The other day, I was on Wayfair looking for a new wardrobe, but after realizing how expensive things can get, I started wondering if there were ways to get free furniture instead.
Our new place has almost zero closet place. I was looking for something specific – dark wood, which I’ve found is typically harder to find and more expensive than paler woods, like pine.
Now, after much searching, I came across a wardrobe on Wayfair that was the exact size, color, and style that I was looking for. I was like, “Perfect!” until I saw the price tag. It cost around $2,000!
I did not purchase it! That was, yes, one of the most expensive items I came across, but still, a lot of furniture nowadays costs $100s or even $1,000s.
Furniture is expensive!
We can all agree on that!
Often, money is tight too meaning that we simply just don’t have $100s or $1,000s to spend on furniture.
Sadly, we need it! Whether it’s a coffee table, a sofa, or a bookshelf, if you are in need of some pieces for your home, you’ll want to know if there are any ways to get free furniture.
Thankfully there are. Many ways in fact.
We’ll share our easy-to-follow tips for getting free furniture below. So you can decorate your home and get the items you need, without breaking the bank.
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How to Get Free Furniture Near Me!
How do you furnish your home then without having to part with a lot of money?
It’s simple. You get your furniture for free.
Here’s how.
1. Contact local furniture banks
You may be able to get help with furniture from local furniture banks. These furniture banks offer free furniture to those in need. This could be anyone from people who’re on a low income to people who’re moving out of homelessness, to people who’ve recently lost their jobs.
It’s worth getting in touch with local furniture banks to see if they could assist you.
Just do a search for “furniture banks,” followed by the name of your city, county, or state, or “furniture banks near me.”
Some examples of furniture banks include:
- Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta
- Furniture Bank of Ohio
- NW Furniture Bank (Tacoma, Washington)
The Furniture Bank Network is also a great site for finding local furniture banks. It has a directory that’s helpful if you’re looking for furniture banks. You can check that out here.
2. Check out Freecycle
Find free furniture on Freecycle. This is a website where people can give away the items that they don’t need and get the items that they do need for free.
You can find a variety of free items on there, including furniture. Browse the site for furniture or post a request for the free furniture items that you want on there.
3. Check out the free section on Facebook Marketplace
The free section on Facebook Marketplace is such an excellent resource for free stuff, including furniture.
Although the focus of the site is buying and selling stuff, it does have a really great selection of freebies ranging from sofas, to end tables, to wardrobes.
Just have a browse of the free section, which we’ve linked in the section heading, to find freebies. You can use the search bar on the site to find specific items.
4. Ask people who’re moving
When people move house, they often don’t take some of their furniture with them. Maybe it doesn’t fit in the new home, maybe it’s not the right style or the new home, or perhaps the homeowner just wants to buy new stuff.
Whatever the case, if you know someone who’s moving, ask them what they’re doing with their old furniture. They may be getting rid of it. Ask if you can have it.
Ask friends and family who are moving. Also, you can look out for any “For sale” signs near you and ask the homeowner if they have any old furniture they don’t want. You’ll save them a trip to the dump!
5. Look out on college move-out day
If you live near a college campus, then you may be able to get some free furniture on or around move-out day.
You could simply visit the campus as students clear out for the summer, and see if you can get any free furniture, or you could create a flyer to post around campus that states that you are looking for furniture and list what types of items you’re looking for.
6. Browse the free section on Craigslist
Craigslist has a section just for free stuff. It’s a really great resource for so many items, including furniture.
Just go to your city’s free section, which can be found under the “For Sale” section. Click on that, and you’ll be able to view all the free stuff near you.
To find the item you’re looking for, just type in the name of the item you want, like “bookcase,” “end table,” “nightstand,” “sofa,” or “coffee table,” into the search bar and hit enter.
7. Look out for furniture on the curbside
Sometimes, when people move, they just dump stuff on the side of the street. Basically, they leave their free furniture on the curb to be collected as trash.
Some people will put a sign saying “free” next to or on the item so that people can take it before garbage day.
Keep a look out for furniture that’s been left on the street. You could get yourself a free dining table, sofa, and other types of furniture.
8. See if your apartment building has a donation zone
Some apartment buildings have a designated area where residents can leave items for others to take. This can include free furniture like chairs, tables, and bookcases.
This furniture zone could be in the lobby, basement, or near the laundry area. Just check with your neighbors or management company. Or simply peruse your building to see if you can find a donation area. You could find furniture and small household items.
Not all apartment buildings have a donation zone, but some larger complexes do.
9. Ask at local churches
Churches want to help those in their community. If you are struggling to afford furniture, then a local church may be able to help you out.
Churches may be able to provide you with furniture directly, or they may be able to point you in the direction of a program or resource in your area that could get you some free furniture. Those on a low income should definitely consider this option.
10. Ask family and friends
Another way that you may be able to get things like used coffee tables, end tables, sofas, and other kinds of furniture for free is to ask friends and family members.
It’s likely that someone that you’re friends with, or someone in your family, has some item of furniture that they’re looking to get rid of.
They may be moving home, they might be upgrading their furniture, or they may be redecorating their home, and their old furniture doesn’t fit in with the new style.
So, there are many reasons why your friends and family members may end up with furniture that they don’t want.
Simply ask your friends and family if they have any old furniture that they’d be willing to give to you. They may be happy for you to take it off their hands – after all, you’ll save them a trip to the dump!
11. Browse OfferUp
Although known as a website for buying and selling used items, OfferUp is also a great resource for free stuff, including furniture.
Pick up a new coffee table for the living room or a wardrobe for your bedroom. It’s just a great site for getting things for your home.
To find freebies on OfferUp, first search for the item it is that you’re looking for, such as “chair,” “sofa,” or “end table.”
Once the results appear, filter them by “Price: Low to High.” This will show you if there’s anyone giving away free furniture on the site. This is a simple way to furnish your home on a budget.
Final Thoughts: Furnish Your Home for Free
Finding free furniture doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right resources and a little effort, you can score amazing pieces without spending a dime.
You can get everything from coffee tables to sofas to chairs to dining tables for free and keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket.
