Sharing is caring!

Do you love restoring furniture and looking for a new way to make extra income?

If so, then this post is perfect for you!

Because I’m going to tell you how to start flipping furniture and sell them online.

There are many different ways to do furniture flipping, from transforming an old coffee table into a new TV stand to re-imagining an outdoor bench for your kitchen.

But where do you start?

In this post, I’ll go over the basics of starting a business as a flipper and what you need to know before you start.

So keep reading to discover more!

You Might Also Like:

Ultimate Guide to Flip Websites: How to Build, Buy, and Sell Online

Beginner’s Guide to Flipping Phones for a Profit Online

List of eBay Best Sellers: What to Sell Right Now

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What does furniture flipping mean?

In the simplest terms, flipping furniture means to buy something for a low price, fixing it up, and then selling it at a higher one.

It isn’t as complicated as you might think – in fact, here are some quick steps on how to start:

1. Find a piece of furniture that needs a makeover.

2. Do whatever you need to do to make the piece look nicer like sanding it down, painting it, or replacing a few pieces.

3. Take a bunch of nice photos and list the item for sale online at a higher price than what you bought the furniture for.

4. Wait for someone to buy it!

5. Once you get your money, ship the furniture to a new home or have the buyer pick it up.

This is how you flip furniture!

How profitable is furniture flipping?

That really depends on the piece of furniture and how much time you put into it.

For example, re-imagining an old coffee table may only take a couple hours with some sandpaper and paint, but a solid wood dresser can take days.

And the final price tag for each piece will be different too – you could charge $100 for that coffee table or $500+ for the dresser!

Again, it all depends on your skills and how much work it takes to transform the furniture into something nice again.

---

---

How much money do I need to start flipping furniture?

Like with any business, this is a question that you must answer for yourself.

For example, it costs next to nothing (maybe $5) to buy some sandpaper and around $15-$50 for paint to make an old coffee table look new again.

And you could get the coffee table from a thrift store for even less!

But if you have to purchase a new piece of furniture for this project, then it obviously will cost more.

Another thing to consider is how much your time is worth.

If you’re going to take a few hours of your day to sand down and paint that coffee table, it’s probably best not to sell it for less than $30-$40.

But if you use a more expensive piece of furniture as your starting point, then you can charge a higher price.

What materials do you need to get started?

Now that you know how much money you need to start furniture flipping.

It is time to learn what kind of materials you need so you can get started!

Here are all the essentials:

Computer with internet access    

A computer gives you direct access to an audience of customers all over the world, which makes it the most important tool you can have.

Having a computer will also allow you to find the best and most affordable furniture to flip!

Storage space    

Having storage space to store furniture pieces close by is key because it allows you to ship items faster and more efficiently.

Plus it will avoid clutter in your own home so it doesn’t get in the way of your personal space.

Tools    

You’ll need a variety of tools to be able to transform furniture pieces.

This will include screwdrivers, hammers, clamps, sanding paper, wrenches and more.

Furniture glides        

For some larger pieces like dressers and chests, you may want to invest in furniture glides.

These are essentially plastic pieces that cushion the bottom of a piece of furniture and make it easier to move across floors.

Paint or stain      

You may want to repaint certain pieces before selling them for aesthetic purposes.

This will cover up any damage and give you more leverage when pricing your furniture piece.

Putting all of these materials together will give you everything you need to start transforming furniture pieces!

Is furniture flipping for you?

Before you spend any money buying new materials or tools, there are some things that you need to think about first.

Are you willing to put in the time and effort it takes to make furniture look nice again?

This is a labor-intensive job because it’s not always easy to sand down or refinish furniture without any mistakes.

It’s also something you won’t be able to do in one sitting.

It may take several days, depending on the piece of furniture, which can get very frustrating after a while.

If you think you have what it takes to follow through with this business idea and aren’t afraid of doing a little bit of hard work, then you should definitely start!

Who is this business idea for?

Anyone and everyone could be successful at flipping furniture.

However, this particular business idea works best if you really enjoy making things look nice again and don’t mind getting your hands dirty.

It also works if you love to shop for deals – whether it’s hitting up garage sales or buying furniture online.

And one of the best things about this business idea is that it can last as long as you want.

Because as soon as your pieces start selling and you have a little bit of profit coming in, you can reinvest those earnings to buy more materials or tools.

The possibilities are endless!

But remember, your business won’t be successful if you don’t enjoy what you do.

So take some time to think about whether furniture flipping is right for you before making the final decision.

How to Start Furniture Flipping

Now that you know what this business idea is all about, where to find deals on used furniture, and who might be best suited for this type of work.

It’s time to think about how you can get started with flipping furniture and selling it online!

What types of furniture should I flip?

Before you start this business, you’ll need to ask yourself what types of furniture pieces you want to sell.

This can be anything from an old bench for the kitchen or a coffee table.

All the way up to bigger items like dining tables and dressers.

Typically larger furniture tend to sell well so you can get more money for them, but that doesn’t mean you should turn your nose up at smaller items either!

Whatever furniture you choose to work with will depend on what you want to do with the finished product.

Here is a list of the best selling furniture you can sell:

Large dressers

Large dressers are great because they are something people can put in their bedrooms to store clothing.

When you are looking for dressers make sure that they have deep drawers so that it can fit more clothing.

Matching night stands

Another popular furniture to flip are matching side tables or nightstands.

While these are less bulky than a dresser, they tend to bring in money because people love adding matching furniture to their homes.

Especially if it’s something out of the ordinary like a set of end tables with storage drawers on them.

Kitchen tables

Kitchen tables sell like hot cakes because they are an easy piece of furniture to use as a centerpiece for the room.

Whether they want one that fits in a little nook or have room for six people, its always needed in the room.

Side boards

These can be a great source of revenue because they are versatile yet easy to store, making them excellent for someone just starting out.

You can place side boards in both the kitchen and dining room, which is why people love buying them!

Coffee tables

Lastly, coffee tables are perfect because you can sell them during different seasons.

When the colder seasons come around, people are in need for things to keep their feet warm..

But when it’s summer time, you can sell them as a makeshift table for chilling outside with friends.

Where to find furniture to flip?

Once you know what type of furniture to focus on, it’s time to think about where you can find the best deals for furniture flipping.

There are many different places you can look to find potential pieces that will be perfect for flipping.

Here are a few of the most popular places to find furniture to flip:

Garage sales

Garage sales are one of the best ways to score big on furniture at low prices.

Just make sure it’s in good shape and can be easily fixed.

Craigslist

Craigslist is another great place to look for furniture to flip.

Just be careful because you never know if something might have bed bugs or other nasty things so it’s best to do research before buying anything!

Thrift stores

Thrift stores are often the best places to find unique pieces that will sell well.

Just check the condition of the piece before you buy it so you don’t get stuck with furniture that can’t be fixed!

Facebook Marketplace

Of course, Facebook Marketplace is another great place to look for pieces.  

Just be aware of the fact that Facebook Marketplace is much more saturated.

But it will have more options for people to choose from so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Friends and family

Lastly, ask friends and family if they have any old furniture pieces they aren’t using.

People are more likely to give away free items if they no longer need them.

How to buy furniture for flipping?

Now that you know where you can find potential pieces, it’s time to learn how to pick them out from the crowd.

Here are a few tip ands tricks you should follow to make sure the piece is worth buying:

Look for solid wood.

Solid wood furniture tends to be the most durable and long lasting, which means you will get more bang for your buck in the end!

So always ask to see the underneath of the furniture piece if it is wood and feel the material.

If it’s particle board, don’t waste your time because the piece won’t last long and won’t sell well.

Look closely at details like joints and hardware

Make sure that the joints are sturdy and the hardware is in good shape.

Hardware can be easily replaced if it’s old or rusty but you might not get a second chance with joints.

Check for signs of damage

If there are any visible damages or stains, make sure to check if it is salvageable or if you can flip it into something else.

But if not, don’t bother because the piece will be hard to fix and won’t sell.

Do your research

This is the best way to find out how much it’s worth.

Many different websites like eBay will allow you to search for pieces based on size, color and condition.

And you can see if they are actually selling and for how much.

What kind of price should you pay for furniture flipping?

Now that we’ve covered how to find furniture and make sure it’s worth flipping.

It is time to go over the all-important factor of deciding how much you want to sell your items for.

Find comparable pieces on sites like eBay and Craigslist

If the furniture you find is comparable to pieces that are listed online, you can use those prices as a starting point.

For example: If your table looks similar to another one on eBay that is priced $150 than you should price yours at around $150 as well or slightly lower.

Price according to demand

There’s a certain level of demand for any popular piece of furniture.

Just make sure to stay within that demand curve or you might end up with an item that isn’t worth much.

Or you may price it incorrectly and loose out on a sale.

When selling furniture online, it is important to remember that you are not just competing with other pieces of furniture.

There are many different options for people looking to buy — retail stores, discount retailers and thrift stores.

That means pricing your piece right is essential to getting the most out of your sales.

How do I find customers?

After all the hard work it takes to make a piece of furniture look new again, it is time to find the right websites to sell your items.

Here are a few sites where you can sell your refurbished furniture:

Craigslist

It’s a great place to start if you are looking for local buyers or in the market for furniture yourself.

Plus its free to list your items so it’s a great for testing out your first pieces of furniture.

But make sure to vet your potential buyers so you know that they are not scammers.

Related Posts: Ultimate Guide to Finding Craigslist Gigs and Start Working From Home

Facebook Marketplace     

Facebook Marketplace is a great way to find local buyers for your furniture pieces.

You can set up an online shop that lists your items and connect with people within walking distance of you.

Etsy

Etsy is also a good place to sell refurbished furniture because you are connecting directly with customers who are looking for unique finds.

It is extremely easy to set up an account and get started selling your pieces.

Related Posts: How to find Etsy best sellers and start an online business

eBay   

Finally, eBay is a great place to sell individual pieces of furniture.

They have a large audience and the site guarantees that you get paid within a certain time frame.

Related Posts: List of eBay Best Sellers: What to Sell Right Now

Making money in this line of work takes time and effort, but it can be very profitable.

The key is to learn how to price your pieces right, get storage space close by and advertise your products directly to the customers you are targeting.

Once you have these tools in place, all that’s left is taking the leap into this lucrative business!

---

---

How to Restore Old Furniture

Furniture restoration is an art and requires a great deal of hard work to make it look good.

Restoring Wooden Furniture

When it comes to restoring wooden furniture, you need to make sure that there is no excessive damage.

If the wood has scratches or any other signs of damage, you can choose to refurnish it with new materials or refinish it.

You should take off the old finish completely (if needed) and apply a good-quality varnish so that it lasts longer.

Restoring Metal Furniture

When it comes to restoring metal furniture, you should start by sanding off all the rust and repairing any damages.

All surfaces need to be smooth so that the paint will stick better.

Reupholstering Furniture

Reupholstering furniture is probably the most affordable way to make an old piece look new again.

The first step is to remove all the padding and fabric from the frame. It’s okay if some pieces are stuck with glue because you can easily pull them off later.

Use your hands to remove any loose parts of fabric and cut the fabric off.

Once you’ve removed all the old materials, use them as a pattern to make new covers for the furniture.

Make sure you buy material that is tightly woven so it won’t tear easily.

When you have everything sewn together, secure the pieces with glue and staple them to the frame.

Follow these steps when restoring furniture and your piece should look good as new in no time!

Furniture Flipping: Key Takeaways

Starting this business requires time, effort and a lot of money.

You need to buy your first pieces of furniture, refurbish them and sell them for the highest price you can get.

And it takes patience and perseverance to make it as a flipper but if you work hard enough with the right tools, you’ll eventually get there.

Fortunately it doesn’t always have to take a lot of money or work because you could just add some personal touches and sell the piece at a good price.

The key is to get creative with what you have and don’t be afraid to experiment.

That’s why a great way to learn how to flip is by simply seeing what works and learning from your mistakes.

So if you’re just getting started, keep these tips in mind and see how well you can do!

---

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER.