Antiques are back as young Britons lament being the “disposable furniture” generation
It might be time to dust the cobwebs off that old furniture in the attic, as new research shows antiques are officially back in vogue.
A majority of Britons prefer the individuality of older items to "disposable", newer furniture, according to a study by The Art & Antiques Fair. More than six in 10 (62 per cent) of people said they look good in their home, no matter how long they've been there, and 72 per cent said that antiques never went out of style.
When it comes to young Britons, almost two thirds of those between 25 and 34-years-old, saw themselves as the “disposable furniture generation”, according to the survey of 2,000 people.
More than half of us reluctantly spend money on home items that won’t last beyond three years because antiques are too expensive, while almost a third said they don't have the space to store them.
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However, this age group was the likeliest to have attended an antiques auction, fair, market or commercial gallery at least once in the past year – 63 per cent said they had visited one of these events, compared with 34 per cent of the over 55s.
When it came to the durability of furniture from a low-cost retailer, 64 per cent said that furniture looks "tired and old" after only seven years of service, while nearly half (47 per cent) said it takes just one to five years for new furniture to age.
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Londoners are the biggest antiquers, with nearly half (48 per cent) having seen something in a shop or auction they regret not buying.
"The world of antiques can be intimidating at first glance but this research shows that there is a real thirst for antiques," Mary Claire Boyd, fair director at The Art and Antiques Fair, said.
"They are appreciated for the qualities they can bring to people’s homes – particularly amongst the younger generation who are frustrated with spending money on furnishings that only last a few years."