How to Get Rid of Unwanted Furniture

If you’d like to change the look of your home, are planning to move, or are sizing up or down, there’s likely some furniture and other items you’re not taking with you or that aren’t serving you any longer.

But what can you do with unwanted furniture that’s still in good condition and other household waste?

In this guide, we’ll explain all of the different options for getting rid of furniture in a creative and hassle-free way, from searching for buyers to moving it using short term car insurance.

Consider restoring or upcycling your furniture 

If you want to renovate your home, an easy and cheap way to do so is to give new life to your old furniture by restoring it. You can paint your wooden furniture in different colours or replace doors and handles with more modern options.

Recycling or trying to repurpose your old furniture is a great option too. Upcycling old items has become a big trend in recent years, and there are many incredible inspirations to give your furniture a stylish new look.

For instance, you can give an old sofa an entirely new look by just stripping the upholstery and changing it for a new, more stylish fabric.

Upcycling is also a more environmentally friendly way to repurpose old furniture. It saves carbon emissions by reducing waste as you are not throwing away anything or buying new items.

If you have any wood left over from old chairs or a table, you could also donate these furniture items to local businesses or people you know.

Hold a sale

An easy and fun way to get rid of old and unwanted furniture is by having a sale where all your neighbours and local collectors can come by and look at your old furniture. This is also a good way to have a say over the price of your old sofas, beds and other items, and you might get some good money for your old furniture.

Another possibility is to attend a car boot sale or take your furniture to a local market.

Some people might also be interested in trading your old furniture for some of their own, which can be a fun and inexpensive way to explore new items for your home!

More ways to get rid of furniture without selling it include offering it to a friend or a family member who is just starting out or has some emotional attachment to the item. This way, you might still be able to sit on your old sofa once again, and it’s a lovely way to give your items a second life!

Advertise furniture online

Another effortless way of getting rid of unwanted furniture is to advertise pieces online. This way you can reach a broader audience that might be interested in your furniture. Facebook Marketplace is a brilliant option for this.

Just because you don’t like or want a piece of furniture any longer, doesn’t mean it can’t be of good use to someone else!

You can set the price you wish to sell your items for on Facebook, Gumtree or even eBay. Or, you could offer them online for free on other websites such as Freegle.

Similarly, you can use these platforms to find new furniture online for yourself as well. There’s not always a need to buy new!

Donate your furniture 

Donating them to charity might be a quick solution if you don’t have the time to upload all your items to an online platform or organise a  sale.

Several charitable organisations in the UK will accept furniture donations, such as the British Heart Foundation.

A local charity selling or giving away old furniture should let you bring your items to a drop-off location and then take them from there.

Other organisations might even offer to pick up your bulky items for a small fee if you want to get rid of anything quickly.

If you have any smaller items, you could also take them to a scrap dealer.

However, you should be aware that some organisations require to see your furniture items first and ensure that they meet safety regulations and other requirements.

Mattresses are always a complicated item to get rid of, and, understandably, most people don’t want a used mattress for their bed for hygiene reasons. However, many charitable organisations, animal shelters and humane societies might be interested in taking your old mattress.

Another easy way to get rid of your furniture is to put the items in front of your house with a “free” sign. You would be surprised how many people are happy to see a chair or vase in good condition and will make a plan to take it home in no time!

Throwing away old furniture

However, sometimes none of the above is an option, and the only way to get rid of a furniture item is by throwing it away. It could be that your items are unusable or damaged beyond repair.

You can contact your local waste collection services or find the nearest furniture disposal place for any unwanted furniture that can’t be saved or salvaged any longer. This is also a good idea for things like old mattresses.

Always make sure to check the details of your local waste and recycling centre as each has different guidelines on what you can and can’t bring.

Transporting your items

No matter which option you choose, you’ll likely need to transport your furniture safely in some kind of way. Hiring private waste or furniture collection services can be very pricey. A far more affordable and handy option is to ask a family member or a friend if they have a van you could borrow.

Another option is to rent a van for several hours, which can still be cheaper than having your furniture picked up by a company at your home. Temporary van insurance is a great way to make sure you’re ensured while you transport any unwanted items.

Most van rental services offer the option to book online, making it all the more convenient.

Consider short term vehicle insurance from GoShorty

To ensure you are fully covered against accidents or damage when driving your van or car to transport your furniture, you should consider short term vehicle insurance.

GoShorty is a quick and easy option for this. It only takes a couple of minutes to go online to arrange a temporary car insurance quote or purchase fully comprehensive insurance for the time you use the vehicle.

Remember to get dedicated temporary learner driver insurance if the person driving the van hasn’t passed their test yet.