On the sidewalk, mid-century end tables share space with old Chinese medicine cabinets. Down the street, antique chests patiently wait with vintage vinyls, paintings, and — oh yes — gorgeous motorcycles for new owners to come and pick them up. Because all of them are, surprisingly, free. One person's trash is another person's treasure, anyway, and strolling among streetside castoffs can sometimes lead to wonderful hidden gems.
Over recent years, stooping or curb mining — spotting discarded goods sitting out on the curbsides — has really taken off with scavenging enthusiasts looking for cheap and environmentally friendly ways to fill their homes with exciting treasures. And here's where the online group called 'Curbfinds' comes in. A community dedicated to sharing dwellers' best discoveries and giving bonus points to anyone if they "fix something that was broken, upcycle it, or recycle it."
Below, we've wrapped up a collection of some of their best posts, and it’s hard to believe what friendly strangers leave lying on the sidewalk! So continue scrolling, hit upvote on your favorite ones, and be sure to let us know if you've ever scouted out a great find in the comments.
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I Run Down An Old Dirt Road. Trash Is Dumped There. One Day I Stopped And Found A Box Of Money
All the envelopes are different countries all over the world. Mostly date from the 1700s-1900s. The oldest is a coin from 1621. I’ve got some from countries that no longer exist. I’m still researching
Cutest Curbfind: IKEA Doll Bed For My Cat. I Think He Approves
I Had Put These In R/Thriftstorehauls A Bit Ago But Didn't Realize This Subreddit Existed. My Boss Was Getting Rid Of Some Things From His Mother's Estate And Brought A Bunch Of Stuff In With An Up For Grabs Sign In Our Conference Room. It Was Mostly Junk, Except For These Original Dalí Etchings
It’s safe to say that the 'Curbfind' group is changing people's attitudes toward giving new life to tossed furniture. The subreddit was originally launched in May 2020 and has gained over 12.6k devoted members sharing their unexpected finds with the community. It’s home to countless photos of people stumbling upon things people no longer need for others to enjoy.
So if you think there’s still a stigma around picking up discarded goods lying on the edge of the sidewalk, this page is getting rid of it one post at a time. A brief scroll through this list proves it’s virtually impossible to predict what will pop up on a curb in your city. In fact, these unlikely places seem to be treasure troves filled with exciting items ranging from beautiful furniture to electronics to the most insignificant things that are bound to bring their new owners joy.
Hand-Carved Vintage Liquor Cabinet!
Got A Motorcycle For Free Today. Clean Title And Runs
Before And After Of A Cabinet I Found In The Trash
It’s no secret that most people face an overwhelming accumulation of stuff, but members of this community are turning their unwanted valuables into money-saving treasures, grabbing unwanted pieces to decorate their homes and improve their lives. They obviously embrace the three Rs in environmental responsibility: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
See, stoopers contribute the environmental benefits of buying less new stuff and rescuing furniture, electronics, toys, and much more from a trip to the landfill. And as recent research has found out, they also feel a sense of satisfaction because of it.
Removed Layers Of Old Paint And Rust From This Mid-Century End Table
Found This Airplane Rocker Down Our Street!
I am going to take it sand it down and stain it as a present for my godsons first birthday!
A Curbfind Dresser... With A New Bit Of Paint!
A study by Sabrina Helm and her team at the University of Arizona looked at how consumer choices affect well-being. They found that reduced consumption — repairing or reusing things rather than buying replacements — is not only better for the planet but also makes people happier.
"Reduced consumption is more novel and probably more important from a sustainability perspective," Helm said, adding that it "has effects on increased well-being and decreased psychological distress."
According to Helm, having less and buying less can actually make people more satisfied. Because if you buy a lot of new objects, you also have a lot on your mind. "Maybe you have a lot of debt because you bought all that stuff, and now you have to manage all that stuff. It requires maintenance and being organized. It's not like you buy it and you're done with it," Helm said.
Curb Find Of The Century? Kitchen Aid Professional 5 Plus Stand Mixer With Attachments, And It Works!
I Don't Watch Much TV, But When I Do, It Comes From The Curb. Fully Functional Sony 4k TV. Thank You Curb Gods
I Spent The Day Making Memories With My Daughter And Her Curb Find. Was Quoted Over $1000 To Repair The Broken Side And Reupholster. For The Price Of Our Time, Some Glue, Screws, Staples, And Fabric, She Now Has Something In Her Bedroom She Absolutely Loves
But if you’ve ever started putting random household items on the sidewalk in hopes they’d disappear, you must wonder about these passerby scavengers who are happy to bring your possessions home. Well, Blu Dot, a furniture maker based in Minneapolis, did a "Real Good Experiment" in 2009 to find out what would happen if they left 24 designer chairs equipped with GPS tracking technology on the streets of New York.
Although the experiment served as a marketing campaign for the chairs, the researchers delved deeper into the curb mining phenomenon by adding hidden notes and asking the takers to be interviewed. "The key to this idea was involvement," Michael Hart, founder of branding firm Mono, said. "Not just them taking the chairs, but the whole community with this notion of an experiment and 'Where will the chairs go?'"
So Jonathan Levine, a veteran curb miner, noticed the chair and said it was too good to be there. He and his son have been stooping for several years, and some of their valuable finds include a pay phone, keyboard, and a working printer. "We see fax machines and printers all the time," he said. "There's also more competition since the recession began."
1922 Sewing Machine
Oooh, good find! Those old machines are insanely sturdy, they last a long time.
Not Exactly The Curb, But This Was Left In My Building's Disposal Room
Curb Alert. Someone Posted A Curb Alert Near Me And I Saw Two Mid Century Looking Dressers In The Corner. I Am Still In Awe
Looking through other people’s trash and nabbing used objects isn’t new. But competition in the curb mining business has been fierce for quite some time now. Over the past few years, stooping has become so widespread that it has attracted thousands of aficionados who transformed what used to be a niche activity into a phenomenon.
I Whipped My Car Around So Fast. If There Wasn’t A Sign That Said “Free” I’d Have Felt Like It Was Stealing
Found This Bad Boy Sticking Out Of A Trashcan. Stopped To Look And The Homeowner Came Out And Gave Me A Box To Move It
Someone’s rubbish is another person’s beautiful plant. These grow majestically wild where I live.
Found This Cedar Chest A Few Days Ago
But how does one become a good sidewalk sleuth? How can you know when you spot a quality piece before committing? The New York Times spoke with several expert stoopers who let curious readers into the nooks and crannies of their craft.
First, not only where you look, but also when is crucial. The end of the month as well as the weekends are always good times to go on a hunt, with people throwing out windfalls of unwanted stuff. For example, a writer and skilled scavenger P.J. Gach likes to pass luxury buildings in the early morning because exciting items usually land there before trucks come to collect them.
Found A Bag Of Art Supplies In A Big Pile Of Junk Outside An Apartment
Most was too bad to be salvaged. But still scored a nearly complete set of watercolor pencils, acrylic paints, brushes, and bonus Louis Vuitton sunglasses
After Having No Table For 2 Weeks, This Lovely Vintage Find Was Amazing. The Drop Leaf Table Is Perfect For Our Small Space
i want that bear. large body tiny head. like me
Got This Beaut For Free! Outside A Thrift Store Where They Didn’t Think They Could Sell It!
Then, it’s critical to investigate the quality of the piece. Bronwyn Tarboton, an actor with a dumpster-diving social media account, explained it’s best to pull out your phone and do a quick search if you’re unsure of the item’s state. "That way you can see how much something is worth, how much things are selling for," Tarboton said.
When it comes to furniture, "dovetail joinery on the drawers is a sign of real craftsmanship. A heavy item is likely better quality and sturdier than a light one. Check to see if it’s wobbly, and if the legs are in good condition." Most importantly, don’t forget to check for signs of bedbugs — "look along the seams for dark spots."
Some Mom Stepped On Her Last LEGO…
Ooooh we did something like that :D We were 4 kids and had several huge tubs full of legos. We gifted it to the little son of a friend, who had severe ADHD. The mother called us the next day crying, telling us that that was the first time that her son had been calm and concentrating on one thing for an entire afternoon. He built legos all over the floor for hours
Found This Old Trunk In My Neighborhood On Garbage Day. Excited To Have A Cool New Coffee Table/Extra Storage!
It’s Been 20 Years Since If Found A Curb Box This Good. All Records In Immaculate Condition. Mostly Australian Imports
These are all good, but boy did I play that Supertramp album to death. "There are times when all the world's asleep, the questions run too deep, for such a simple man...."
Moreover, she always comes equipped with a backpack or a tote bag and a screwdriver, "in case she needs to disassemble an item to get it home. A tape measure helps, too, so you don’t end up bringing home a dresser that won’t fit through the door or up the stairs."
And lastly, familiarize yourself with stooping etiquette (yes, it exists!) One thing to look out for is missing drawers, they may be a sign of someone coming back for the rest of the piece later. Then make sure the item is clearly on the curb, otherwise it’s off-limits. And if other enthusiasts are already exploring the object you stumbled upon, they have first dibs. But if you were the one to spot it yet no longer feel interested in pursuing it further, let other people know. "Remember, something else is going to be down the road," Gach said. "There are thousands of leaning bookcases begging to be adopted."
Kid’s Poang IKEA Chair To Dog Throne
I Ran Through Traffic When I Saw It!
Found This 1940 - 41 Stromberg Carlson Radio On The Side Of The Road
Cleaned Up A Curb Find For My Plants
A Week Ago I Was Talking About How I Wished I’d Find A Snowboard In The Trash Because I’m A Broke Beginner Who Always Has To Borrow From Friends
The other night I found three on the curb! Thanks, trash day!
Lol I got into a bit of an argument with someone here on BP because they were saying how skiing is a 'rich people's sport'. So I wrote back that it really wasn't, it's a matter of finding deals. I was able to find all of my equipment for free or close to it and I felt like they didn't believe me. See it does happen! I got everything from curb finds or yard sales where I got it for like 5 dollars. You can do it on the cheap, lol.
Today's Groundscore
Don’t Mind If I Do
Just Need To Find Some Cushions Now
I Found This Small Danish Credenza On My Walk To Work This Morning. Couldn’t Believe It. It Made Me Late For Work But That’s Ok. Oakland, Ca
Leather Donghia Armchair A Buddy And I Hauled Off Of The Curb In The Middle Of The Night. Almost Perfect Condition!
Coffee Table Rehab. About $20 In Supplies
Found A Washer/Dryer Set (Knocked On Door To Make Sure They Worked) Days After Ours Went Out. So Happy!
Update On My Hot Roasted Nuts Cart Curbfind
This Luxury Dog Crate Was Being Thrown Out By Someone In My Building Who Couldn’t Keep Their Puppy
Im só in need of One of those right now lol, i have a couple of cats, not yet neutered, and the male is starting to have insestuous thoughts about his sister ( same litter kittens ), and that would be a perfect " horny jail " for him untill this friday, he's getting " lighter " this friday.
Brand New Christmas Ornaments
China Cabinet - From Buy Nothing Curb Alert
Where did op get the chairs? I have a chess board side table that matches..
I Was Thinking About Purchasing A New Bench For My Keyboard, Then I Found This Gorgeous Bench On The Curb, Just A Few Blocks From My Apartment. It Needed A Few Minor Fixes That Took < 10 Minutes, And Now It's As Good As New!
Found My White Whale On The Curb. How Anyone Could Throw One Of These Lamps Out Is Beyond Me!!
Before And After Of An Old Chinese Medicine Cabinet I Found In The Trash In Shanghai
My Ultimate Find- A Vintage Eames-Style Lounge Chair!
We Needed A New Dishwasher And The Neighbor’s Curb Provided! Installed It Yesterday. Works Beautifully
Excited To Discover This Sub! Found This Gem Yesterday
Curb Find Turned Into Fancy Cat Outhouse
From Neighbors Bulk Pick Up To My Front Porch
Freecycle Dining Table With 2 Leaves And 10 Chairs! Just In Time To Host Thanksgiving!
Was Literally On My Way To Lowe’s To Buy A Trellis For Our Clematis When I Found These Guys Free On The Side Of The Road
Super Lucky To Find This Literally Across The Street From My House Behind A Business
I’m obsessed with color so this fits right in - I love that they painted all the shelves inside - at first glance I thought it had stained glass
Today’s Lil Find
Found This 9 Litre (Roughly 2.3 Gallon) Dutch Oven, Not Even Any Rust. Worth The Back Pain To Get It Home!
So I Says To Myself, "I'm A Good Home!"
Found These Sweet Dresser Ends That Make Great Bedside Tables!
Those were likely part of a vanity originally -- with a "desk" top area connecting them together -- along with a mirror. Vanity-634...885f75.png
Got Some Gorgeous New Coffee Tables The Other Day
Found This Leather Chesterfield On The Curb This Morning!
I'm from the UK and yes,a chair can absolutely be a Chesterfield.
My Wife Called Me Today Saying There Was A Grill On The Side Of The Road. Not A Thing Wrong With It, And Lighted On First Click
That’s a good brand. Probably just not used anymore by the original owner and now will get all fired up again.
Trash Pile Rescue From The Lane We Live In In Shanghai, China. She Scrubbed Up Well!
Old Wooden Tripod My Husband Found That I Felt Was Calling To Be A Lamp
Older Lady Across The Street Puts Stuff Out Occasionally, This Is My First Had To Have
Nasty, Free Curbside Trash = My Treasure
Fainting couch. Lovely. My only worry with upholstered items put on the curb is what decides to move into them once they’re there. Of course, the OP must’ve inspected it, as it doesn’t look reupholstered. Besides, I love the deep red velvet.
College Moveout Is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
All Of These Pots Were About Two Stops From Being In The Trash Truck. I Just Barely Got To Them In Time!
Before And After Of An Abandoned Cabinet I Found Here In Shanghai... It’s Now A Wine Bar/Liquor Cabinet
Betsy Johnson Luggage In Great Condition... Okkkkkkkkkkaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!! 😚
I've Had This Exact Print In My Cart On Society6 For Weeks. Today I Found It On Nextdoor For Free. Frame And Everything. Cannot Believe My Luck
Before/After Of A Vintage Mirror I Found On The Road And Turned Into A Coffee Table
I’m From Melbourne Australia. Have Had Great Luck With Kerbside Furniture This Year
Found This Dyson V6 In The Dumpster
It was on the top of all the trash and had the charging bay sitting right next to it. Cleaned the hair and plastic off the roller and it's good as new
Found A 65" 4k Smart TV On The Curb
Found This Free Chair!
Small Parts Storage Bins For The Garage!
Curb Trash To Home Treasure
We can see in the first picture that it's not wood, just a laminated finishing. So staining wasn't going to work anyway. Painting is a good solution.
Was So Thrilled To Find This Sweet Old Desk Waiting On The Curb For A New Home. Rarely Find Things This Old That Were Never Painted!
Someone Mentioned You Guys Might Like This, Found Her On The Side Of The Road. Been Informed It’s A Designer IKEA Piece From 2004, In Pretty Good Condition. No Bed Bugs Lol
A House Near Us Has Been Putting Stuff Out Like Crazy Lately. The Records Are Probably The Best Thing I’ll Ever Find On The Curb
Found By Our Apartment Dumpster! Almost Perfect Condition
Bentwood Rocking Chair. very comfortable and totally collapsible. I have a pair. and are great pieces of woodwork
Mid-Century Looking Chair That I Found Out With Someone’s Trash
I’m An Amazon Driver And Get Cool Stuff Out Of The Trash/Off The Curb Pretty Often. These Are A Pair Of Vintage Russel Woodard Spun Fiberglass Patio Chairs From The 70s! So Exciting!
Free On The Curb. Can’t Believe She Shined Up So Beautifully!
Was In Desperate Need For A Side Table Due To My Plant Addiction And Was About To Spend $40+ On A Side Table When This Beaut Appeared Before Me On My Walk!
I'm in awe of the plants!!! I can't keep my monstera down and my pilea has never been that lush! Excellent work!
Found A Trunk In My Lane In Old Shanghai
This Glass Is Stained But It Will Still Work
Officially Resuscitated!
I’ve Gotten A Ton Of Stuff Off The Curb Over The Years, But This Is My Best Find Ever
Real Wood Chair
Scavenging Always Comes Through On Clutch - Gold Sequin Clutch
Another Awesome Weekend At My Apartment Building. All Of This And More Was Left At The Curb. I Love It When People Move Out
Fixed Up This Curb Find
This Absolutely Ridiculous Set Of Cabbage Themed Bowls
Found This Nordictrac Along Side A Dumpster. A Couple Of Magnets Started It Up And It Works Like A Dream. Goodbye Extra Pandemic Pounds!
Found This Credenza On Roadside A Few Weeks Ago. Mid 60’s!
Collection Of Prints And Artwork From Store Closing!
My Wife Spotted This Sunday Night On The Way Home Just Sitting Next To A Garbage Can On The Curb. It's Practically Brand New Without A Cord. Ampeg B108 And I've Been Wanting To Get An Ampeg For Years Now!!! Thank The Curb Find Gods For This Extraordinary Luck!!! It Actually Rained A Few Hours Later
This Was On Its Way To The Dump! I'm Going To Party Like It's 1979
Found Both Of These On Separate Occasions
1963 Lane Acclaim Extra Long!!!!
Finally Done Refinishing The Best Curb Find Of My Life! Please Ignore The Rest Of The Room, Now I Have To Get The Rest Of The Room Done
Found Two Of These Cool Chairs
Rescued From The Dumpster
Hampton Bay Trash Find
Found A Rupaul Mug On The Street - Now The Tea Can Be Served!
If Ever Come Across Smashed Tech- Always Check For A Memory Cards
Just Found This Subreddit, I Present To You This Coat Rack
First Post In This Sub:)! I Acquired These Beautiful Bamboo Chairs On The Curb Today, As Well As Some Other Fun Stuff, Score!!
Found This Bench Seat On The Side Of The Road And I Had To Grab It! I Sanded The Legs And Stained It To A More Neutral Wood Color
I’ve Been Wanting One Of These For A While. Stoked To Get One For Free!
I Found These By My Driveway This Morning. Cutco Model 77
I have these same ones. They separate in the center so you can easily clean them. And they have teeth on the blades.
Before And After. Just Need To Make A Cushion
Still Can’t Believe I Found This Beauty On The Curb
Six Foot Tall And Everything Was There! Had A Price Tag Of $149 Marked Down. Took A Half And Hour And Two Of Us To Get It Together, But Happy I Went Back For It
I found a whole yard full of these and other decorations about 2 years last December. It was amazing. They were all lit up and everything. I remember as I was driving away, some guys came out waving his arms and yelling to thank me for taking them. No thanks needed, my man.
New Life For A Little Lady Found By My Friend In An Old Shanghai Alley
Found This Free Painting On The Sidewalk The Other Day
Cleaned Up The Desk And Put It In My Office
Found This Propped Up Against A Trash Can!
Merry Christmas To Me From The Curb Gods! Complete In Box Fibre Optic Tree!
Lugged Home This Lovely, Few Doors Down! Mcm?
Found An Old Patio Table On The Curb Today. Spent 20 Minutes Carrying It Back To My Apartment. Worth It
I Love Living In A Private Apartment Community. All Of These Items And More Were Left At The Recycling Bins
Found By My Communal Rubbish Bins When Taking Rubbish Out
Found A Rusty Cabinet With A Free Sign On It Down The Road. Cleaned It Up, Painted, Put A Top On It, And Now It’ll Be My Kitchen Island For My New House
I Guess Someone Is Getting A New One For Christmas
Watched Multiple Cars Drive Over This Saw Blade. Still In The Package Tho!
Stand And White Pot On Curb Today! Cleaned And In My House
BF Broke Our One Piece Bathroom Sink A Few Weeks Ago. Came Across This On The Side Of The Road Last Weekend! Perfect Timing
Desk Bike In Fantastic Condition- Yes Please!
This Morning’s Haul!
Romper, Scarves, Belt, Pants, Boots, And Sunglasses - Pulled From Moveout Season Around Greek Row
Found This Chest On The Curb And Decided To Pick It Up And Give It A Little Tlc
Rescued This Beauty From The Curb Today. Can't Wait To Clean And Reweb!
My grandparents still had theirs from the 70s. It worked perfectly fine and had no issues, unlike the one I paid for at home depot which couldn't survive a single summer. I wish I still had theirs.
Scored This Great Moon And Stars Mirror
Why can't I ever find hidden treasures like this sitting on curbs in my city?? I am kind of jealous of these finds lol.
Did a kitchen remodel a few months ago. My wife asked if we'd donate the sink we took out. I was like "so they can charge someone $50? Nah, I'm putting this by the road." Put a sign on it, set everything out by the driveway (faucet included), went too the store and it was gone when we got back. Why let a for profit thrift store make money when someone else really needs it?
I'd like to see the other side of the 'curbside finds' coin all about things left outside and taken while the owners were taking the rest of their new purchases into their homes. Example: 'Had a sofa and armchair delivered. We carried the chair up to our apartment, came down to find the sofa had gone'. Mind you, it would be adding insult to injury if it went on to say 'and the next time we saw it, it was a feature on 'curbside finds'.
I found one of those peacock-backed chairs a few roads over from my old house. Sold it for $10 at my next garage sale. And a few weeks ago, I found my own treasure chest/trunk! I think it was for dress-up clothes or something, because it's not real wood. I was sure I would open it to find it gross, but it was perfectly clean and in great condition.
Not exactly a curb find but I bought this chair for $50 from a guy who had just pulled it out of a dumpster. It's by Pedro Friedeberg (the guy who made the giant hand-shaped chairs in the 1960s). I sold it through an auction house for $5000.00 (went back to try the dumpster guy but was not able to) chair1-634...6565f3.jpg
Some people have all the luck! And I'm mad! I'm searching for furniture for my house and going on websites and checking everywhere I can think of yet some people just give things away! Though apparently they aren't doing it where I live.
Why can't I ever find hidden treasures like this sitting on curbs in my city?? I am kind of jealous of these finds lol.
Did a kitchen remodel a few months ago. My wife asked if we'd donate the sink we took out. I was like "so they can charge someone $50? Nah, I'm putting this by the road." Put a sign on it, set everything out by the driveway (faucet included), went too the store and it was gone when we got back. Why let a for profit thrift store make money when someone else really needs it?
I'd like to see the other side of the 'curbside finds' coin all about things left outside and taken while the owners were taking the rest of their new purchases into their homes. Example: 'Had a sofa and armchair delivered. We carried the chair up to our apartment, came down to find the sofa had gone'. Mind you, it would be adding insult to injury if it went on to say 'and the next time we saw it, it was a feature on 'curbside finds'.
I found one of those peacock-backed chairs a few roads over from my old house. Sold it for $10 at my next garage sale. And a few weeks ago, I found my own treasure chest/trunk! I think it was for dress-up clothes or something, because it's not real wood. I was sure I would open it to find it gross, but it was perfectly clean and in great condition.
Not exactly a curb find but I bought this chair for $50 from a guy who had just pulled it out of a dumpster. It's by Pedro Friedeberg (the guy who made the giant hand-shaped chairs in the 1960s). I sold it through an auction house for $5000.00 (went back to try the dumpster guy but was not able to) chair1-634...6565f3.jpg
Some people have all the luck! And I'm mad! I'm searching for furniture for my house and going on websites and checking everywhere I can think of yet some people just give things away! Though apparently they aren't doing it where I live.