Furniture Wall Units
Huge wall units spanning the entire living room wall were a definite sign of prosperity for the Soviet person. Most often, they are polished, bulky. Indestructible, sturdy, spacious. Soviet times are long gone, but the wall units stand. They take up a lot of space. The logical question is – what to do with them?
Can’t throw away, must keep
- If the wall unit is modular and in good condition, you can dismantle and modernize it. Repaint, change the hardware for quality ones – anything. And “distribute” the parts throughout the apartment or within a room.
- Minor chips and defects can be filled with furniture putty, hard wax, furniture edging – depending on the problem.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Severe defects, the wall unit has sagged, the doors are skewed, hanging, won’t close – restoration won’t save it.
Solid Wood Furniture
Cabinets, dressers, tables and side tables, beds made of solid wood deserve a second chance at life. At least because they are priceless – literally. Wood is a valuable material, especially certain species.
Can’t throw away, must keep
- Furniture with inlays, interesting carvings may turn out to be antiques. Or become such over time.
- The color of the wood can be refreshed or changed with putty and tinting.
- If the hardware is lost or worn out – find new ones.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Damage so severe that the item is beyond repair.
- Cheap “wood-look” products that cause more trouble than they’re worth.
Chairs and Armchairs
Chairs and stools, hard armchairs, soft and leather seats with high backs – even our young grandparents sat on such. The durability of such furniture is a century and even more.
Can’t throw away, must keep
- A strong frame, especially wooden, is a great value. And spoiled upholstery can be replaced.
- If there is no upholstery – sand, degrease, repaint with accent paint.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Wobbly-legged chairs and armchairs that seem to fall apart from just one look.
- Furniture seriously damaged by bugs and dampness, the base is heavily deformed, won’t withstand restoration.
Lamps, Wall Lights, Floor Lamps
Can’t throw away, must keep
- Lighting fixtures with quality design that will create an accent in the interior.
- Tall floor lamps on metal legs, crystal chandeliers and wall lights – they can be successfully styled “antique.”
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Mass-produced products, for example, made of plastic. Melted, yellowed.
- Light fixtures and chandeliers with crystal pendants, half of which are broken/lost.
- If fixing them to give light is impossible.
Retro Items
Don’t be quick to part with things you don’t use. From a decorating standpoint, they can lose their
original function and acquire a new one. For example, a fiber suitcase easily turns into a dressing table!
Can’t throw away, must keep
- Radios, toys, old suitcases, telephones, typewriters and sewing machines fit perfectly into loft, eclectic, and Scandinavian styles.
- Clocks may even turn out to be recognized masterpieces of design. Research their origins before deciding their fate.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Blatantly worn items. If you don’t intend to shoot a horror movie, throw away scary one-legged bears, one-legged dolls, and so on.
Books and Magazines
Almost everyone inherits stacks of waste paper along with housing: books, newspaper and magazine collections, collected works. Distribute them, and throw away the remnants – or maybe not?
Can’t throw away, must keep
- Series of books or editions, selected by color, will become a successful accent in the interior.
- Some volumes may turn out to be rare – look for information by year of publication.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Tabloid press from the nineties-zeroes, novels in soft covers, collections of old newspapers, torn and partially lost copies – into the trash or for recycling.
- If the books are in decent condition but you definitely don’t need them, you can donate them to libraries, bookcrossing, shelters.
Art
Paintings, frames, statuettes, porcelain – take a closer look, learn their history. Something may turn out to be really valuable.
Can’t throw away, must keep
- Find out the authorship of the work – maybe you have an unknown masterpiece by a famous master in your hands. If you doubt whether you can understand whether it’s a valuable item or not, consult authoritative sources, acquaintances knowledgeable in art.
- Your interior already has vintage, and another decoration will fit organically into the overall picture.
Must throw away, can’t keep
- Mass-produced copies of famous paintings, ugly ceramic statuettes and vases. Everything that hung in every other home last century.
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