There are many words used to describe the reuse of furniture and accessories for the home: upcycled furniture, recycled furniture, second-hand furniture. Whichever description you prefer, consciously choosing to purchase second-hand furniture in Hong Kong is a trend on the rise.
Many of us THS stylists are from the UK and fondly remember scouring car boot sales, charity shops and dusty auctions for second-hand gems, and we are so happy that reusing rather than buying new is becoming more popular in Hong Kong. In fact, more often than not our home styling clients are specifically asking us to help find them upcycled decor and second-hand furniture in Hong Kong.
One client told us at the beginning of her full home renovation project that it was really important to her to reuse second-hand furniture and decor, claiming that she would rather pay us for our services to find upcycled pieces than to buy all new furniture.
Without giving away all our industry secrets, here’s where to find second-hand furniture in Hong Kong
There are some great locations for recycled and upcycled furniture in Hong Kong…
We recently discovered Upcycle Hong Kong who specialise in upcycling furniture and decor in Hong Kong. They sell their upcycled furniture directly on their website, alongside finishings that you might like to tackle your own project and they also take on custom projects. Plus, 50hkd from every sale goes to the Hong Kong Dog Rescue, so each purchase comes with a little extra love for the world.
2nd Chance is another Hong Kong second-hand furniture shop that always has an amazing selection of furniture and decor on offer. They market themselves as the first stop in production props rental in Hong Kong, so you know that they have some really interesting and unique vintage and second-hand pieces! Their location in Kin Fat Industrial Centre is a real treasure trove, so go with plenty of time to browse.
Another area we love browsing for second-hand in Hong Kong is towards the end of Hollywood Road. There are a number of second-hand shops that are perfect for home decor accessories. They look a little like junk shops but we promise that there are always gems to be found.
Potentially even more off-putting than an overflowing junk shop, are Hong Kong’s streetside bins… Stylist Helen has found plenty of great quality furniture and decor simply lying in wait for the refuse collectors on the streets of Hong Kong, especially after Chinese New Year!
Shopping for second-hand furniture online in Hong Kong
As we all know, Asia Expat is a great resource and is a place we always keep an eye on for some real bargains and even freebies. With such a transient community of expats, people are always coming and going and wanting to pass things on. Head of Property Services, Chen recently found, among other things, these two incredible single slay beds on Asia Expat!
Another place to keep your eye on online is Facebook Marketplace, which is great for searching for a specific item. You can set up notifications for recommendations and similar items so that you see things as soon as they are listed.
What stops you from buying second-hand furniture and decor in Hong Kong?
Is it time?
There’s no denying that hunting for treasures in second-hand shops and on Facebook marketplace takes time, dedication and a lot of patience.
So, let us handle the sourcing for you.
If you are looking for a specific piece of furniture and don’t want to buy new, there is a chance we have already found it! We are always noticing diamonds amongst the rubble and it is just a case of finding the right home for it.
We will also handle the organisation of pick-up and delivery so that your pieces can arrive at a time that suits you without you having to run around town.
Or maybe it’s the upcycling part that concerns you?
Once you’ve found your second-hand gem, you may want to consider upcycling it to bring it to its former glory or fit it with your current decor. The Home Stylist has a skilled team of upholsterers, furniture restorers and stylists to help you upcycle your second-hand furniture and decor.
This fantastic lampshade found in a house we were clearing out before a renovation is currently ready and waiting to be recovered… it’s definitely calling out to be on a table lamp rather than the ceiling lamp it originally was.
We hope this gives you some inspiration for looking for second-hand furniture in Hong Kong. It’s just one of the small ways we can make a more sustainable impact with our homes and it is a lot more fun than browsing a shiny catalogue!
If you’d like to employ our services in second-hand furniture hunting or upcycling a piece you already own, then get in touch today.
