Shopping for furniture is always a blast, but it’s especially fun when you get to browse through antique shops. If you are looking for some beautiful antique makeup vanities for your home, then you will want to think about some things before you start buying.

One is that you should think about which style of furniture you are looking for. Officially antique means something that is one hundred years old or older. But that leaves a lot of options in terms of style! There are so many different styles of furniture from over a hundred years ago, and it will be very helpful if you know which one you want before you start looking. For example, you can find something that is Victorian or something that is Edwardian.  Makeup vanities from these two periods are both beautiful, but they have some distinct differences. If you want the vanity to fit in well in a room that is already furnished with period furniture, you will need to know which period you are dealing with in order to get a good match.

photo credit: Simon Davison

Another thing to consider is authenticity. If you are just buying it for it’s beauty this might not seem so important at first. But you will pay more than you really have to if the item is labeled as an antique when it really isn’t. Calling in an expert isn’t a bad idea if it is an expensive piece that you are considering buying.

You will also want to see how well it works. Do the drawers open and close with ease? Are there any signs of mold or deterioration? Is there a musty smell inside? These things can be easy to check out, but you don’t want to wait till you get home to discover that the vanity is on it’s last legs.