How to Find Mid Century Furniture on Craigslist: 6 Tips
Instead of your usual Wednesday roundup, here’s a little how-to.
I got this letter from a reader recently: What is the best way to find the cool mid-century danish furniture in Craigslist? You always seem to find the greatest pieces! Do you have any tips?
Why yes, I do! Would you imagine?
1. Try different search keywords — and different combos.
Try to think outside the box when it comes to keywords. Don’t just use “mid century” or “danish modern” or you’ll turn up what everyone else is turning up (and what sellers who know what they have use to identify it). Try different keywords like “retro,” “vintage,” even something like, “belonged to my grandma.” And when you search, use LOTS of keywords in different combinations to find buried treasure. Something may not appear under “sputnik lamp” but it will show up under “chrome chandelier.” Keep at it.
2. Save your best keywords and use them again.
Keep a list of your favorite — and most productive — keyword searches and use them again. Did “retro steel” turn up something interesting? Add it to the list and reuse it the next time you’re looking for stuff. I have a list of about 150 go-to keywords I use when searching Craigslist for furniture — the longer the better!
3. Use aggregators.
Sites like Craiglook and Crazedlist allow you to search multiple cities at once. Craiglook also provides an image preview, so you can see what you’re shopping for in the search results.
4. Use an image preview tool.
CraigsToolbox will change your life with their Craigslist image preview tool, available for Firefox. The add-on allows you to visually scan your search results by placing thumbnail pictures under each listing. Read: you don’t have to click on each individual listing in your search results to see what the “modern couch” or “retro sideboard” looks like. Check out the site to see a preview of the feature.
5. Be willing to travel.
Certain cities have a larger population of folks interested in mid century furnishings. If you live in a city like Chicago, 200 or more people might be all over that $300 Milo Baughman sofa someone listed yesterday. But if you search in cities just outside your metropolitan areas, especially rural ones, you’ll find the prices drop as does the competition.
6. Search often.
I find stuff on Craigslist because I look on Craigslist a few times a week. If you want to find the deals — and get them — you have to be one of the first people to see the ad and respond to it, especially if good furniture is priced low. I recommend searching on two weekdays and one weekend day and running through at least 50 keywords with each search session.
What are some of YOUR favorite Craigslist search tips?
I love these tips! You are right: CraigsToolbox did change my life, although my approach is the opposite of yours. Rather than rely on keywords, I am as vague as possible about the terms but very specific about the top price I’m willing to spend. For instance, when I was looking for a table for my workroom, I knew I wanted to buy a table and chairs for under $50, and I preferred wood (sturdy!). And I wasn’t willing to leave the city to get it.
So I searched for table, within the city of Chicago, put $50 as the max price and used Craigstoolbox to search through the sludge very quickly. I ended up with a expandable wood table (fold down ends) and two chairs for $50…and I only had to travel a few blocks to pick it up.