People Share What They Found Thrown Away And The Phrase ‘One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure’ Has Never Been So Real (35 New Pics)
InterviewArgh, me hearties, there’s treasure to be found in the unlikeliest of places and it’s not just doubloons I’m talking about. You have to keep your one good pirate eye out and, before you know it, you’ll be bringing home useful, gorgeous, and exciting things that friendly strangers left lying for you on the sidewalk.
If you’re lucky enough to live in New York City or if you’ve ever visited the Big Apple as a tourist, then you probably know all about stooping—people leaving behind things they no longer need on the sidewalk in front of their homes for others to ‘adopt’ and enjoy. It’s a proud tradition that the ‘Stooping NYC’ Instagram account documents.
"Stooping is so popular in NYC because it really is an activity that’s built into the culture of being a New Yorker. Unlike other cities, New York is transient and that means that people are always moving. No one apartment is quite like another, and so this activity of putting items that no longer fit/serve a need is something that has long existed," the couple told Bored Panda. Be sure to read on for our interview with the couple behind the wildly popular 'Stooping NYC' account. They told Bored Panda all about the ever-growing account, their passion project, and their wonderful community that they're building each day.
After you’re done scrolling through this list and upvoting your fave photos, you can enjoy our previous post about the ‘Stooping NYC’ account right over here.
This post may include affiliate links.
And We’re Equal Parts Speechless And Jealous
Oh Wow!!! 193 Moffat St. Bk.
Therapy, But Make It Chic. 254 Gates Avenue
Check Out This Plant Angel Stooper! She Does This Every Week! 600 10th Ave In Hell’s Kitchen
The Plant Mother Load
*Immediately Googles How To Decorate My House*
Guys. Good News And Bad News. Good News. This Is Amazing. Bad News. The Stoopers Told Us They Saw It Yesterday And Don’t Know If It’s Still There. Someone Has To Go Check! Jackson St. Between Cherry And Madison
What A Heavy Gem! 23rd Btwn Broadway And 6th
Well Damn. Is It Weird I’m Half Expectating To Open This And Have It Be A Magical Portal? Corner Of 6th Ave And 12th St In Park Slope!
Your Parents Were Lying When They Said Nothing Good Happens After Dark. Stooping Success From Last Night!
*Googles What Decor Items Go Best In An Oversized Bird Cage* North Henry And Richardson
Long Time Stooper. First Time Success!
Jaw Drop. Classon Ave And Quincy Street
Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy. Lafayette In Between Marcus Garvey And Lewis
Hot Damn. Hustle!!! Meserole & Lorimer
Sfarrellnyc Snagged An Absolute Beauty! Congrats On Your Stooping Success
It’s Like If An Accordion Met A Keyboard
Tell Me You’re A New Yorker, Without Telling Me You’re A New Yorker... Jcportuondo Knows How To Make The Mta Regal Af!
Drafting Table On Washington Ave Between Atlantic And Fulton
NYC... You Never Cease To Amaze Us! 101st St Just Off Columbus
Red Alert!!! This Is Outside Getting Snowed On. Go Get It! Gorgeous And Great Condition. Sterling Place And Flatbush Ave
It Does Say Not Heavy... Armoire In Front Of 567 Bainbridge St. In Brooklyn! Cute Pup Not Included
Now There’s No Excuse To Stop Those Piano Lessons! This Little Guy Will Fit Nicely In Your Studio! Baby Piano On 3rd And 72nd!
These Two Beauties Are Officially Off The Market!
Just Plop On Down And Get To Work! Park Ave S And 31st
Run To These!!! Clear Chairs! St Marks And 6th Ave Park Slope!
Start The Carrrrrrrrr!!! This Beauty Is On Warren St Between B’way And Church St!
Listen, We Don’t Ask For Much... But We Have An Ask. Before Picking This Beautiful Piano Up, Can We Hear A Song Or Two? We’ll Play Them Here! Carlton Ave Between Myrtle And Willoughby!
Guys... Get Ready. Today Is Going To Be A Great Stooping Day! Here. We. Go. 2nd Between 57th And 58th
Guys... Holy S**t! Fidi - Beaver And S. William!
Why are people just getting rid of perfectly good stuff. Wish we had stuff like this being put out for hard rubbish.
Make Looking At Yourself Fancy Af. In Front Of 234 Skillman Ave
Now These Are Some Stoopers In The Wild
Jaw Drop! Across From 389 Lincoln Pl In Prospect Heights!
Omg! Say What? Empire And Rogers!
Guys... We Have To Do A Caption Contest Here!!! Go! 20th And 6th In Chelsea
Ohhhhh Boy. 675 Sackett St
O To The M To The G. 87th Between East End And York!
My friend bought large sectional in flea market in Coney Island for $125 I the 80s .she used it for 7 years then gave it to me . I used it for 4 years then put it out in Brooklyn sidewalk . it was gone in 10 mins.
Omg Drool! Williamsburg. Bedford And Metropolitan Ave!
You Guyssss. Run For This Beauty!! Going Out Now In Ozone Park. 94th Street Between 101 And 103 Avenue. Record Player Works And Makes A Nice Console Table When Closed
Reminds me of the beautiful piece my parents had; it had a tv, turntable with receiver. I can almost smell the tubes as it warmed up.
Guys, Trying To Shut It Down For The Night But Here’s A Quick One We Felt The Need To Get Out! On Spencer Court Between Dekalb And Kosciusko
And I’m In Love. Columbus Between West 82nd And West 83rd, East Side
I’m Blushing (See What I Did There...) Blush, Velvet Couch On 20th Between Park And Broadway
Wowzers!
A Stooping Success Queen!
We Love This Giant Bowl Like Coffee Table! 43 Montrose
Super Cool. Trunk? Coffee Table? Whatever. It’s Great! Greene And Clinton
Big Stoop Energy Coming At You With This
Stooping Starts Now! Columbus/69th Real Wood
Super Fancy Cool Clothes Rack On Clinton And Pacific
Holy Moly I Want To Fall Asleep In This Right Now. Van Burren/Tompkins In Bedstuy
Now This Is A Stooping Journey
Greens! 62 Cedar Street
They need to be re-potted and heftily cut down, but they'll grow back nicely. And the leftovers from cutting will probably grow roots if you plant them in soil - you could make like 10 neater-looking plants from this, which will also look quite luscious if given a bit more light and water and the occasional bit of fertilizer.
Omg. And I Never Use That Lightly. Windsor Place And 8th Ave!
Well This Is A Crazy Stoop! You Can See It Both Outside And What It Looked In Their Apartment. East Side Of Montrose And Bushwick
I would take this in a heartbeat. The colour isn’t the nicest but modulars can cost a fair bit and this would go in my house nicely.
Jaw Drop. Just Put Out! Corner Of North 1st And Kent In Williamsburg
I. Love. Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have two sconces similar to this in my room.
So Much Abandoned Art! 1 Washington Sq. Village On 3rd St
Man You Guys! The Stoops Are Alive Today! 134 West 74th
Omg. Today Is Bonkers! Blue Velvet Couch On 11th And 1st Right Next To The Buffalo Exchange
Jaw Drop! 2 X Cherry, Fireplace Mantles. 46th Street Between 3rd And 4th Ave In Brooklyn
oh wow! buy put & prop it against a wall and cut a hole in the wall and voila-a fireplace!
Stooper Called This, “The Stoop Of A Lifetime!” On Putnam Between Wyckoff And Cypress
If this thing is made of cast iron, you need the Hulk to pick it up :-)
Worth Going Out In The Snow For! Huron Between Franklin And Manhattan In Greenpoint
Picked Up A Stooping Success That Is Perfect For The Season! Congrats!
Looks like it's made from two different pieces, but nice none the less.
Are You Even A New Yorker If You Haven’t Used A Dolly To Transport Stooped Furniture Across 4 Lanes Of Traffic?! Stooping Success Courtesy Of Whatsarahsdoing
Oh So Pretty In Pink!on 80th Btw 2 And 3rd Avenues
Could someone please get these for me and then send it over to Aus lol. Probably cheaper to but something like that here than having it shipped over.
Don’t Panic. But It’s Velvet And Blue. In Front Of 501 W 147th Street
Excuse Me While I Die At How Amazing This Is. On Upper Riverside Btwn 106 And 107th St
Must.. go... in... Japanese..... themed..... room...... in........ animal crossing!
Love This. 14th St And 4th Ave In Gowanus/South Slope
Ah, a Dieffenbachia - likes it bright but not that much strong, direct light and sucks water like a horse. It IS easy to keep, as it's forgiving with irregular watering and not getting fertilizer, but it doesn't do well much below room temperature and shouldn't be kept too dark, and I guess it'll also not do well close to a radiator or heating vent.
If You’re Going To Have To Wfh For Another Few Months, At Least Be Regal Af About It Flatbush/Plg New York Ave And Church
I can SO see these upholstered in Zebra velvet with a big potted palm between them on my enclosed Veranda.Would be the envy of all my friends...
Guys... Holy S**t! Just Put Out! 91 Christopher St In West Village
Winner Winner Stooping Dinner. 106 Kent St.
This Is The Perfect Stooping Success!... Also Now I’m Thirsty. Congrats!
Holy Moly. I Hope This Is Actually For Stooping! Maaaaybe Make Sure. On 86th Between 1st And York!
A Dino Lamp And Magic Cards? F’ing Jackpot. Rogers Ave And Prospect Pl
Free Pottery At 46th And 10th In Manhattan!
Worth Saving! Outside 373 Ocean Ave In Flatbush Bk!
This Is Stoop Journey Captured In Multiple Parts. Also, I Think I Speak For Everyone When I Say Winterrwong And Company Worked For This Stooping Success
Jaw Drop. On 33rd Between 31st And 30th Ave In Astoria
What A Gem! 20th Between 7th And 8th
Total Vibes. 1411 Pacific St
I Don’t Want To Be Dramatic, But The Streets Are Alive With The Sound Of Stooping This Afternoon! Se Corner Of E 85th And 3rd Ave In Manhattan
So So So So So Good. 110 And Manhattan Ave
Reportedly In Fantastic Shape. Wyckoff And Dekalb
Cinemas Closed? No Problem. Snag These Theater Seats And Fire Up Netflix ! Antique Theater Chairs On Ave A And E14th!
Stooping Success Story: “Table Base, Chair, Chandelier, And Even The Milk Bottle Vase, Coffee Cup, And Baby Money Tree To The Left Are All Stooping Successes!”
Pretty In Pink (And Also Cold) Velvet Couch On The Corner Of Huron And West St In Greenpoint
Need A Hand? (Dad Joke). Corner Of Cornelia And Central In Bushwick!
Beautiful Mirror, Ready For Grab At Monroe St. Between Stuyvesant And Lewis
Well This Is Amazing. This Person In The Picture Got The Stoop. The Person Who Took The Pic Was Just A Littttle Late Getting There. But Did He Give Up? Nope. He Went And Got The Great Kitchen Storage Piece. Oh And It Was Her Second Win Of The Day. 2 For 3 Ain’t Bad!
Guys, I Think This Has Been Out For Two Days! We Gotta Find This A Home! Washington Ave Between Dekalb And Lafayette
Oh NYC! Beautiful Coffee Table On 73rd And 2nd
Well, I Call It Like I See It And What I See Is A Stooping Banger. On E 67th Between 2nd And 3rd
Excuse Me I’m Dead! Out On Bleecker Between 11th And Perry!
Omg Omg Omg!!! Hancock & Bedford
My Goodness Is This An Amazing
Byo-Table And You’ve Got Yourself A Romantic Reservation For 2. Two West Elm Dining Chairs At 93 Greenpoint (Between Franklin And Manhattan)
Holy Haul! 111 N 5th St. In Williamsburg
Soooo We’ve Been Informed That A Door Man Let It Slip That These Do In Fact Have Bed Bugs. So Let’s Keep Dreaming About The General Style... But Not Stoop. K Thanks
Danielarmitano Made This Incredible Mirror And Left It At 643 Warren St
Ok, not so keen on a mirror partially trimmed with expanding builders foam. But there have been a lot of really beautiful and interesting pieces.
That was my thought as well. I know someone who got a couch with bedbugs from Goodwill so I'd never trust one that's been thrown out.
Load More Replies...I am so jealous. I assume this is NYC, and I've seen many posts about stooping. Some of the couches are to die for. But this does not happen where I live, sad.
Load More Replies...I couldn't see all the list because 95 % of this things are too good to be true. So happy people are finding and taking them home.
NY has spoken - velvet furniture (particularly pink sofas) is OUT this year!
Velvet furniture has been coming back majorly over the last couple of years as post modern falls back into vogue and 1980s revival pieces are more and more popular. Your statement is just factually wrong but it’s true that pink sofas aren’t for everyone.
Load More Replies...And to think I just paid $400 for a pink tufted sofa. I could have these... oh wait... I live in Toronto - lol
Load More Replies...I think a stoop is like the doorstep, not stooping down physically.
Load More Replies...So in NYC it's common for people to just... let things they don't want on the side of the road? I'm just trying to understand
It feels so strange to me. I guess it's good to have someone else have the furnitures instead of throwing them but what happens if nobody takes them? In my country, it would be considered was littering.
Load More Replies...People put some amazing things in skips in the UK. Only thing is, it’s actually illegal to take something from a skip. And where does the skip go? Rubbish tips. The law is definitely an ass.
as long as you ask nicely people are ok with you helping your self to stuff, remember seeing some ladies getting kitchen units from a skip and they ask the person if they could
Load More Replies...Sigh. I will never live in NYC so I'll never find cool stuff like this.
Leaving furniture (or anything, really) out on the street is illegal in my country. Most of these would be awesome finds!
Why are all of these in streets? And why are there the street addresses? Is this a USA thing or...? (genuinely asking, truly confused) :D
yep/ it's a way to recycle still good items. it's called different things in different areas. in my part of texas it's called freecycling
Load More Replies...It would be so much more thoughtful of those people to call the salvation army and donate their supposed "valuable-junk" to those who never in a lifetime could afford your precious gifts; they will come the day you want it out or literally the next day. The people that are picking up your treasures can definitely afford to buy these treasures themselves; especially when they live in your neighborhood. You would bringing just a piece of sunshine into someone's home. I'm speaking from experience.
I decoreted my house by those. Even I redecorated when I found the better one on the street! I love it ❤️
I'm absolutely amazed at what I'm seeing, as I sit on a broke down couch in SW GA. I could decorate my small home with all these great finds. I have a pickup, maybe I should visit and scour the streets, of New York, to remodel. My jaws wide open for all the prospect and beauties I've seen here. I'm a night owl and this is right up my alley. Amazing, Love!
I don't understand why anyone would just throw most of those things away...
That's it, time to move to NY, and I don't even need furniture apparently :)
I love this kind of post! I wonder though, what is with all the pink in NYC?
I have a better idea than this, I gave the link below https://alltricksusa.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2021-02-24T09:23:00-08:00&max-results=5
When I was a young adult in Madison, WI, a major college town, we furnished our big porch this way. Back then (not very PC, it was the 80s and early 90s) it was referred to as the white trash shopping network. You could find some nice stuff on the bulk trash pick up days, and when students move out. This was before bedbugs became a huge issue. It can be a great way to recycle, as ling as you inspect carefully for icky critters who could be lurking.
What is wrong with New Yorkers that they just put gems like these out on the side walk???
I for one would be VERY careful picking up anything that is upholstered - it could be infested with fleas or bedbugs, and the latter are very difficult to eradicate!
Even in Wisconsin, I love setting things on my curb and seeing others get use out of them. I’m currently packing up my house to sell and people even come dumpster diving for finds. Sadly for them, this go-around all of the good donate stuff is in the garage until it can get picked up.
Yeah People sometimes trash fully workint electronic devices, too (or easily repairable ones) - and it's way better to pick it from the trash, and use it or sell it, because it's the best form of re-using, recycling.
I live in phoenix az and every quarter there is bulk trash pickup. You can throw away anything. Fridges, furniture.. last week my son got a motorcycle! He's pulling it apart and rebuild. And if he can't rebuild.. well, that's ok, considering the price!
Lol! My son and I go out shopping at curbies (off the curb) all the time! It's a fun pastime. We've found all kinds of treasures!
At a boot sale I found a Stanley #55 plane complete with cutters for less than price of a few pints. Most would look right past the complicated-appearing antique steel, but I got it for a song and am forever finding new ways to shape and form boards.
I think a lot of these are items from homes that a senior citizen used to live in. Family doesn't want to take time and/or energy to sell items so they just put them on the street. Think about it, how many of these styles were/are popular with the older generation. But I am glad there are those in the younger generation who are able to see the quality and beauty in a piece of furniture.
Are we sure these are all trash? I have a feeling some of them are items that someone is going to pick up and people just assumed free/trash. Maybe it is different in the city. But where I live it is not uncommon to set stuff on the curb/sidewalk for specific people to come pick up that have arranged to pick it up.
Not that amazing, but I always put the things I want to throw away next to the trash bins. Never stay long. The power unit supply that went wrong, the senso quite ok, the clothes ... Even in my fancy building, people take the stuff ... And if they don't want them the garbage collectors take them...
Once I got a 1996 Charzard for free. turns out it is worth a lot of money.
I wish i had 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 bucks to buy all of these off of people
They’re not being disposed of though, I thought that was the whole point, these items have actually been rehomed to people who appreciate them anew.
Load More Replies...That was my thought as well. I know someone who got a couch with bedbugs from Goodwill so I'd never trust one that's been thrown out.
Load More Replies...I am so jealous. I assume this is NYC, and I've seen many posts about stooping. Some of the couches are to die for. But this does not happen where I live, sad.
Load More Replies...I couldn't see all the list because 95 % of this things are too good to be true. So happy people are finding and taking them home.
NY has spoken - velvet furniture (particularly pink sofas) is OUT this year!
Velvet furniture has been coming back majorly over the last couple of years as post modern falls back into vogue and 1980s revival pieces are more and more popular. Your statement is just factually wrong but it’s true that pink sofas aren’t for everyone.
Load More Replies...And to think I just paid $400 for a pink tufted sofa. I could have these... oh wait... I live in Toronto - lol
Load More Replies...I think a stoop is like the doorstep, not stooping down physically.
Load More Replies...So in NYC it's common for people to just... let things they don't want on the side of the road? I'm just trying to understand
It feels so strange to me. I guess it's good to have someone else have the furnitures instead of throwing them but what happens if nobody takes them? In my country, it would be considered was littering.
Load More Replies...People put some amazing things in skips in the UK. Only thing is, it’s actually illegal to take something from a skip. And where does the skip go? Rubbish tips. The law is definitely an ass.
as long as you ask nicely people are ok with you helping your self to stuff, remember seeing some ladies getting kitchen units from a skip and they ask the person if they could
Load More Replies...Sigh. I will never live in NYC so I'll never find cool stuff like this.
Leaving furniture (or anything, really) out on the street is illegal in my country. Most of these would be awesome finds!
Why are all of these in streets? And why are there the street addresses? Is this a USA thing or...? (genuinely asking, truly confused) :D
yep/ it's a way to recycle still good items. it's called different things in different areas. in my part of texas it's called freecycling
Load More Replies...It would be so much more thoughtful of those people to call the salvation army and donate their supposed "valuable-junk" to those who never in a lifetime could afford your precious gifts; they will come the day you want it out or literally the next day. The people that are picking up your treasures can definitely afford to buy these treasures themselves; especially when they live in your neighborhood. You would bringing just a piece of sunshine into someone's home. I'm speaking from experience.
I decoreted my house by those. Even I redecorated when I found the better one on the street! I love it ❤️
I'm absolutely amazed at what I'm seeing, as I sit on a broke down couch in SW GA. I could decorate my small home with all these great finds. I have a pickup, maybe I should visit and scour the streets, of New York, to remodel. My jaws wide open for all the prospect and beauties I've seen here. I'm a night owl and this is right up my alley. Amazing, Love!
I don't understand why anyone would just throw most of those things away...
That's it, time to move to NY, and I don't even need furniture apparently :)
I love this kind of post! I wonder though, what is with all the pink in NYC?
I have a better idea than this, I gave the link below https://alltricksusa.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2021-02-24T09:23:00-08:00&max-results=5
When I was a young adult in Madison, WI, a major college town, we furnished our big porch this way. Back then (not very PC, it was the 80s and early 90s) it was referred to as the white trash shopping network. You could find some nice stuff on the bulk trash pick up days, and when students move out. This was before bedbugs became a huge issue. It can be a great way to recycle, as ling as you inspect carefully for icky critters who could be lurking.
What is wrong with New Yorkers that they just put gems like these out on the side walk???
I for one would be VERY careful picking up anything that is upholstered - it could be infested with fleas or bedbugs, and the latter are very difficult to eradicate!
Even in Wisconsin, I love setting things on my curb and seeing others get use out of them. I’m currently packing up my house to sell and people even come dumpster diving for finds. Sadly for them, this go-around all of the good donate stuff is in the garage until it can get picked up.
Yeah People sometimes trash fully workint electronic devices, too (or easily repairable ones) - and it's way better to pick it from the trash, and use it or sell it, because it's the best form of re-using, recycling.
I live in phoenix az and every quarter there is bulk trash pickup. You can throw away anything. Fridges, furniture.. last week my son got a motorcycle! He's pulling it apart and rebuild. And if he can't rebuild.. well, that's ok, considering the price!
Lol! My son and I go out shopping at curbies (off the curb) all the time! It's a fun pastime. We've found all kinds of treasures!
At a boot sale I found a Stanley #55 plane complete with cutters for less than price of a few pints. Most would look right past the complicated-appearing antique steel, but I got it for a song and am forever finding new ways to shape and form boards.
I think a lot of these are items from homes that a senior citizen used to live in. Family doesn't want to take time and/or energy to sell items so they just put them on the street. Think about it, how many of these styles were/are popular with the older generation. But I am glad there are those in the younger generation who are able to see the quality and beauty in a piece of furniture.
Are we sure these are all trash? I have a feeling some of them are items that someone is going to pick up and people just assumed free/trash. Maybe it is different in the city. But where I live it is not uncommon to set stuff on the curb/sidewalk for specific people to come pick up that have arranged to pick it up.
Not that amazing, but I always put the things I want to throw away next to the trash bins. Never stay long. The power unit supply that went wrong, the senso quite ok, the clothes ... Even in my fancy building, people take the stuff ... And if they don't want them the garbage collectors take them...
Once I got a 1996 Charzard for free. turns out it is worth a lot of money.
I wish i had 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 bucks to buy all of these off of people
They’re not being disposed of though, I thought that was the whole point, these items have actually been rehomed to people who appreciate them anew.
Load More Replies...
