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Furniture flipping is a popular side hustle that has gained significant attention in recent years. Some consider it a creative outlet that fuels their passion for bringing new life to old items. Some find it to be a meaningful contribution to reducing the environmental impact of consumerism. Others see it as a means to earn extra income while promoting sustainable living. Regardless of the reason, furniture flipping also has the potential to become a profitable side hustle.
This article goes through the basics of how to get started, then goes more in-depth as we share everything you need to know to maximize earnings from furniture flipping.
Furniture flipping transforms used or old furniture into attractive, functional pieces that sell for profit. Furniture flippers restore or refurbish used pieces to enhance their appearance, adding value to them so they can be sold at a much higher price than they would’ve fetched.
In 2022, furniture restoration exploded in popularity on social media. In TikTok alone, #furnitureflip garnered 4.6 billion total views in 2022. This heightened interest in flipped furniture is just one of the many reasons why furniture flipping is gaining traction as a lucrative side hustle.
Compared to many other business ventures, furniture flipping has a low startup cost. If you have good furniture at home that you can flip, the only amount you’d need to shell out will be for cleaning and refurbishing materials. No matter how small your available capital is, there is an old or neglected piece of furniture you can start with.
As a side hustle, furniture flipping does not require a set schedule. You can work on the furniture any time you’re free. This gives you plenty of flexibility when juggling family responsibilities, full-time job demands, and other commitments.
When done right, furniture flipping can generate substantial profits. You can purchase undervalued or neglected pieces at extremely low prices, transform them into one-of-a-kind pieces, and sell them at a large profit margin. You’d be surprised at how much money buyers are willing to shell out for flipped furniture. In fact, statistics show that consumer spending for secondhand house goods and furniture will reach $23.56 billion in 2025. The potential for earning a significant return on your investment becomes even higher when you have an eye for design and a skill for craftsmanship.
The market for used furniture is thriving. Straits Research projects the global off-the-shelf secondhand furniture market to reach $58.58 billion by 2030—a 7.80% CAGR growth within ten years. By tapping into this growing market, you can take advantage of the demand and generate consistent sales.
To turn furniture flipping into a profitable venture, you need to equip yourself with the proper knowledge, skills, and tools. Start with thorough research to understand the market and learn to spot profitable opportunities. Educate yourself about different furniture styles, refurbishing techniques, and market trends.
Take advantage of online resources such as videos, tutorials, and free courses to learn different techniques. You can also check for workshops or community events focused on furniture making or restoration in your area. Engage in forums or online communities to learn from more experienced furniture flippers.
As you prepare for your first project, create a dedicated workspace where you can work on refurbishing furniture. If you plan to pursue furniture flipping in the long term, consider investing in sturdier tools and materials that can also be used for future projects. Strive to build a network of suppliers and artisans you can partner with once your furniture-flipping venture succeeds.
Make sure you also set a budget for your initial project. By allocating your resources well and making calculated purchasing decisions, you can maximize your potential gains and avoid unnecessary losses. While it may be tempting to dive in headfirst with multiple projects or plenty of materials, starting small allows you to gain experience and confidence at a more comfortable pace before scaling your operations.
Now that you’ve prepared yourself and your workspace, it’s time to choose furniture to flip. Practically any furniture can be refurbished and sold, but you might want to consider the following factors to gain profits.
Choose furniture you can easily transport using your own vehicle and work on using the available space in your garage or home. This avoids incurring any additional costs from renting a truck or storage space. Obviously, you’ll need a much bigger area for couches, tables, dressers, and chaise lounges. However, smaller furniture like ottomans, nightstands, end tables, coffee tables, and chairs can fit in a sedan, SUV, or any regular car.
Research popular furniture styles and trends to understand what potential buyers are seeking. Look for pieces that have high demand and are likely to sell quickly. In the latest Statista Furniture Report, the largest segments are living room furniture, bedroom furniture, and kitchen & dining furniture. Trends for secondhand furniture are pretty much the same, with living room furniture being the highest contributor to the global off-the-shelf second-hand furniture market. If you want to check recent trends, check out Facebook Marketplace or Amazon to see what types of furniture are selling best in your area.
Assess the tools and equipment you currently have or are willing to invest in. Choose furniture that can be refurbished or restored with your available resources. If you have limited tools, look for used items in reasonably good condition or with minimal wear. These do not require much fixing and can be easily cleaned and painted with a basic toolset.
Consider the condition of the furniture and its potential for restoration. Look for well-built pieces with timeless designs that can be improved with a modern makeover. Focus on pieces with sturdy construction and quality craftsmanship, as they are more likely to attract buyers and fetch better prices. In terms of material, furniture made from real wood will naturally hold more value than flimsy MDFs or plastics. Keep an eye out for oak, maple, mahogany, teak, cypress, rosewood, and other premium hardwood.
Be realistic about your skills and abilities when selecting furniture to flip. Choose furniture that you can confidently restore and refurbish based on your current level of expertise. If you’re not particularly handy, start with used furniture that only needs minor repairs. This will help you avoid spending too much time and effort on a single furniture flip. As you gain more experience and improve your skills, you can work on more complicated projects with higher potential returns.
Sourcing furniture for flipping requires a bit of legwork and much luck. You can explore many different avenues to find quality pieces suitable for refurbishing. Here are some of the best ones to check out:
Start by having your tools, materials, and equipment ready. Some of the basics that should be in every furniture flipper’s toolbox are:
Once you have everything prepared, follow these general steps for furniture flipping. Keep in mind that each restoration is unique and may require specific treatment case by case, but the overall process remains the same:
Remember to double-check everything to ensure a potential buyer's satisfaction and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases. By following these steps and paying attention to detail, your restored furniture can fetch a good profit.
There are several online and offline options where you can sell flipped furniture. You can start by spreading your new venture through word of mouth among your family, friends, and acquaintances. Ask them to share your details and offerings with people they know who might be interested in flipped furniture. Recommendations and referrals can be powerful in generating leads and building a customer base from scratch.
Beyond your personal network, here are some of the best places to reach potential buyers and showcase your unique pieces.
Rent a booth or space at local flea markets, craft fairs, or community events. These venues provide excellent opportunities to showcase your flipped furniture, engage directly with buyers, and make sales on the spot. The unique and curated nature of these events often attracts individuals looking for distinctive and repurposed pieces.
Collaborate with consignment stores that specialize in selling refurbished furniture. These stores often have a dedicated customer base actively seeking one-of-a-kind and upcycled pieces. Partnering with them also provides you with a physical location to display and sell your furniture while reaching local buyers who are more likely to appreciate your craftsmanship.
Create a strong presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Establish dedicated accounts for your furniture flipping business and regularly post high-quality images and engaging content. Utilize relevant hashtags to increase visibility and interact with your followers to build a community around your brand. You can also leverage social media platforms' marketplace features, such as Facebook Marketplace, to directly reach potential buyers in your local area.
Utilize popular online platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp. These platforms provide a vast reach and allow you to connect with a broader audience of buyers specifically looking for refurbished furniture pieces. Listing your pieces on Amazon in particular can help boost your online visibility—especially with the platform ranking second as the top source of pre-purchase information.
Maximize the exposure of your flipped furniture by utilizing a combination of these online and offline selling channels. Remember to tailor your approach to each platform and build engagement with people who appreciate the value and craftsmanship of refurbished pieces. Finally, use a comprehensive marketplace management tool such as Threecolts to effectively manage multiple platforms.
The potential earnings from furniture flipping vary based on factors such as the quality of your work, the demand for your pieces, and your marketing efforts. Furniture flippers can earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars monthly. One blog even reports that some experienced furniture flippers earn up to $10,000 monthly. However, do not expect to gain this much profit at the onset as a beginner. High-quality, well-executed transformations tend to attract higher prices and demand from buyers.
Keep track of all your costs to maximize your profit from furniture flipping. This includes how much you paid for the used furniture, the materials you used to refurbish it, transportation costs, and other related expenses. Make sure your profit margin covers all these expenses, and set the initial price for your refurbished furniture at the higher end. If there is limited interest, you can gradually lower the price to attract more buyers while still ensuring a profitable sale.
Keep in mind that building a successful furniture-flipping business takes time, dedication, and continuous learning. With the right strategies, a keen eye for quality pieces, and effective marketing, your earning potential can increase significantly over time.
All set for furniture flipping success? Here are some more tips to attract more buyers and build a profitable flipping business.
Furniture flipping presents a good opportunity to turn your creativity and passion for restoration into a lucrative side hustle. With its low startup costs, flexible schedule, and potential for significant returns, this venture allows you to tap into a growing market demand for unique and refurbished furniture. You can maximize your success in flipping furniture by carefully choosing the right pieces, honing your restoration skills, and leveraging various sourcing and selling platforms.
Remember to stay informed about market trends and continuously improve your skills to scale your furniture-flipping business. With the right strategies, flipping furniture can be a thriving venture, with Threecolts, right by your side to help you every step of the way.
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