An interior designer shares her tips for scouring Allston Christmas

While you might be skeptical about finding furniture via sidewalk-surfing, it’s not impossible. On Friday, we scoured Harvard Ave. and the surrounding area where the streets were already filling with potential finds. Lindsay EB Atapattu, a Brookline-based interior designer, joined and shared her tips on making the most of an Allston Christmas.

Mattresses are a no-go.

Used mattresses are a definite “no” from Atapattu. She suggests skipping bringing home a bed for one definite reason: You don’t know where it’s been. Not only is there the possibility of bed bugs, but mattresses left out overnight may have had a furry friend (*cough* rat) build a new home between the coils.

While it may be tough to pass up mattresses galore, the UMass Amherst alumna said mattresses can be relatively inexpensive, reminding readers that if there’s one area you want to splurge, it should be where you sleep. Similarly, she suggested purchasing bedding — linens, sheets, blankets — from a store to guarantee cleanliness and peace of mind.

Wood you, please?

Finding furniture made of quality wood may be particularly hard as it tends to be more expensive, meaning it’s unlikely to hit the curb. But, if you spot a solid wooden piece, pick it up.

On the flip side, Atapattu advises avoiding what she calls “the fast fashion of furniture” (think novelty storage and other pieces made from compressed wood) to give your new-to-you furniture a longer second life. For chairs, she recommends “the wiggle test,” which consists of grabbing the top of a chair and wiggling it to see how sturdy the legs are. The older the wood, the better it may be, as vintage-style furniture tends to be sturdier, according to the designer. Solid wood furniture may even outlast your lease, added the designer. And, in the worst-case scenario, it repeats its life cycle and ends up back on the street for another student to pick up next Sept. 1.

Spray paint makes for an easy fixer-upper

“A little spray paint goes a long way,” said Atapattu, who suggested sprucing up any furniture you find with a personal touch. Whether you’re hoping to cover up a stain or brighten up a piece to fit your aesthetic, a color swap is a quick way to integrate a find (or finds) into your home. You can turn a mismatched set monochrome or add a few accent pieces out of one-off finds.

Don’t limit yourself to just furniture

Look for smaller items — cooking utensils, random appliances, and decorative pieces. Many are easy enough to clean by hand or in the dishwasher, says Atapattu, who picked up a set of cereal bowls around Allston Christmas last year (much to her husband’s dismay.)

If you stumble upon some art, stop to take a second look. Even if the print isn’t great, check out the frame; you can always replace the art with your own. “The way to make a college apartment your own is art,” said Atapattu, adding that mirrors are also a great (and handy) find.

If you have the time, consider a “project piece.”

While upholstered furniture may fall into the same category as mattresses and bedding, some fabrics and batting are easy to switch out. Look for pieces where the exterior fabric can be removed by unscrewing the bolts that anchor it to the frame. You can replace the fabric in what might be a worthwhile project.

According to Atapattu, lighting is “easily rewired with wiring kits” from hardware stores or online retailers. She also recommended employing a Magic Eraser for any buffs and scratches, especially on white surfaces like linoleum.

However, broken items to the point of falling apart or pieces that show water damage are an immediate “no, thanks” as they are likely unsalvageable.

Either way, Allston Christmas is a hit-or-miss process. Sometimes, you stumble across a great find, and sometimes, you go home empty-handed.

“If it looks good and you like it, that’s all that matters,” said Atapattu.

Arushi Jacob can be reached at [email protected].