People Share What They Found Thrown Away, And The Phrase ‘One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure’ Has Never Been So Real (50 New Pics)
The Big Apple is awash with marvelous items thrown on the dusty sidewalks, waiting to be picked up by a lucky passerby and start their journey all over again. Think of mid-century-style bookshelves, velvet couches, modern tables, intricate mirrors, oil paintings, art prints, you name it–it’s there.
Apparently, stooping is a longtime tradition in NYC, but its newly found popularity took off in 2019 together with the emergence of the 'Stooping NYC' Instagram page.
Created by a Brooklyn couple and stooping aficionados, the page became a holy grail for the “one person’s trash, another person’s” treasures and today, it boasts a community of 429K followers.
Below we wrapped up some of the newest NYC stooping gems to make us all both jealous and happy for the people who got their hands on these goods! And after you’re done scrolling through this list and upvoting your fave photos, make sure to check out our previous ‘Stooping NYC' posts here, here and here.
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Whaaaat! Perfect Couch
Oh Come On
Free Plants!!!
A while back, Bored Panda spoke with the creators of the StoopingNYC project to find out what they have been up to as well as how the stooping community is doing lately. “The growth of the community is incredible and we mean that in every aspect,” the founders told us.
“So many more submissions. So many more amazing items. So many more #stoopingsuccesses. And so many more great stoopers!” Today, StoopingNYC on Instagram is home to a dedicated community of 429K followers, but their audience seems to be still growing.
This Is Legit Bonkers!!!
O M G!!!
Part of the success of StoopingNYC seems to have to do with the fact that so many people find stooping a very fun and cool activity. The founders explained that the concept of a treasure hunt is universal, but stooping in NYC is unique to NYC.
“It’s been a part of the city culture for way before we started doing this. People are always moving and no two homes are the same size and shape. And then there is the fact that NYC has incredible, creative and diverse people… it makes it the perfect stooping city!”
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before…a Globe Bar
Verified Rocking Harley > Rocking Horse
This makes me feel sad, but someone is going to be enjoying it at least.
We’ve Got The Blues!
There are many reasons why people get into stooping. Some just follow StoopingNYC to see what treasures people find, others want to save items from landfills, and the rest like that sense of nostalgia the goods give them.
If you’re a beginner stooper, you should not just start by following StoopingNYC but also be sure to follow the notifications that pop up and be ready to run at any moment. It turns out that real gems get stooped very very fast.
Whaaaat??? Christmas Come Early Or One Day Late… Either Way Amazing!
So Much Better Than Candy
The Sign Says It All
That is basically the drawer I'm looking for right now for a certain spot in my appartment, buuuuut all I can find (that one would be able to afford) looks like c**p.
“There are also people who want the most unique apartments with money-can't-buy pieces, to those who love the gamification of a real-time scavenger hunt across the city," the creators of StoopingNYC told us a while back.
“We’ve tried to 'game-ify' the activity, making it feel like a scavenger hunt. And I think because of this, we have seen it become popular and trendy with an entirely younger audience (75% of our followers are 18-35 years old)," they explained.
Feels Like A Good Day To Get Organized
Mcm Dream!!
The Pattern
We’re So Happy That @millerphillipss Got This Great Couch! Fits Like A Glove! #stoopingsuccess
Lights Up The Room!
Major
Excuse Me, I’m Drooling
Oh me oh my! My husband no longer wants to stop while we are driving… found a gorgeous walnut Danish Modern chair, promptly ran across the street to get it. Have the leather to reupholster the seat and back…
Our First #stoopingsuccess Of 2023!!
Mural And Trash Not Included
@alexinteriorsnyc Dropping A Gem!
Serious Vibes™️
Gorgeous Vintage Gold Mirror
The Haul You’ve All Been Waiting For!
What A Perfect Little Desk!!
Door Busters Come Early!
Holy Sh*t!!! This Is Next Level
My grandma had an organ similar to this one. I always loved playing it when I was little. When she and my grandpa passed and my dad/ uncles were cleaning out their house, they gave it away. I was a teen when that happened and I was very angry about it. It’s like they were giving a piece of grandma away.
When You Can’t Find What You Love At Pottery Barn…
Finally! Affordable Brooklyn Real Estate. This 2 Bed Mcm Beauty Has A Real…indoor/Outdoor Feel…literally. Because It Only Has One Outdoor Wall. Night Stoop
Stoop Friday!
Ummm. What?
Great Chair
Ooooooh I want this chair for my living room!! I'm looking online to find something similar.. it's CRAZY how expensive these are!
Sick Boom Box. If I Had Gone With A Say Anything Caption You Guys Would Have Gotten It Right?
What Is This?
Aaaand Let’s All Say It Together In 3…2…1…banger!
Mirror Mirror On The Curb…
I'm so scary of mirrors. I've seen things. Usually myself, first thing in the morning, but other things as well.
Greenpoint Is Always On Point!
I’m Mesmerized
Eat Your Heart Out Natgeo Lovers! More Than 600 Magazines Recycled On 26th Between 6th And Broadway, Starting From The 1970s(!!!) To Present Day
Holiday Shopping…stooping Style! Slightly Worn Mcm
i love these, and the seats can be re-covered by a novice. gorgeous find.
Love Me A Penny Table! Lucky Table Of Pennies
Box Of Cute Stickers Out Now…
Anyone Got A Use For This?
Sing Us A Song!!
Groovyyyyy
These Three Should Get A Room
We Don’t Know What To Do About This One… I Mean, We Don’t Want Anyone Having Bad Vibes… But It Is A Nice Desk
She’s Beauty And She’s Grace!
Don't think about lice, don't think about lice, don't think about lice, don't think about lice, don't-
Oh Boy. Let’s Give This Plant A Happy Home
For people who can't read it well like myself; "FREE PLANT! To whom it may concern: My boyfriend dumped me on my birthday and gave me his plant. Understandably, I cannot keep it. But I would like someone to take it and give it a good home. Her name is Olive. Thank you. Heartbrokenly yours, -L"
Pop Of Color On This Gloomy Day…
So Cool
Ride Into 2023 With This Beauty!
Getting Flashbacks To High School Biology Class
Those things are very expensive - I would definitely take as I love biology and need a good microscope lol
Does Anyone Have Or Know Anyone With The Longest Apartment Of All Time??? This Is Crazy
Too Late? Orrrrr Too Early?
Idk If I Love This Color Or Hate It! Either Way It’s A Statement…evergreen Btw
Big Moving Haul
The Best Movie In This Nostalgic Collection Is ______
This Couch Is Bigger Than My Entire Living Room
Well These Chairs Are Adorable
I Feel Like This An Appropriate Question… Is This For A Grown Up Human, A Child Or A Doll?
Someone Rescue This Beauty!
Much Beloved Art Deco Desk And Little Tulip Table!
Let’s Get A Full Fledged Performance! We’ll Share It If We Get It! Tag Someone Amazing!
Someone Help Us Here. What’s Going On????
Don’t Walk… Run! So So Good!
If Anyone Knows Someone With A Furry Friend, This A Serious Bunny Or Guinea Pig House
I'd always be wary about picking up animal houses unless they are unused. Some illnesses can be transmitted through animal houses; like the one that one of my dad's ferrets got sick with, it necessitated getting a new house and burning the old one so none of the other two got sick because cleaning it was not enough.
Feels Like A Great Opportunity For A Caption Contest!
That is a giraffe from FAO Swartz. 5th Ave. It costs like a fortune.
@jennheartny W/ The Deets! “Gorgeous Old Mirror! Solid Wood And Plaster - Heavy. Roughly 36x48”
These cost a fortune- I am an artist and have scavenged some pretty crazy ornate frames… including a few like this. Easily a few thousand dollars.
Holy. We’re Gonna Hope That This Company Just Did A Chair Upgrade
Oh Nap Time
Couches Galore!
Every Year The Tree Vendors In Brooklyn Pile Up All The Unsold Trees At Prospect Park. Trust Me There Will Be More. Looks Like It’s Started
Every year on the 26th I get a truck load of Christmas trees from Lowes that would’ve ended up in the landfill and make walking sticks, I usually net around $2,500.
Must Have Been Stoop Bears’ High School Reunion After Dinner Last Night
For A Very Specific Stooper… There’s A Stack Of Thrustmaster Flight Simulation Equipment
Oooooh! These are really good and expensive. Whoever picked these up got lucky.
Verified Holy Wine!
Can We All Agree That These Aren’t That Ugly?
Go Get Em!
@onepeloton Eat Your Heart Out!!! #stoopingqueens
We had one like this when I was a little kid. Forty years later and my mom still won't let me live down the time I had an accident on it. I didn't want to take the time to use the bathroom because I was afraid my brother would take my turn.
Ummm. The Knight Of Bushwick
Plot twist… the neighbor that hates looking at this everyday when coming and going from their home put the free sign on hoping it would be gone before the owner got back from vacation. Probably not true but it’s possible.
Gold On White…classic Or Dated?
Super Understated. Very Subtle
Costume Savior!! Storm Trooper, Shark, Anakin Skywalker
Stooping, But Make It Royal
What Are You Watching On This?
Verified Some Bangers! Run Don’t Walk
Verified Looks Like Someone Is Moooooving
What Show Do We Think Cursed This 55inch TV?
The Plot Of Some Really Bad Movies
I have the exact. $129 from ikea about 15 years ago. Still going strong!
Slightly Broken (But Aren’t We All) Rattan Rocking Chair That Someone Who’s Talented Could Probably Fix!
We had a chair very similar to this… don’t lean too far back…DEATH TRAP
Okay This Is Sick! Check The Glass For Cracks
The Real Black Friday Is Happening On The Stoops!
Woah!! Someone Please Go Get This Big Grey Velvet Couch
Consider This The “Stooping Christmas Guide”
In This Market These Usually Go For At Least Six Figures
Ou Know What Time It Is…caption Contest!!
I Want That Little Guy!
Red Alert!!! Someone Is Putting Out Art Prints
Well I’m Terrified. But Here We Are
Go Go Go
Most Valuable Stoop Ever!?
What Everyone Needs In Their Living Room
@travisbarker Eat Your Heart Out. Guitar Hero
We Knew Mailboxes Would Become Useful Again At Some Point
What’s The Instagram Policy On Censoring Mannequins?
Does it have boobs? I've been looking for one for an art-deco project.
A Statement Piece For Sure
Tell Me You’re A Dentist Chair Without Telling Me You’re A Dentist Chair
NYC. The Home Of The Unicorn. Obviously
I love my inflatable unicorn! Pro tip; sit on it backwards. The neck and head form a perfect backrest.
Does This Belong In A Museum Or A NYC Apartment?
In The Tradition Of Homer Simpson Buying Marge The Gift Of A Bowling Ball… We Have The Perfect Gift Stoop!
Has Anything Ever Screamed Caption Contest More Than An Ice Menorah Sculpture???
Ok, but tbf, this item is not for taking home. Every year Chabad does public menorah lightings for all eight nights of Chanukah. This menorah is just waiting for warmer weather to melt it away.
Veeeery Worn, But…
Holy! (See What I Did There?)
When Someone Puts Vhs Porn The Stoop It Can Only Mean One Thing…. Caption Contest
Omg. Please Run Like The Wind For This Amazing @uzumaki.gallery Stoop!
To be fair, there are a lot of nice looking pieces... but I'm not gonna lie, I would pass up just about any used piece of furniture because of the potential for "hitchhikers." Yep, that sofa may be free, but so are whatever roaches, scabies, bedbugs, carpet beetles, fleas, lice, or whatever else might try to come with it. Nope. Just because it looks clean, it doesn't mean there's not an army of disgusting critters hiding in it and waiting to ruin your life. As a nurse at a hospital, I've see all kinds of infestations that people bring with them... they don't always come from where you might expect and they dont always hide in plain sight. No thanks.
That is all I can think of when I look at the furniture!
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i had to curb an 8 ft purple velvet sofa because it didn't fit in the elevator or the stairwell. that was nearly 20 years ago and i still miss that sofa.
Boy, I'm living in the wrong neighborhood. All I see on the curbs around here are nasty old stained mattresses and rotting sofas growing mushrooms.
We don’t do that here either. Occasionally you get some grotty chest of frames with a sign that says “free”. But imagine being so rich you can give away furniture like that!
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I miss this about NYC. We found great stuff on the upper east side.
I'm going crazy trying to find a perfect couch that isn't too big for the small space I need it for, that is comfy and not terribly expensive and people just throw out gorgeous pieces of furniture that I'd never be able to afford!
I'm surprised how much of the furniture seem to be without stains, tears, mars.
Moving is hard work, but sometimes it’s easier than cleaning. Great finds!
I prefer small town life over a big city any day of the week, but it does have its downsides, one of which being you very seldom see anything like this.
Where do you guys live that people just give this stuff away like that?!
people say "throw out" like they're tossing them in the trash. But a lot of these aren't garbage at all; merely set out by the previous owners because they know people will pick them up and save them the expense and trouble of getting rid of it themselves. Good catch though!
It is a little strange and sad to see gorgeous furniture, that must have cost a lot of money when it was new, discarded. I am glad, that someone took them in to use, as they should be.
Query. These all appear to be in larger cities where mass transit is more prevalent, and not many people drive trucks. How do you move the large items without someone taking your find?
Amy T -sit on it till ur friends come, rent a uhaul...
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To be fair, there are a lot of nice looking pieces... but I'm not gonna lie, I would pass up just about any used piece of furniture because of the potential for "hitchhikers." Yep, that sofa may be free, but so are whatever roaches, scabies, bedbugs, carpet beetles, fleas, lice, or whatever else might try to come with it. Nope. Just because it looks clean, it doesn't mean there's not an army of disgusting critters hiding in it and waiting to ruin your life. As a nurse at a hospital, I've see all kinds of infestations that people bring with them... they don't always come from where you might expect and they dont always hide in plain sight. No thanks.
That is all I can think of when I look at the furniture!
Load More Replies... i had to curb an 8 ft purple velvet sofa because it didn't fit in the elevator or the stairwell. that was nearly 20 years ago and i still miss that sofa.
Boy, I'm living in the wrong neighborhood. All I see on the curbs around here are nasty old stained mattresses and rotting sofas growing mushrooms.
We don’t do that here either. Occasionally you get some grotty chest of frames with a sign that says “free”. But imagine being so rich you can give away furniture like that!
Load More Replies... I miss this about NYC. We found great stuff on the upper east side.
I'm going crazy trying to find a perfect couch that isn't too big for the small space I need it for, that is comfy and not terribly expensive and people just throw out gorgeous pieces of furniture that I'd never be able to afford!
I'm surprised how much of the furniture seem to be without stains, tears, mars.
Moving is hard work, but sometimes it’s easier than cleaning. Great finds!
I prefer small town life over a big city any day of the week, but it does have its downsides, one of which being you very seldom see anything like this.
Where do you guys live that people just give this stuff away like that?!
people say "throw out" like they're tossing them in the trash. But a lot of these aren't garbage at all; merely set out by the previous owners because they know people will pick them up and save them the expense and trouble of getting rid of it themselves. Good catch though!
It is a little strange and sad to see gorgeous furniture, that must have cost a lot of money when it was new, discarded. I am glad, that someone took them in to use, as they should be.
Query. These all appear to be in larger cities where mass transit is more prevalent, and not many people drive trucks. How do you move the large items without someone taking your find?
Amy T -sit on it till ur friends come, rent a uhaul...
Load More Replies... 