Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Whaaaat! Perfect Couch
RELATED:
#2
Oh Come On
#3
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.
#4
This Is Legit Bonkers!!!
#5
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!”
#7
Stop Me If You’ve Heard This Before…a Globe Bar
#8
Verified Rocking Harley > Rocking Horse
Sheila Stamey 1 year ago
This makes me feel sad, but someone is going to be enjoying it at least.
#9
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.
#10
Whaaaat??? Christmas Come Early Or One Day Late… Either Way Amazing!
#11
So Much Better Than Candy
#12
The Sign Says It All
A B C the Third 1 year ago
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.
#13
Feels Like A Good Day To Get Organized
#14
Mcm Dream!!
#15
The Pattern
#16
We’re So Happy That @millerphillipss Got This Great Couch! Fits Like A Glove! #stoopingsuccess
#17
Lights Up The Room!
#18
Major
#19
Excuse Me, I’m Drooling
Jane Cortez 1 year ago
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…
#20
Our First #stoopingsuccess Of 2023!!
#21
Mural And Trash Not Included
#22
@alexinteriorsnyc Dropping A Gem!
#23
Serious Vibes™️
#24
Gorgeous Vintage Gold Mirror
#25
The Haul You’ve All Been Waiting For!
#26
What A Perfect Little Desk!!
#27
Door Busters Come Early!
#28
Holy Sh*t!!! This Is Next Level
Mistiekim 1 year ago (edited)
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.
#29
When You Can’t Find What You Love At Pottery Barn…
#30
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
#31
Stoop Friday!
#32
Ummm. What?
#33
Great Chair
Liz Siemens 1 year ago
Ooooooh I want this chair for my living room!! I'm looking online to find something similar.. it's CRAZY how expensive these are!
#34
Sick Boom Box. If I Had Gone With A Say Anything Caption You Guys Would Have Gotten It Right?
#35
What Is This?
#36
Aaaand Let’s All Say It Together In 3…2…1…banger!
#37
Mirror Mirror On The Curb…
Sheila Stamey 1 year ago
I'm so scary of mirrors. I've seen things. Usually myself, first thing in the morning, but other things as well.
#38
Greenpoint Is Always On Point!
#39
I’m Mesmerized
#40
Eat Your Heart Out Natgeo Lovers! More Than 600 Magazines Recycled On 26th Between 6th And Broadway, Starting From The 1970s(!!!) To Present Day
#41
Holiday Shopping…stooping Style! Slightly Worn Mcm
Jessica Bertram 1 year ago
i love these, and the seats can be re-covered by a novice. gorgeous find.
#42
Love Me A Penny Table! Lucky Table Of Pennies
#43
Box Of Cute Stickers Out Now…
#44
Anyone Got A Use For This?
#45
Sing Us A Song!!
Lisa H 1 year ago
I can do chopsticks on the piano. I'm just going to convince myself that your song and my song played together will NOT at all be the worst things to subject to the ear canals.
Load More Replies...
Currentlylost 1 year ago
🎶SING US A SOOONG YOUR THE PIANO MAN!!! Sing us a song tonight!!! 🎶 ….anyone?
Beck 1 year ago
...yonder piano man...sing us a son tonight! We are all in the mood for a melody...
Elwood Schwartz (it/that) 1 year ago (edited)
Hilarious. Kissthisguy.com edit: typo
Load More Replies...
Dana Ondráčková 1 year ago
My Orchestra manager bf would be so happy he would cary it home himself
#46
Groovyyyyy
#47
These Three Should Get A Room
#49
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
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Ladedah 1 year ago (edited)
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.
Julia Ford 1 year ago
That is all I can think of when I look at the furniture!
Load More Replies...
Prince of Darkness 1 year ago
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.
wowbagger 1 year ago
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.
Anyone-for-tea? 1 year ago
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...
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I miss this about NYC. We found great stuff on the upper east side.
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago
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!
Penny Kemper 1 year ago
I'm surprised how much of the furniture seem to be without stains, tears, mars.
Mr Old School Cool 1 year ago
Moving is hard work, but sometimes it’s easier than cleaning. Great finds!
Suzy Creamcheese 1 year ago
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.
Sweet Taurus 1 year ago
Where do you guys live that people just give this stuff away like that?!
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
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!
Danish Susanne 1 year ago (edited)
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.
Amy T 1 year ago
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?
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago
Amy T -sit on it till ur friends come, rent a uhaul...
Load More Replies...
Ladedah 1 year ago (edited)
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.
Julia Ford 1 year ago
That is all I can think of when I look at the furniture!
Load More Replies... Prince of Darkness 1 year ago
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.
wowbagger 1 year ago
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.
Anyone-for-tea? 1 year ago
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... Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I miss this about NYC. We found great stuff on the upper east side.
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago
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!
Penny Kemper 1 year ago
I'm surprised how much of the furniture seem to be without stains, tears, mars.
Mr Old School Cool 1 year ago
Moving is hard work, but sometimes it’s easier than cleaning. Great finds!
Suzy Creamcheese 1 year ago
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.
Sweet Taurus 1 year ago
Where do you guys live that people just give this stuff away like that?!
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
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!
Danish Susanne 1 year ago (edited)
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.
Amy T 1 year ago
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?
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago
Amy T -sit on it till ur friends come, rent a uhaul...
Load More Replies... 
Related on Bored Panda
