Kitchen design
Buying Vintage and Antique Kitchen Furniture: What to Check
Old dressers, tables and chairs bring real character, and real pitfalls: woodworm, wobbly joints and old lead paint.
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A scrubbed pine table, a painted cupboard or a set of old chairs gives a kitchen a lived-in character that new furniture rarely matches. A few checks before you buy save you from bringing home a problem.
Where to buy
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What to check
| Check | Look for |
|---|---|
| Woodworm | Small round holes; fresh pale dust underneath means active worm |
| Joints | Wobbles in tables and chairs; loose drawer runners |
| Size | Height, depth and whether it fits through your doors and under ceilings |
| Smell | Damp or musty smells that may not wash out |
| Old paint | Possible lead paint on pieces painted before the 1960s |
Old paint and lead
Lead was widely used in household paint until the 1960s. If an old piece has original paint, do not dry-sand it or strip it with a heat gun. Leave sound paint alone, or use wet abrasive paper or a chemical stripper with proper protection, away from children and pregnant women.
Where to look
Auction houses, reclamation yards, charity shops and local selling sites. Bring a tape measure and photos of your space.
Making it work
Mix old pieces with fitted units for an unfitted kitchen look, and see Welsh dresser styling for dressing an old dresser.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I tell if woodworm is active?
Fresh, pale dust (frass) under small round holes suggests active woodworm. Old, dark holes with no fresh dust are often historic.
Is old painted furniture safe in a kitchen?
Sound paint is generally fine if left alone. Paint applied before the 1960s may contain lead, so avoid dry-sanding or burning it off, and seek advice before stripping.
How do I clean an old pine table?
Scrub with warm, soapy water and a soft brush along the grain, rinse with a damp cloth and let it dry. Avoid soaking the wood.
Sources
- Lead paint in your home, Cambridge City Council. Checked 5 October 2026.