Could you help me with research re: wooden furniture?

[Kaloki]

Hope this is ok here MNHQ.

DH and I are thinking of finding old furniture, doing it up and selling it on. Mainly as DH has done so well doing up some tatty old furniture we were given when we moved house, and also because it's something DH can do in bursts which is better with his M.E.

What we aren't sure about is what people are looking for most?

One of our friends has suggested children's furniture, eg. toy boxes.

So if you could answer some questions it would be much appreciated.

• Would you buy wooden furniture for your children?
• What do you look for in children's furniture?
• Do you prefer gender neutral colours or gender specific?
• If not children's furniture, what furnishing trends are you most keen on? Natural, painted, ornate, modern, etc.

Thank you in advance :)

You know this is going to get deleted don't you? :)

Well anyway.....

What sells:

(1) 1950s/1960s small furniture.
(2) Storage which looks nice.
(3) Shaker style anything
(4) Whimsical children's furniture (rocking horses, small chairs).

May I suggest you start out looking in Emmaus shops - v cheap recycled furniture, they fix the majority of the flaws and then you can just tart up add finishing touches.

Probably, it's quite difficult to know where else to put it though. I'm hoping I've posted enough that they'll know I'm not just being a pain.

We're definitely thinking of going the whimsical route - though I fear I'll struggle to let it leave the house.

My neighbour does it actually and has opened a shop now. She buys up any old shit on ebay locally and picks it up.

Get huge wooden letters and stick them on a box. woo hoo educational - I'll buy that etc.

- Would you buy wooden furniture for your children?
Yes
- What do you look for in children's furniture?
Something easy to clean, safe and that can be used for as long as poss...
- Do you prefer gender neutral colours or gender specific?
Gender neutral
- If not children's furniture, what furnishing trends are you most keen on? Natural, painted, ornate, modern, etc.
Plain simple stuff, clean lines, modern, light in colour...

Hope that helps!

• Would you buy wooden furniture for your children?

Yes, and I have

• What do you look for in children's furniture?

Solid wood, traditional style, in either painted wood or oak. Something that will last for years and be sympathetic to our other furniture. Preferably versatile enough to move rooms if need be. eg I bought oak bunks that are separate-able and will go into two rooms at a later stage.

• Do you prefer gender neutral colours or gender specific?

Gender neutral, definitely

• If not children's furniture, what furnishing trends are you most keen on? Natural, painted, ornate, modern, etc.

Traditional style, country (like the Cotswold Co), nice knobs, dovetail joints, vintage-looking. I recently got a fab bargainous 1930s chest of drawers from Ebay which the seller had painted white, and it was lovely. I have also seen some Ebay ones which have been painted in F&B colours, though I thought they were too expensive tbh. I dislike the "distressed" look. Also natural oak.