Why You Should Always Check Thrift Stores For Your Next Nightstand

Shopping at a thrift store like Goodwill or the Salvation Army can be an exciting experience. You never know what you'll find, and the items are often priced much lower than when they were new. Sometimes rare and valuable items make their way into thrift stores like artwork, antiques, vintage items, and high-quality furniture — still at a fraction of what they're usually worth. This is why it's always a great idea to check these stores for nightstands. Plus, purchasing a used nightstand from a thrift store requires no assembly, and it could give you the opportunity to refurbish and exercise some creativity.

Thrift store employees don't always do much research on donated items before determining the price. This obviously benefits consumers if they encounter a gently used $500 Anthropologie nightstand for $50, for example. Of course, there's no guarantee you'll find a nightstand you like (or one at all) but you won't know unless you stop in to check. If necessary, visit all of your local thrift stores to widen your search. One shopper posted about their experience on Reddit after they paid only $12 for a set of nightstands. You just might find a great bargain, too.

People don't typically donate brand-new, still-in-the-box furniture items to thrift stores; what you'll most commonly see on display are already-assembled nightstands, dressers, chairs, tables, and other pieces. This alone might be reason enough to buy furniture from a thrift store. Assembling a standard nightstand alone could take as little as 15 minutes, but other styles could take an hour or more — and that's if you don't make any mistakes. Discovering that you're missing pieces is another possibility that can make the assembly process frustrating, laborious, and time-consuming.

With a thrift store nightstand, someone has already taken the time to assemble the piece for you. All you have to worry about is first inspecting it in the store and making sure it will fit in your vehicle. If it's too heavy to carry, ask an employee or even another shopper to help you load it into your cart and car.

Even if you don't like the nightstand you find at a thrift store, that doesn't mean you can't convert it into one you do. It may not be the color you want, or perhaps you prefer handles, but the drawers have knobs. If you don't mind taking the time and buying a few supplies, you could completely transform your thrift store nightstand and still end up paying less than you would have if you'd purchased it new.

The refurbishing process typically consists of sanding, staining, refinishing, or painting, or some combination of all four. You can also completely replace certain pieces of the nightstand including the knobs or handles or even the legs. One lucky DIY-er did all of the above after finding what they described as "a 1950s-ish piece" with surface damage and spindle legs at a local thrift store. They modernized it in a chic, mid-century style.

In lieu of — or in addition to — refurbishing, you also have the option to embellish your thrift store bedside find. For example, you can decorate your nightstand and elevate your bedroom using Dollar Tree essentials like geometric mirrors and foam boards. As another creative alternative, you can add style with a DIY mosaic tile nightstand. The possibilities are endless, so make a point to browse your local thrift stores in search of your next nightstand.