboard or a card back.
- Cheap repairs – You don’t need to break the budget if you do buy a second-hand item that needs work on it. Little repairs are easy to do yourself and even simply painting a door you have found or changing the handles can make an item look completely different. Chalk paints give a lovely finish. Most of all, have fun checking out the car boot sales and charity shops.
