These days, it's easier than ever to buy antique furniture and decor online. But that doesn't mean the process is completely risk-free. As with any online shopping, you won't be able to see the product in person before purchasing, which means small details or damage can easily slip under the radar.
Interior designer Nate Berkus is one of online vintage shopping's biggest advocates, but he agrees that virtual shopping often poses problems. There's no need to stress about shopping online, though.
Over the years, he's picked up some clever tips and tricks that'll help you authenticate that gorgeous antique dining table, or verify the date your new (yet pre-loved) chandelier was crafted. Now, he's sharing his hard-earned knowledge with us all – here's how to verify your purchases the Nate way.
Nate's anti-trend interior design style means that he's always mixing old and new, and scouring the market for the best antique and vintage furniture available online. What's more, in a recent video posted to Instagram, he shares that 'one of the main reasons why [he] love[s] shopping online is that you can get really great deals.'
From antique furniture and decor, to vintage jewelry and fashion accessories, Nate says there's plenty of quality product to browse. Whether he's shopping an auction online, or just browsing through marketplaces, there's always a good deal to be found.
'My whole team knows that I'll do anything to find something amazing online. But it brings up the question of, how do you know if something is what it says it is? How do you know if it's authentic? And, if you're willing to take the risk and you do buy something, what's the next step?' says Nate.
From the browsing stage all the way to unpackaging your online shipment, authenticity and trustworthiness should be front of mind. You'll want to make sure you're getting what you paid for, and that the piece you've invested in will last the long term. Nate says he's developed quite the vetting system for new pieces, though it differs depending on the item in question.
'When I buy jewelry online, if I find it and I get it and something doesn't feel right to me, I will take it to a jeweler friend and say, "Is this really an emerald? It's stamped 18-karat gold. What do you think? Could you please test the metal for me?"' Nate explains.
If you've got a very expensive stone, or a stone that you suspect might be very expensive, Nate says it sometimes has to be sent to the Gemological Institute of America – an organization that checks and verifies the authenticity of diamonds and other precious stones. 'That is an expensive process, and you only do that if something is worth a lot of money or could conceivably be worth a lot of money,' he adds.
When it comes to vintage fashion – say handbags or shoes – Nate suggests bringing them into a store for verification. 'Stores like The RealReal, or Chanel or Gucci, or any of those places – if you bring something into them and say, "I got this as a gift" or "I bought it online. Can you tell me if it's real or not?" It's a little bit embarrassing, but they will tell you,' says Nate.
For furniture and decor, Nate's best tip is to find a local expert who can help you determine the quality and authenticity of your find. He suggests finding your local auction house and their in-house furniture expert.
'Make an appointment with them, and see if you can send them photos of it first, which saves everybody some time. If you buy something online and you've taken the risk, but you're not sure if it's real, or right, or authentic, or genuine, the easiest way to find that answer out is to find and identify an expert in whatever it is that you bought in your local area,' says Nate.
By bringing your antique finds to an expert, whether you've already taken the furniture home or you're exploring options online, you'll be taking many of antique shopping's risks out of the equation. While there's still room for error, you won't have to rely on gut feelings or instinct when exploring your options online.
Shop Nate Berkus' 1stDibs picks
Although it's easy to find gorgeous pieces online, it can be quite intimidating to sift through and identify fakes. With this helpful tip from Nate in mind, you'll be better equipped to outfit your home in a timeless, transitional style.
