When choosing an antique cabinet for your home, there are several things to think about before making a purchase. Some of the key considerations are the size and style of the cabinet, how much storage you'd like it to provide, and what type of wood or material you prefer it to be made of. To find the best antique cabinet for your home, consider where it will be displayed and what it will be used for. Measure the height, width, and depth of the area where you will place the cabinet to ensure that it will fit in that space once you get it home. Once you have an idea of what you are looking for, you can begin your search for the perfect antique cabinet.
Cabinets come in many styles, such as sideboards, corner or curio cabinets, and locker-type cabinets. Some have drawers or shelving for storage, while others have doors to hide the storage area. If you will be using the antique cabinet for storage, select one that has enough storage space to meet your needs. Choose a style with shelving and either an open front or a glass front for displaying decorative items.
When considering antiques, most people automatically think of wood, however, antique cabinets can also be made of metal. Most antique wood pieces are constructed of solid wood, rather than the wood-look materials used today. An antique cabinet can be made from solid wood, such as oak or cherry.
An antique is generally classified as something that is over 50 years old. Though antiques are often much older than that and can be well over 100 or even 200 years old. Antiques are often passed down from one generation to another but can also be purchased in antique stores and sometimes found at estate sales and yard sales. Some specialty furniture stores sell certified authentic antiques as well as reproductions, which look like an antiques but have been manufactured recently.
Since antiques are old, it is possible that they have become damaged in one way or another. Many times a cabinet is painted to give it a fresh look. When looking at antiques, try to visualize what the piece looked like when it was first crafted. An antique restorer can strip off layers of paint or refinish the piece to restore it to its original beauty. Broken legs, missing hinges, or drawers that don't properly open or close can also be repaired.