I just bought this end table and I'm not sure what to do with it. I don't know a great deal about mid-century furniture. Should I refinish it, paint it, or just leave it as is. I'm looking to sell it so it's not like something I want to put in a room.
Does refinishing it kill the value? I saw one exactly like it on Etsy where the person painted it and sold it for $195. It looked really nice though. This is my first piece of mid-century furniture so I don't want to mess it up.
Thanks for any help. Dave
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I have seen tables like this in better condition go for $45. I think if you fix it up you have a better chance of getting more money for it.
In 2014, this one, in a rough shape, sold for $34 at an auction. That is about the value you will get today if you leave it as is. These pieces are somewhat sought after in this price range--depending on where you are in the country.
These are not high ticket items...although quite durable and useful.
Refinishing it--if it was an amazing job--may add a few bucks to the sale price....but not much...as there are just so many of these pieces out there. I would say tops $50 for refinishing it.
Now if you did like you saw on Etsy and you are an amazing artist and your really do it up like the TV show Flea Market Flip--with paint and a design, you may get more for it...however, since this is your first piece and have no street cred so to speak, people may be reluctant to buy from you online and pay that value.
You could try to flip it for a local market--like Facebook Marketplace or even a local consignment shop.
Something else to think about is how much you put into it is going to depend on what you already invested in it. If you already paid a lot, you may not break even, since any kind of flip finish takes time. I have refinished many a piece in my day and it takes time and money and a lot of elbow grease. I have only done pieces to keep because it is so intensive a process.
Everyone has to start somewhere so I wish you all the best and hope you share back your finished product!!
Blessings!
Thanks very much for the information. I paid $15 so I can make a little without doing too much. Again, thank you spending the time to give me some information. Dave
You got a great bargain for it!! That is wonderful! Please post back with your flip since we have the before photo. Would love to see the after. My hope for it is an amazing flea market flip job. I went through my files and I can't find a photo I wanted to share with you of someone who turned a Mersman like this into a very cool checker board table.
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