Second-hand Furniture Shopping in Cape Town

From vintage finds to modern basics

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Last Updated: 7 June 2017

It’s not only one of the most cost-effective ways to decorate your space, but also one of the most fashionable. With more and more people sourcing interior pieces from second-hand stores rather than the generic production line, we've rounded up a couple of awesome places for you to get down to if you're looking to up-do your space without breaking the bank. Whether repurposed, reinvented or orignal antiques that have simply just had the dust blown off of them, we're sure you'll find something you'll absolutely love.

Eco Furniture Design

Though not technically a second-hand furniture store, this environmentally friendly manufacturer sells beautifully crafted outdoor and indoor furniture for both the home and office at repurposed rates. Committed to an ethos centred on sustainability, the online shop (it also has a small Woodstock storefront) uses reclaimed wood, like left over Oregon pine from home builds or meranti from cabinetry, as well as responsibly grown SA timber and invasive alien species, like Blackwood and blue gum, to piece together stunning dining room tables, bed frames, bookcases and more. Not to mention, Eco Furniture Design does customised work too; so, stop mulling over the look and feel of that television unit and give these green furniture specialists a call.

Best for: Consumers looking for beautiful pieces that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the environment
Price range: First-class furniture at second-hand rates. Plus, ask for CapeTownMagazine.com specials!
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm; Saturday: 8:30am – 3pm
Shop 11 Salt Circle Arcade | 374 Albert Road | Woodstock |  Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 801 6612 | www.ecofurnituredesign.co.za

Vamp Furniture

This is no junk store, but rather a décor heaven for interior designers and furniture-philes. The shop specialises in mid-century furniture with traceable origins: not only will they be able to tell you the original date of production, they’ll also have the designer’s name and the materials used on file. Depending on the condition, some items are refurbished. It’s antiquing for beginners. Their blog, Vampfurniture.blogspot.com, is regularly updated with new stock.

Best for: Retro furniture, vintage kitchenalia and that special piece that becomes a talking point in your home.
Price range: The timeless pieces aren’t cheap, but there are deals to be had.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 9:30am – 4:30pm; Saturday: 8:30pm – 3pm.
368 Albert Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 448 2755

2ndHand Warehouse

This warehouse has it all; from household and outdoor furniture to office furniture and antiques. It may take some digging, but there are some real finds in amongst the run-of-the-mill goods; though, the furniture may need to be restored. 2ndHandWarehouse also buys second-hand furniture from the public, from ‘single items’ to ‘complete households’.

Best for: Those serious about going on a treasure hunt or buying furniture for an entire space in one go—whether it’s for an office or a kitchen.
Price range: Very reasonable, and you can shop online (2ndhandwarehouse.com) too.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30am –5:30pm; Saturday: noon – 3:30pm.
Unit 4 Kestrel Park | Longclaw Drive | Milnerton | Cape Town| +27 (0) 83 410 6895

Strawberry & Lime

Expect Art Deco and vintage furniture re-upholstered with luxury fabrics. This kind of collection ensures a unique offering that interior stylists can’t get enough of. Their modus operandi is ‘furniture that reflects the quality, comfort and graciousness of the past, with a modern twist.’
Best for: One-of-a-kind statement pieces.
Price range: Well-priced, although some items can be expensive.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 9am –5pm; Saturday: 9am – 3pm.
76 Albert Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | +27 (0)73 904 6688

Milnerton Market

‘One man’s trash is another’s treasure’; this saying couldn’t ring truer than at the outdoor flea market to beat all other flea markets: Milnerton Market.  A stalwart on the white elephant scene, this roadside patch of pavement and its host of vendors has been trading junk and brightening up homes for more than 20 years. Another saying to keep in mind is, ‘the early bird catches the worm’; meaning, the sooner you get there the better luck you’ll have. Expect a cornucopia of goods, from larger items such as chairs and shelves to retro bric-à-brac, and real antiques. Plus, household goods such as cleaning equipment and tools are sold here too.

Best for: Under-valued furniture and antiques; there are major finds to be had, but you’ll have to sift through lots of rubble
Price range: Items range from dirt cheap to affordable.
Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday: 7am-4pm
Otto Du Plessis Drive | Paarden Eiland| Cape Town

Moving On

The middle ground between an auction and a removals company, this mobile business organises the public sale of home furniture for those either moving or migrating. Hosted at different locations across the city, the Southern Suburbs and the Northern Suburbs, the sales are held most weekends, and usually, the contents of an entire home are up for grabs at huge discounts. The items and their prices are posted online, so you can browse beforehand; although, this does mean that other people could also have their eye on your deal. Thus, it’s best to go early, so that you’ll be able to enter the sale with the first group.

How it works: entrance to the sale is based on a lucky draw system. If you arrive 15 minutes before the sale starts, you’ll be given a random number from the ‘hat’, and when the sale starts, matching numbers will be pulled out of the ‘hat’. When your number is pulled, you can go into the sale.

Best for: Basic pieces to populate a start-up home and interesting finds.
Price range: Priced to go.
Opening hours: Visit Movingon.co.za for information on the next sale.

Voortrekker Road

There are a number of second-hand furniture shops along this urban road. Put on a pair of good walking shoes and explore.

Swop Shop (+27 (0) 21 591 5551)

Pick A Bargain (+27 (0) 21 592 4644)

Uncle Bob's Cash & Pawn (+27 (0) 21 592 1060).  

Best for: Basics, which may need to be restored.
Price range: rock bottom.
Opening hours: The shops are open from 9am to 5pm weekdays.
Voortrekker Road | Goodwood | Cape Town

Space for Life

This shop imports furniture made in the 1950s and before from Denmark and Scandinavia and sells the pieces either in their original condition or after some artful restoration or re-upholstery. Space for Life also runs an in-house interior design service, and the Tammy Lauren Collective (TLC), which turns old South African farm-type furniture into ‘accessible pieces of vintage furniture’, is also on the premises.
Best for: Retro furniture in impeccable condition.
Price range: Expensive, but worth the hefty price tag, the precision and care that’s been taken to import and restore the furniture is top-notch.
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays: 9am – 5pm; Saturdays: 9pm – 3pm.
Shop 4 The Spearhead | 42 Hans Strijdom Avenue | Foreshore |Cape Town | +27(0) 21 418 1734

Antiquing in Kalk Bay

Take a stroll down Kalk Bay’s main road and enjoy a day of seaside bohemia and treasure hunting. Pop in at Quagga Trading (+27 (0) 21 788 2752) for weird and wonderful objects; then onto The Whatnot and China Town (+27 (0)21 788 1823) for kitchen furniture and décor; and finally, get lost in the rambling rooms of The Railway House (+27 (0)21 788 4761), where you’ll find a diverse assortment of collectibles – there’s everything from a '60s pinball machine to a hand-beaten copper bath.

Best for: Fantastical and rare antiques.
Price range: The popularity of this well-trodden path is reflected in the pricing; expect more mark-ups than mark-downs.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 9am and 5pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 3pm.
Kalk Bay | Main Road | Western Cape

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Vintage, antiques and collectables: treasure hunt at the mall for free at the Vintage Fair.

Great vibes, over 115 stalls, live music, delicious food and planet-friendly recycling at the monthly Thrift Fest.

Love vintage furniture? Then you’ll love these vintage clothing stores, too.

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