Given how many antique stores can be found in Prescott, Chino Valley and surrounding areas it’s likely you’ve at least considered perusing them to furnish your home. But that’s often easier said than done.
Many would-be antiquers feel overwhelmed at the prospect of sifting through stores and antique malls packed to the roof with treasures and comparative trash to find something that’ll work at their home.
You might know someone who seems to be a savant at finding the perfect vintage and antique items to create timeless interiors, but they’ve usually discovered tricks like these to get to where they are — along with a little bit of luck.
Plan ahead
Reflect on the style of décor you have or want to have throughout your home and the kind of condition you want it to be in.
If looking for something specific, bring a tape measure and notes about how much space you have to fill. Color samples or photos also are a good idea for knowing if a purchase will fit with what you already have.
Bringing cash can often get you some great deals, and having a budget that you won’t go over unless you unearth something you just can’t put back is a great idea for keeping your spending in check.
Check for damage or authenticity
Authenticity is likely to matter more to you if you’re buying antiques as an investment as well as a home good, but knowing everything about the condition a piece is in is always going to be important.
Bring a flashlight and/or black light with you to inspect any large pieces you’re considering to uncover any flaws or repairs that aren’t readily visible but could compromise the integrity or durability of a piece.
Learning some of the basics for determining authenticity also comes in handy.
Walk through the store at least twice
Even a well-organized store is likely to have hidden shelves and corners, so it’s good to do an initial run-through to look for the things on your list, then again more slowly for serendipitous finds.
