The term brown furniture is often described as grandmothers antique furniture. Brown is down has been the mantra for quite a few years in the antiques, collectibles, and auction business as interest in brown furniture has slowed to a trickle among the younger generation. And as an increasing amount of brown furniture has been sold by my generation, value has plummeted like a rock in water. But there have been signs that this decline may be bottoming out. Which means that, if you like it, today may be the best time to buy brown furniture in the past 50 years. Here are 10 reasons you may want to consider buying brown today. 1. It is cheap and affordable for any budget. 2. It is durable and will last nearly forever. 3. It is functional and adaptable to todays smaller living spaces. For example, drop leaf tables require less space, while lift-top chests and flat top trunks can double as storage space and coffee tables. 4. There are many different styles to chose from, including Country, Empire, Victorian, Cottage, Turn-of-the-Century, Depression, and others. 5. There are many different beautiful woods to choose from, including cherry, chestnut, mahogany, oak, maple, pine, and walnut. 6. Most of the styles have withstood the test of time and have appealed to people for generations. 7. If you must, you can re-purpose it. Older wardrobes can be converted to entertainment centers and newer entertainment centers can be converted to liquor cabinets or other storage. And (gasp), all brown furniture can be re-painted if you prefer. 8. Formal dining rooms may presently be a thing of the past, but people will always need a bedroom set and/or relaxation furniture. 9. Most brown furniture is undervalued today, and the best-of-the-best is totally undervalued, leaving room for re-sale profit at some future point. 10. In my opinion value will eventually return. The temporary appeal of Mid-Century Modern cant last forever, so what comes after that? Personally, I think we are likely to revert back to the traditional styles. If you prefer low quality mass-produced furniture, then brown furniture may never be right for you. But if you like it, and if youre seeking long-term value, then go to an auction, secondhand store or tag sale, and buy something that will last a lifetime, and for very little money. Whats it worth? Recently at a reputable auction house, we saw a Pennsylvania House cherry dining room set, with extension table, eight chairs, hutch, and sideboard, in immaculate condition, sell for a total of $325. After commissions and delivery expense, the consignor netted less than $200. A shame for the seller, a true bargain for the buyer. Mike Ivankovich is an auctioneer, appraiser, home downsizing expert, and host of the Whats It Worth? Ask Mike the Appraiser radio show. Now in its fifth year, Whats It Worth airs live on Friday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on WBCB 1490 AM in the greater Philadelphia area. It is available on the internet at www.WBCB1490.com. Listeners can also visit his radio show website at www.AskMikeTheAppraiser.com. To contact Mike Ivankovich, call 215-264-4304.