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People Share What They Found Thrown Away And The Phrase ‘One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure’ Has Never Been So Real (40 New Pics)
It's called stooping, and it's how people get secondhand furniture from New York City curbs for free. Basically, it goes like this: someone who no longer needs their old mid-century coffee table puts it on the sidewalk in front of their home and anyone who might find it useful can simply pick it up.
Stooping is a longtime tradition but in the summer of 2019, it got a modern twist when a couple from Brooklyn created an Instagram account to help castaways find their new owners. Without overthinking, they called it Stooping NYC and started sharing everything the streets had to offer.
Loyal Bored Panda readers should remember this online project since we've already written about it here, here, and here. However, it just hit a huge milestone: 250K followers. So we thought it's a nice occasion to pay them another visit.
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
West Elm Industrial Coffee Table With Storage
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#2
Are You Kidding Me
"Stooping has been around in NYC long before [our Instagram account], and we think that the concept is so relevant to the city because of what it means to life in the city itself," the couple behind the account, who want to remain anonymous, told Bored Panda.
"People move so frequently, no apartment is ever really the same, the transient nature of New York... all of that means that people are always looking for new furniture, or hoping to get rid of what they have. The act of stooping has seemingly become the New York version of 'paying it forward.'"
#3
Get Lit With These Tiffany Lamps!
#4
O M G!!
#5
Visual Merchandising At Its Finest!
As the couple highlighted in one of our earlier conversations, hosting stooping on social media not only means that the locals have a much better chance to find what they need, but it also allows to 'export' a part of the city to outsiders, allowing them to have a digital walk through the neighborhoods.
"It gives access to a piece of New York City culture to people who follow from far and wide," they explained back then.
"It also has enabled us to 'gameify' stooping, with stoopers sharing stories of things they spot, stoop, take home, and ultimately give new life to. It would really be challenging to tell stories around the pieces like we do on any other platform."
#6
The Look Of A Stooping Success!!!
#7
Sitting Very Pretty! Perfect Incredible Aqua Corner Sofa
#8
As The Kids Would Say…GTFOH!
The couple behind the account also said that one NYC area in particular is stooping a lot more than the others.
"Brooklyn is by far the most active stooping borough, but there are a ton of stoops that we get daily from all pockets of the five boroughs, Jersey and even Long Island!"
Stoopers are excited about a lot of things, running the spectrum from essential apartment features like bookshelves and kitchen islands to valuable treasures, such as beanie baby collections and pianos, and beyond. Plus, they also make sure that no plant ends its days on concrete!
#9
“Take Me! I Still Work. Unlike My Freeloading Ex-Boyfriend!!”
#10
Red Alert!!!!! Beautiful Globe Bar Cart
#11
Well This A Great Sunday Stoop! Stools Included!
If you also want to try your luck hunting these gems, the couple said you should, "1) Follow @stoopingnyc on IG; 2) Turn on your notifications; and 3) Get ready to run when you see something you like! Things go quickly."
Covid has had an impact on the stooping culture too. At the start of the pandemic when there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding health and safety protocols, the couple refrained from posting. But once they started up again in the summer, they were flooded with a wave of submissions caused by New Yorkers leaving the city.
"In a moment in time when good news can seem few and far between, we continue to feel so lucky to have such a positive and wonderful community of stoopers that are focused on sharing with each other!" they added.
#13
Super Cute “Free And Clean” Couch
#14
Holy Saturday!
#15
Holy Marvel!
#16
Oh Baby!
#17
Let The Saturday Bangers Begin
#18
Gorg Table
#19
I Don’t Want To Be Rude, But Why Hasn’t Someone Written Us A Stoop Anthem?!
#20
Already Packed And Ready To Be Stooped
#21
I Mean… Are You Serious? This Baby Blue Leather Couch Is Amaaaazing!
#22
Super Cool Designed Trunk!
#23
Free Yoga Mats
#24
Drafting Table Alert!!
#26
Wowzers!
#27
Oh The Snacks I Would Put In These!
#28
How Amazing!
#30
Table For 4!
#31
Basically The Cutest Little Cooking Machine Ever
#32
Wow!! Haul!
#33
What A Beauty!
#34
Amazing Six Drawer Credenza
#35
Bring Friends! In Front Of The Lab On Newel St In Greenpoint
#36
We Were Going To Go To Bed But Barbie’s Playhouse Exploded
#37
Mid Century Modern Recliner. Comes With A Beer. You’re Welcome
#38
Love This Christmas Couch
#39
Do You Have The Longest Apartment In The World? Then This Is For You!
#40
We’ve Seen A Single Red High Heel Chair Before... But A Pair??
#41
Tell Me This Mirror Wouldn’t Make You Super Happy!
#42
And It Just Got Watered
#43
Zero Doubt This Was Going To Be An Awesome Stooping Success
#44
A Little Fire To Start Your Morning!
#45
Plant Parents Unite!! Save This Baby!
DUN DUN (she/her) 3 years ago
I've been wanting a monstera plant for months now! 😭😭Not fair God, not fair
#46
This A Classic Table!
#47
Instant Apartment Upgrade!
#48
Save It From The Rain!
#49
Gong Show!!
#50
The Weekend Looks Good
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 3 years ago
So beautiful. I like worked materials. So much interesting than a plain one.
#51
Marvel Gaming Chair!
#52
Free Orchids!!!!
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 3 years ago (edited)
This is how I got my beautiful full of flowers orchids. The person was giving a party and want them with flowers. Went to a flower shop and put the ones without flowers out of the house.
#53
Gorg Dresser
Tamra Stiffler 3 years ago
I'd put a botanical or geometric wallpaper on the drawer fronts, and maybe replace the hardware. Nice, sturdy looking piece.
#54
Amazing Wednesday Find!!
#55
This Is The Smaaaart Decision
#56
NYC Is Officially Insane. It’s Gone
#57
Come. On. Every. Damn. Day
#58
I Like The Suggested Bar Shelf
Elli Rahim 3 years ago
The ancestral spirits would love to be remembered with some good cheer.
#59
What A Little Slice Of Happiness!
#60
So So So Perfect
#61
Hand Made Or IKEA Made? Who Cares! It’s Great!
#62
This Is The Pink Kitchen Of Your Dreams! Well… At Least Sort Of
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 3 years ago
Together with the pink room some posts before and you are settled to pink paradise.
#63
What Does This Couch Remind You Of???
#65
My Goodness. Statement Piece!
#66
A Salmon Vision
#67
Have You Always Wanted A Painting Of A Tiny Dog On A Tricycle?! Now Is Your Chance!
#68
Verified Stooping Champs!
#70
Lip Shaped Really Nice Coffee Table
#71
Massive Warehouse Clean Out Means A Huge Stooping Haul
#72
If This Vanity Could Talk It Would Say “Don’t Look Me In The Eye”
Tamra Stiffler 3 years ago
Wow, a gorgeous antique piece - with all the trim and glass intact!
#73
We Got To This!
Joyce Deering 3 years ago
It just needs a good cleaning and ya'll gonna need a bit mo stuffin'!
#74
Well... I Think It’s Fair To Say This Couch Is Not For Everyone
#75
Hopefully Not Too Wet!
#76
And Another One
#77
Real Flowers Are So Overrated. Am I Right?
#79
But The Cheetah Print Though
#80
How Beautiful Is This?!
#81
Ummm Adorable!
#83
Omg. Stoop Chair Is Not Only Back But It Multiplied!
#84
When Cocacola Is Life
#85
Stooper Moving To LA
#86
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall Vibes!
#87
Vintage Fanciness!! It's A Lamp Extravaganza!
#88
Did Someone Say Banger?!
#89
And I’m Dead
LynzCatastrophe 3 years ago
Why are people throwing away so many gorgeous blue pieces? This is special! (My hair is blue, I'm biased).
#90
And I’m Dead
#92
Cuffing Season Comes Early
#93
You Can Get A Monitor Off Stooping Quicker Than From Your IT Department
#94
Fun!
#95
Omg
#96
It. Is. Back!!!!
#97
Stooping Saturday!
#98
Excuse Me…are You The Cutest Mirror I’ve Ever Seen?
#99
Have You Been Looking For A Wine Rack Shaped Like A Bull Standing Upright While Holding A Platter? We Delivered
#101
Excuse Me I’m Dead At The Cuteness. Baby Pink Dresser / Night Stand
#102
What Is This? Lies Only!
#103
Incredible! Cool Iron Side Tables, Sterling And Flatbush
Tamra Stiffler 3 years ago
Man, I love industrial stuff like this! Could also replace the glass with some sturdy plywood and cover with foam and leather for a couple of stools.
#104
Well That’s Gorgeous
Legen ( wait for it ) dary 3 years ago
What ?!?! I'm looking on the wrong places or why I never find nice things like this.?
#105
Run Don’t Walk! We All Need This In Our Lives!
#106
This Blue Hand Chair Deserves A Caption Contest!
#107
The Stooper Who Submitted This Informed Us That There Is Also A Bonus Toaster Oven Inside So You Can Both Store Shoes Here And Make Yourself A Bagel. Win/Win
#109
12 Prince St By Elizabeth! Just Waiting For You!
#110
Dream Seat!
Kevin Camp 3 years ago
This is the chair in your wood paneled study for your evening cigar and bourbon wind down.
#111
Give Me A Bar, But Make It Vintage
#113
What In The World Is This? (See What I Did There?)
#114
Is The Heart Chair The New Ear Mirror?!
Joyce Deering 3 years ago
I'd take it! I could just hear the Hubby if I brought that home. lol
#115
Happy Friday!! Hand Painted IKEA Desk
Amaranthim Talon 3 years ago
That is nightmare fuel, right there- that blue thing walks in the night...
#116
Vintage Peloton
Tiny Dancer 3 years ago
It's called an exercise bike. Let's not make Peloton a catch-all name for exercise bikes in the way Kleenex came to mean tissues. Don't dumb it down for your audience. Lift them up with knowledge!
#117
Can Someone Please Make Sure Its Been Rescued???
#118
Gemmmmm
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Another contender for a favorite chair—-and I like the petal green.
#119
Of Course There Is A Photo Booth Out. Not Sure If It Works But Worth Finding Out!
Parthania Dawson 3 years ago
Great to have for parties if it works. *sigh* parties, when will we have those again?
#121
This Is So Much More Than A Free Couch… It’s A Hot Pink Free Couch
#123
It’s All About The Details
#124
If Elmo Were A Chair
#125
Holy Caption Contest!
#126
When You Need Somewhere To Put Your Jeans But Also Want To Check Out Your Current Fit
#127
Excuse Me While I Pass Away Over This Mirror!
#128
Anyone Opening A Bodega?
#129
Have You Been Thinking 'All That’s Missing From My Home Decor Is A Giant, Papier Mache Camel?'
#130
Great Multi Tiered Mirror Situation On 60 Thompson!
#131
We Can Confirm That This Is A Lamp. Also, This Will Most Definitely Give Me Nightmares Tonight
#133
Caption Contest!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Jo Choto 3 years ago
Sadly I have never lived anywhere that offers this kind of glory on the streets for free.
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
One thing you have to look out for in NYC and other big cities is bedbugs. The cities are infested with them and street furniture is one easy to spread them. They are notoriously hard to get rid of. And once one apartment gets them, every other place in the building will too.
Seabeast 3 years ago
Yup. There's a reason brass and iron bedsteads were all the rage in the 19th century - bedbugs didn't lay their eggs in the crevices as they did with wooden beds. Anything soft and upholstered is also a risk.
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Jo Choto 3 years ago
Sadly I have never lived anywhere that offers this kind of glory on the streets for free.
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
One thing you have to look out for in NYC and other big cities is bedbugs. The cities are infested with them and street furniture is one easy to spread them. They are notoriously hard to get rid of. And once one apartment gets them, every other place in the building will too.
Seabeast 3 years ago
Yup. There's a reason brass and iron bedsteads were all the rage in the 19th century - bedbugs didn't lay their eggs in the crevices as they did with wooden beds. Anything soft and upholstered is also a risk.
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