40 Of The Luckiest “Curb Finds” That People Just Stumbled Upon

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.

#1 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

#2 Cutest Curbfind: IKEA Doll Bed For My Cat. I Think He Approves

#3 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.

#4 Hand-Carved Vintage Liquor Cabinet!

#5 Got A Motorcycle For Free Today. Clean Title And Runs

#6 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.

#7 Removed Layers Of Old Paint And Rust From This Mid-Century End Table

#8 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!

#9 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.

#10 Curb Find Of The Century? Kitchen Aid Professional 5 Plus Stand Mixer With Attachments, And It Works!

#11 I Don’t Watch Much TV, But When I Do, It Comes From The Curb. Fully Functional Sony 4k TV. Thank You Curb Gods

#12 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.”

#13 1922 Sewing Machine

#14 Not Exactly The Curb, But This Was Left In My Building’s Disposal Room

#15 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.

#16 I Whipped My Car Around So Fast. If There Wasn’t A Sign That Said “Free” I’d Have Felt Like It Was Stealing

#17 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

#18 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.

#19 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

#20 After Having No Table For 2 Weeks, This Lovely Vintage Find Was Amazing. The Drop Leaf Table Is Perfect For Our Small Space

#21 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.”

#22 Some Mom Stepped On Her Last LEGO…

#23 Found This Old Trunk In My Neighborhood On Garbage Day. Excited To Have A Cool New Coffee Table/Extra Storage!

#24 It’s Been 20 Years Since If Found A Curb Box This Good. All Records In Immaculate Condition. Mostly Australian Imports

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.”

#25 Kid’s Poang IKEA Chair To Dog Throne