Is there any better thrill than spotting a beautiful chair in the wild? At a flea market or buried three scrolls deep on Facebook Marketplace. It sits there looking undervalued, and for one electric moment you think: ‘I know something the seller doesn’t.’ Sometimes that instinct pays off, but more often, it leads to a piece of furniture that’s tricky to move, trickier to resell, and gathering dust in your living room.
The smarter play, according to the people who do this for a living, is to approach vintage seating the way you’d approach any serious purchase. Look at it with a clear sense of what you want, a realistic budget, and a willingness to learn before you leap. To that end, we consulted two experts who spend their days immersed in the secondary furniture market: Veronica Renton, a vintage and antique furniture specialist at 1stDibs, and Noel Fahden, the VP of brand, merchandising, and buying at Chairish.
Below, we asked them everything about vintage chairs – from what to buy first to how to avoid getting burned.
First, figure out what the chair is for
Before you start falling in love with shapely mid-century silhouettes online, both experts agree on one essential starting point: know what you need the chair to do. ‘Are you seeking a daily-use workhorse or a strictly aesthetic accent?’ Renton asks. ‘Understanding how you need a piece to function is the first step in narrowing the market.’
Start with the name on the frame, not the look
If you’re new to vintage furniture, the sheer volume of options can feel overwhelming. Fahden’s advice for cutting through the noise: start with a brand or maker. ‘Even in the world of vintage furniture, the majority of it has a name brand,’ she says. ‘If you really hone in on these iconic, well-known furniture brands and makers, it’s going to do two things for you. First, it’s going to ensure the piece you’re getting is really good quality. And the other thing it does it it ensures the item has resale value.’
‘If you’re new to the vintage game, follow two classic rules of thumb: buy quality and buy good design,’ Renton says. ‘Iconic pieces are considered classics for a reason – they are the foundations of a lifelong collection and often hold their value.’
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What your budget actually gets you
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a five-figure budget to enter the vintage seating market. Fahden notes that Chairish alone has over 10,000 single vintage chairs priced under £1,300. Even on the lower end, options are abound. She estimates strong findings start at just £170.
‘While rare, sought-after pieces can climb into the five-figure range, you can find exceptionally high-quality items for under £1,000,’ Renton says. But both experts caution that the sticker price isn’t the whole story.
‘When setting your budget, remember to look beyond the price tag,’ Renton advises. ‘Always factor in the total cost to acquire, which includes shipping, fabric, and professional reupholstery.’ This is especially relevant for upholstered pieces that may need a new life, or for anything that requires white-glove delivery. Fahden recommends filtering by location on vintage buying platforms and focusing on pieces near you to keep shipping costs manageable.
To reupholster or not to reupholster?
A common worry for first-time vintage buyers is the condition question: Should you avoid pieces that have been reupholstered?
Fahden says it depends entirely on the fabric. Far from being a red flag, a newly reupholstered vintage frame can actually be more desirable – particularly when the fabric choice is strong. ‘Buying newly reupholstered vintage frames are very, very desirable, especially when the fabric is a great choice,’ she says.
You’re essentially getting someone else’s investment in restoration without the hassle of sourcing fabric and finding a workroom yourself. Renton agrees, especially for newer collectors. ‘Look for pieces already carefully restored or reupholstered by a knowledgeable dealer,’ she says. ‘It ensures you’re acquiring a ready-to-display item with no hidden homework or surprises.’
Think of it as a long game
Will your vintage chair appreciate in value? Maybe. Will you almost certainly lose money if you try to flip it quickly? Almost definitely. Fahden emphasises that the real value proposition of buying from established brands is optionality. If your taste changes, if you move, if you simply get tired of a piece, a well-made vintage chair from a recognised maker can be resold. You may not profit, but you’re unlikely to take a total loss either – which is more than most contemporary furniture can promise.
And if you do want to live with it forever, the proposition of buying from established brands still stands. ‘Look for well-made pieces in beautiful woods like teak, oak, and cherry that stand the test of time,’ Renton says. ‘These chairs actually grow more beautiful with age, developing a patina that contemporary re-editions struggle to mimic.’
