11 Places To Get Free Furniture – Technologist

Want to learn how to get free furniture?

Do you want to transform your living space without breaking the bank? Here’s a guide on furnishing your house without spending any money. 

Whether you’re looking for sofas, beds, dishes, or other household items, there are ways to get free furniture.

Today you’ll learn:

• The different places to get free furniture
• How to find high-quality furniture for free
• Creative strategies for styling your home for free

You may be able to get furniture for pretty cheap or even free. If you are looking to save some money, then finding ways to get free stuff can help you spend less money.

11 Places To Find Free Furniture

Below are 11 places that give away free furniture.

1. Facebook 

Facebook is one of the best places to find free furniture near you. By utilizing Facebook Marketplace and local community groups, you can score the furniture pieces you need for your home. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding free furniture on Facebook.

• Click the “Marketplace” option in the left-hand menu.
• Search for “free furniture” in the Marketplace search bar.
• Once you’ve entered the search term “free furniture”, you can filter your results for options such as “Free or “Price: Free”. This will narrow down listings to only free listings.
• Optionally, you can also join local community groups on Facebook. These groups have members who often give away free furniture they don’t want to bother selling.

It’s important to be safe when arranging pickups and meeting people online. Stay safe by meeting in public places, bringing someone with you, and letting someone know where and when you plan on meeting this person.

2. Buy Nothing Groups

The Buy Nothing Project started in 2013 and the main purpose is to get free things that you need without having to go and buy more things.

These groups encourage recycling and giving items a second chance rather than throwing them away when you no longer need them.

To get started, find and join a local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook. You can search for groups specifically for your city. Read and understand the group rules for the Buy Nothing Group and regularly check the group for new posts.

If you see a piece of furniture you’re interested in, respond to the offer politely and express your interest. You can even share why you need the item, so the person knows it’s going to good use.

Buy Nothing Groups are incredible communities for sharing, getting, and giving support to others. If you have the means, consider giving things to the Buy Nothing Group when other members of the community need something.

My sister has given away a ton of free furniture in local buy-nothing groups such as a sectional couch, TV stand, coffee table, bed frames, dressers, outdoor furniture, and more. There are lots of decent furniture pieces that you may be able to find in your local buy-nothing group as well!

3. Craigslist

Craigslist is another great spot for finding free furniture for your home.

Here’s a list of tips to find free furniture on Craigslist.

• Look for the “Free” section. This page will show you a long list of items people are giving away for free in your local area.
• When in the “Free” section, use the search bar and type in keywords like “furniture”, “couch”, “bed”, or other items you’re interested in getting.
• Contact the poster on whichever item you’re interested in and use the contact information provided to reach out.

When meeting with people from Craigslist, it’s important to coordinate a spot that is safe and well-lit. It doesn’t hurt to bring a friend with you and let someone know where you’re meeting the online person and at what time.

4. Freecycle

Freecycle is a network of local groups for people who want to give away stuff and receive items for free. Here are some tips for finding furniture on Freecycle.

• Visit the Freecycle website, find your local Freecycle group, and join the group by signing up with your email.
• Search the local Freecycle group for furniture. Type in keywords in the searcher like “furniture”, “couch”, and “table”.
• If you can’t find the furniture you’re looking for, create a “Wanted” post and state what you’re looking for and why you need it.

Contribute to the community when you can by offering items you no longer need. And as always, prioritize safety when arranging pickups. Let someone know your plans and choose public places to pick up furniture.

5. Ask friends and family

You can possibly get free furniture from friends and family, especially if they are looking to declutter or upgrade their home with new furniture. 

Let family and friends know you need furniture. Be honest about your situation and clearly communicate the type of furniture you’re looking for, whether it’s a couch, table, bed, etc.

In a casual setting, such as at a family dinner, mention that you’re in need of furniture for your place. People may be more inclined to offer items they no longer use.

You could even make a Facebook post simply asking if anyone has any furniture they no longer want.

To make things as easy as possible, offer to pick up the furniture from your friend or family member. They’ll probably be really happy to get rid of the furniture and have more space in their home.

6. Ashley Furniture – Hope to Dream Program

Hope To Dream is a program by Ashley Furniture with the main goal of providing free mattresses and bedding to children in need. This program operates through partnerships with local organizations and charities.

The qualifications for the Hope To Dream program include:

• Underserved children between the ages of 3 and 16 who do not have beds.
• Families with very low income, live in poverty, or transitioning from homelessness.
• Nominated by a school social worker, case manager, church, and other charitable organizations.

The Ashley Furniture free bed assistance program is a helpful one to look into if you are looking for free furniture for low income families.

Here is more information on the Hope To Dream program.

7. The Salvation Army Furniture Vouchers

Salvation Army accepts furniture donations, but sometimes they sell their furniture items at a high price. If you are low-income, you may qualify for Salvation Army free furniture vouchers.

The Salvation Army gives free furniture vouchers to people in need as part of their assistance program.

To get support, contact your local Salvation Army and ask about their assistance program, specifically related to furniture. Explain your situation and provide any required documentation to assess your eligibility for assistance. You may need to provide proof of your financial situation and ID.

Some Salvation Army locations conduct interviews as part of the application process. Once the application process is completed, the Salvation Army will inform you of your outcome.

If approved, the Salvation Army will provide you with furniture vouchers. 

8. Dumpster Diving

Dumpster diving is a unique way to score free furniture, but it’s important to approach this activity with caution and respect for local laws and safety.

Here are some tips for dumpster diving:

• Understand local laws regarding dumpster diving. Some areas have strict rules against it while other places are lenient. 
• Choose dumpsters in safe and legal areas and avoid private property without permission. 
• Inspect items for damage, stains, and signs of infestations.
• Dumpster dive when people are likely to move out and throw away furniture, like the end of the month, college move-out periods, or large item pickup days.
• Drive around your area on normal trash day as well, as sometimes people will put out furniture they no longer want.

It’s also handy to bring gloves and a flashlight. If you’re unsure about the legalities of dumpster diving, it’s best to check with local authorities. 

9. College campuses on move-out day

College campuses are a gold mine on move-out day. Students throw away items they no longer need or cannot take home with them ALL THE TIME.

You should find out when the official move-out dates are for the colleges near you. These dates are always online on the college’s website. 

On move-out days, arrive early to the campus where students are likely to leave items. Carry tools such as a screwdriver or wrench in case you need to disassemble furniture so that it can fit in your car.

As always, make sure to inspect furniture for damage, pests, and other issues. 

10. NextDoor

NextDoor is a social networking platform that connects people in the same neighborhood or community. This is a great spot for finding free furniture locally. 

To get started, sign up for NextDoor and verify your address to join the specific neighborhood community where you live. Browse the “Free” section as members are constantly posting items that they are giving away for free.

You can even set up alerts for specific keywords. Set up alerts for furniture-related items, so you can get notified as soon as someone posts free furniture in your area.

If you aren’t having luck searching for items on NextDoor, consider creating a “Wanted” post. Be specific about the items you’re looking for and why you need the item.

11. Answer online surveys and get free gift cards for free furniture

While, this will take some time, because furniture is not cheap, one way is to earn free gift cards.

You can earn free gift cards by answering online surveys and doing other online tasks, and you can use these gift cards to help you get free furniture.

So, this would work like this – You could get free gift cards to places like Amazon or TJ Maxx as a reward for answering online surveys or earning points in other ways. You can simply collect gift cards until you reach the amount that you need to buy your wanted and essential household items.

Some of my favorite rewards sites are:

I recommend signing up for all of them so that you can get the most surveys and tasks possible, which will then pay you with more gift cards.

My sister gets free gift cards all the time, and just the other day, she logged into several of the accounts that she is signed up for (such as Fetch Rewards and Swagbucks) and turned in her points. This led to her getting $275 in free Amazon gift cards. She personally likes to wait until she has a lot of gift cards that she can redeem at once, like for furniture!

Recommended reading: 16 Real Ways To Earn Free Gift Cards (Amazon, Target, Visa)

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to get free furniture.

Where is the best place to find free furniture?

The best places to find free furniture are Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Buy Nothing Groups, and college or university campuses (on the last day of the semester before summer break). 

Wherever you get furniture, it’s important to inspect items thoroughly for cleanliness and functionality before bringing it home. 

Is there a way to get free furniture for low income?

If you or your family is low income, there are several ways you can get free furniture.

Here are some tips:

• Reach out to local charities or outreach programs and inquire about available resources.
• Most Salvation Army locations provide assistance to families in need.
• Some Goodwill’s also have programs for individuals facing economic challenges. Contact your local Goodwill to find out more information and to see if they have Goodwill Industries furniture vouchers to give away.
• Local churches and community centers sometimes organize furniture drives or give resources to those in need.
• See if there are any furniture banks, American Red Cross (such as if you’re a victim of natural disasters like hurricanes and floods), social services, veterans groups, victims of domestic violence groups, or welfare programs near you (depending on the eligibility criteria, of course).
• If you’re in North Carolina and are looking for furniture assistance programs, a place to reach out to is Crisis Assistance Ministry in North Carolina.
• Reach out to thrift stores and see if they give away furniture to low-income households.

Is it safe to get free furniture?

When getting free furniture, it’s important to prioritize safety and take certain precautions. When getting new furniture, make sure to inspect the item thoroughly. You don’t want to take items home with infestations like bedbugs or cockroaches.

You will also want to clean the furniture before bringing it inside your home by using appropriate cleaning agents to disinfect and sanitize. It’s also important to check for recalls on furniture. You can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website to search for recalls. 

How To Get Free Furniture – Summary

I hope you learned some new ways when it comes to how to get free furniture.

Finding free furniture is possible with the right resources and patience. Resources, like Buy Nothing Groups, NextDoor, and other platforms, have many options for people in need of free furniture. 

Whether you are looking to furnish a small apartment or a big house, there are many places to get free furniture near you.

What’s your favorite way to find free furniture?

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