Why Buy Antique Furniture?
Why would you buy antique furniture if you can afford to buy new furniture? Why would you buy someone’s cast off when you can buy something brand new without a ding or a dent or a scratch from someplace like IKEA? If you know anything about antique furniture, then you know why. If you don’t know why, read on.
If you are careful in buying antique furniture, you can get a solid wood piece of furniture handmade by a really gifted artisan. Not only will you get a wonderful piece of furniture, but you will probably pay the same amount or less than at a brand name, mass-produced furniture store. The mass-produced products sport “distressed” finishes that mimic the character that comes with age and use. Why buy fake when you can get original?
When you are buying antique furniture, keep this thought in mind. If you have the intention to buy antique furniture as an investment, buy few but better pieces. If your purpose is simply to decorate your environment, you can be less 
focused on buying the highest quality and be more focused on appearances. In the long run, though, you will be better off buying a few really good pieces than several pieces of lesser quality. As with all art, though, buy what you enjoy. But do your best to buy what you like that is also something more than commonplace. Pieces that are short of eye-catching will never appreciate in value. Keep your purpose in mind.
Should you buy a restored piece? Certainly a good, well-restored piece will be a nice addition to your collection of antique furniture. A restoration usually costs significantly less than an unrestored original piece. However, a restored piece can still be a beautiful addition to your collection, and some day, if you wish, it can be your trade in for a piece of higher quality. If you do buy a restored piece, try to get a history of the piece and its restoration to pass on with the piece.
Become familiar with the four major categories of antique furniture, English, European, American and Chinese. There are subcategories, periods, in each of the four major categories, but for our purposes, knowing the four is sufficient. Again, buy what you like. You may find that a particular category appeals to you, so you gather a collection all in that category. Then again, skillful decorators are able to mix and match so that the styles blend. Treat yourself to a tour of the four different categories before you begin purchasing in earnest.
Lastly, once you have your first piece, please treat it with care. The worst enemy of antique furniture is humidity—whether too much or too little. Never place a piece of furniture directly in front of a heat source. Ideally, it should be no closer than two feet away. Humidification may be important in a dry environment. If you are able to keep your environment at 50 to 55% relative humidity, you will do a lot to protect the beautiful piece of antique furniture you have purchased.