In today’s Reader Mail:
Dear BS:
I know you don’t always handle furniture questions, but I was wondering what you think about used couches. My mom is telling me their bad feng shui, and I’ve heard they can even let bed bugs into your house! What do you think? I’d rather get something cool and used on Craigslist then new and boring from IKEA, but I don’t want the bed bugs!
Love,
P.
Oh! We hear you. We, too, fear the bed bugs, and we will say that this has been sufficient reasoning for us not to buy used—it’s the upholstery and all that that freaks us out. But we can’t afford the couch we really want (above), and so, we wait, couch-less, and eat on dinner on the floor.
We’d love to hear from everyone: horror stories? Excellent stories? Fill us in!
Above: Design Within Reach Theater sofa, $3750. To be clear, we find that cream color disturbing, but tragically they did not share a photo of the lovely sage one.
We’ve had two used couches in our day – one was from a thrift shop. It was an 8 ft, turquoise pleather sectional – it was the most amazing couch we ever had. It had never been used. Sadly, we had to get rid of it when we moved because it didn’t fit up our new stairs.
Our very first couch was also used, from a friend. It was less than awesome, but it was the same couch our parents have so it was oddly comforting.
But – both times, no troubles!
My boyfriend has 2 couches from craigslist and they are fine. One is pretty but not that comfortable and one is very ugly but the most comfortable couch ever. So I think the point is that you have to look really hard to get what you want when dealing with craigslist furniture.
Also, my best friend in Seattle got a great 3 piece living room set from Goodwill that is comfortable, pretty, and bedbug free.
I say, go for it!
Both of my couches are 2nd hand…no problems!!
Goodwill always fumigates their furniture before they sell it, so that should be fine. I’ve never had a problem with used furniture but used mattresses generally sketch me out.
I’ll be selling a gorgeous couch in Atlanta when I move in May if anyone is interested!