Office Furnishings Find a Second Life through Designers and Distributors Embracing Circular Practices

Slowly but surely overcoming the stigma, quality, and aesthetic concerns surrounding secondhand office furniture, more interior design firms and their clients are seriously considering this growing marketplace of used seating, tables, workstations, and more.

While designers are generally eco-minded and strive to tread lightly on the environment, the spread of sustainable values, green building certification programs, and a focus on reducing embodied carbon have created an environment where waste is tolerated even less.

The upshot is that the 75% of used furniture—totaling 17 billion pounds—sent to U.S. landfills every year is not considered acceptable.

A traditional stumbling block to addressing this concern is designers’ ability to source high-quality, vetted furniture. Fortunately, the industry is getting organized with digital tools and accessible marketplaces for used furniture, and manufacturers are working with larger end users to repair and refresh existing furniture.

Making the Case

For owners and designers open to providing a new home for used office furniture, the benefits are numerous.

Reusing furniture saves the raw materials, energy, and emissions associated with manufacturing new products, and helps promote a circular economy. The furniture is often available without long lead times, and compared to new products, the cost savings can be significant.

“It’s a simple economic and eco-friendly response to record-high vacant commercial real estate and sub-leases,” stated Dianne Murata, founder, owner, and principal designer with Kimiko Designs/Kimiko Green, a boutique interior design firm specializing in furniture.

“Opting for repurposed furniture sends a strong message to customers, clients, and employees: ‘This company cares about people and the planet, not just profits,’” she said.

Steven South, design director and senior associate, Spectorgroup, New York, agrees, pointing out that Gen Z workers in particular highly value sustainability. “By sharing these stories and properly messaging sustainable choices, companies can attract top talent who prioritize ethical business practices,” he explained.

Still, South admits there can be a stigma associated with used furniture, which he believes is important to help building owners overcome. Spectorgroup often creates renderings to help clients visualize the potential of refurbished pieces in their space.

Pointing out another advantage, Brandi Susewitz, CEO and founder of the Los Angeles–based RESEAT digital marketplace for used office furniture, suggested, “Secondhand furniture, especially high-quality or vintage pieces, can bring character and uniqueness to office interiors, creating a distinctive atmosphere that stands out from typical corporate environments.”

Another common concern is warranties. While some second-life furniture dealers offer them, the warranties often fall short of the comprehensive coverage typically provided with new furniture, according to Amy Campbell, AIA, a senior associate with Gensler, San Francisco.

That said, “most reputable commercial-grade furniture meets BIFMA [Business + Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association] standards and is engineered to outlast residential-grade pieces. With reupholstery and refurbished finishes, it can easily be given new life,” she said.

Locating and Vetting Used Furniture

While designers may be on board with the concept of specifying secondhand furniture, they often lack the resources to find these pieces.

With manufacturers actively selling used office furniture, Holley Higgins, RID, studio manager and associate principal with Method Architecture in Austin, has had positive experiences working with local reps, who send a team to conduct a full inventory, determine what is viable and available, and note any repairs needed.

“This service is typically free or offered at a competitive rate because the manufacturer hopes to sell additional pieces. It is a win-win scenario for both the client and the manufacturer,” she said.

Take Humanscale, for example. According to South, the company works with entities who own large quantities of their products. Humanscale will refurbish task chairs and other items. This enables the owner to extend the life of these products while enjoying a new, refreshed look.

Some furniture manufacturers offer detailed photography and videos of used products on their websites, which can help designers assess the furniture’s overall condition. While Gensler likes to tap into these resources, Campbell admits that personally inspecting the products is their preferred method of quality assurance.

If designers choose to vet the furniture in person, Amanda Epplin, a sustainability specialist with Kimiko Designs, spells out a few important things to look for. Consider structural integrity, making sure items are of good quality, commercial grade, and functional. For items like chairs, desks, and storage units, look for a manufacturer’s label and check the moving parts. Are the drawers sliding smoothly? Do the casters, pneumatic cylinders, and hinges work properly and consistently?

As an alternative to dealing directly with the manufacturer, South also recommends working with a proper reseller, who has a relationship with the manufacturer.

“Resellers are great at cleaning products and helping to replace and refresh some of the surface finishes. They can also help with getting additional parts for project-specific modifications,” he said.

Further helping owners and designers source vetted, quality furniture, a few online marketplaces are gaining traction, notably RESEAT.

Companies looking to sell their used furniture work with RESEAT to upload and price these products on a growing marketplace of seating, storage, tables, workspaces, phone booths, nursing pods, accessories, and outdoor products. RESEAT dealers are also sent to the site to inspect and evaluate every piece.

“Everything listed on the RESEAT marketplace is vetted, cleaned, and functioning,” explained RESEAT’s Susewitz.

In lieu of throwing out their furniture, companies can earn cash for these sales and buyers can obtain savings of up to 50 percent.

Generally speaking, Campbell reports that while cost savings can vary, it has been Gensler’s experience that recycled or upcycled furniture, when sourced locally, can be acquired and installed much more quickly than new commercial-grade furniture, which typically requires a lead time of 8 to 12 weeks.

Another platform where companies can list used furniture and other assets for sale is Rheaply. For more unique, vintage-type furniture, some designers are finding sites like 1stdibs and Chairish to be helpful.

In conclusion, designers are enthusiastic about growth in the important waste preservation arena, and it's easy to see why.