Top 7 Tips When Buying Furniture

Top 7 Tips When Buying Furniture

Good furniture is designed to incorporate elements that are both useful and stylish while being durable enough to withstand daily use over many years.

Whether you’re on the hunt for the best sofa or need a nightstand for your bedroom, you are sure to find pieces that match your decor. You likely spend thousands of pounds over the years on furniture, so be careful and make good and sensible choices. Here are the Top 7 Tips When Buying Furniture.

  1. Before purchasing that new couch, consider how it’ll fit in with the rest of your furniture and whether it matches your lifestyle. If you have a house, that’s probably your most valuable possession with a car following closely behind. After that, you’ve probably spent the most of your budget on your furniture.

     

  2. You can never measure enough. It isn’t enough to measure the furniture to see if it’ll fit where you want it, though that’s a good start. If it’s an oversized or unusually shaped piece, you’ll want to examine the doorway, and perhaps multiple doorways especially if you live in an apartment. A lot of people have dealt with a piece of furniture not fitting in an elevator. Height, width and depth of the furniture piece are important to note when checking to see if it will fit in your elevator. Many people forget to measure furniture, which can cost you a ridiculous amount of money and time if you have to return a piece to the store.

  3. Remember that more costs could be coming, like a delivery charge or the store will offer you the chance to pay for an extended warranty. Either scenario could mean you’re spending more than you intended. Knowing that you spent far more than you planned could really make your head hurt especially if your oversized sofa jams your doorway.

     

  4. Think about the maintenance of your furniture. Some high-end pieces of furniture may require more care than you would suspect. So do your research! If there’s wood involved for example buying a table, ask about the wood finish’s durability, Know how it can be cleaned and with what products and most importantly, what not to clean it with. A lot of the time, some cleaning products ruin wood finishes.

     

  5. Think about how the furniture will look with the rest of your furniture in your home. No matter how well you think you know your home, it can sometimes be hard to be in a store and visualise how an item will work in a room. As in-store  for a colour swatch and bringing it home to see how the colour looks in your own home surrounded by your own furniture is a great idea especially if you are going to invest in an expensive furniture eg sofa, dining table etc.

     

  6. You also need to be thinking about how your furniture will fit your lifestyle, not only now but in the foreseeable future. It’s easier said than done. For example, you may be single now but what happens if you get married and have children. You may want the furniture to be strong and last longer especially with kids about.

    7. Don’t rush it. Take your time. People typically spend months looking for a house and weeks searching for the right car. Don’t spend minutes buying furniture. The best advice is to walk away for at least a day and then decide if you still want it before you buy it.
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Things to Think about Regarding your Furniture in Your Room Space

Furniture varies greatly from room to room, yet its basic function remains the same. Furniture should provide complete comfort, utility and style to your living space whether it is your living room, bedroom or home office.

Living/Family Room

Decide how much seating you need and coordinate the space with enough chairs, recliners, rocking chairs and couches.

  • In case of smaller rooms in a flat for example to free up space, look for an L-shaped couch that will fit into a corner.
  • Sectional couches are designed for larger rooms and some feature built-in cup holders or tables for added convenience.

Consider the style and material of the furniture that you are looking for. Leather provides sophistication and durability, while chenille and velvet provide soft cushioning and elegance

  • Ottomans can add comfort and enhance the appearance of the room, and some models add extra storage
  • Reclining chairs provide an ultra-comfortable way to relax in front of the TV
  • Choose a comfortable arm height that’s neither too high nor too low
  • Select couches and chairs with simple lines to give your home a modern look and feel
  • Special theatre-style seating can turn a family room into a movie theatre.

Bedroom

Dressers, chests and armoires provide storage while serving as an element of style. Choose a set that provides enough space while enhancing the room’s appearance. Evaluate the size of your room and the amount of space you need to sleep to determine the best size.

  • Traditional mattresses and box springs come in twin, full, queen and king sizes
  • Memory foam mattresses contour to your body for added comfort, while adjustable beds allow you to customize positions for your head and feet
  • California king-size beds are slightly longer and narrower than conventional-size kings
  • Airbeds, futons, bunk beds and loft beds provide space-saving sleep alternatives
  • Ensure waterbeds are made from high-quality materials to avoid leaks
  • Nightstands frame a bed while providing handy storage and surface space
  • Add mirrors to smaller rooms to create a sense of depth and openness.

Dining Room/Kitchen

Size is the most important element to consider when placing furniture in your kitchen or dining room. Ensure there is enough room to comfortably sit at a table without crowding. Try to allow 24-30 inches of space for each person. Also, make sure there is room for people to slide chairs in and out.

  • Round tables work better in smaller dining rooms and kitchen as they maximize the amount of useable space
  • Rectangular tables are best for larger rooms 
  • Look for chairs that fit well when positioned with the back support of the chair resting up against the table
  • Tables that are too small make rooms seem large and less intimate
  • Tables that are too large make dining rooms feel crowded
  • A table with an extension can grow to accommodate more guests.

Home Office

A comfortable chair and a desk with plenty of storage space are the key to making a useful home office. If you spend a lot of time on the computer emailing or working on spreadsheets, make sure you have a chair that provides enough support to keep you feeling comfortable over long periods of time.

  • Choose a chair that allows you to make multiple adjustments, especially if more than one person uses it
  • Cloth and mesh materials provide ventilation to keep your chair cool, while leather and vinyl offers a stylish look that is easy to clean
  • Height, armrest and tilt adjustment allow customization for long-term, comfortable use
  • Chairs with five-point bases provide stability, while casters provide improved mobility
  • A good desk should provide plenty of space for your computer, speakers and keyboard.
  • If you use your desk for more than computer work, look for a larger surface with extra drawers. In small rooms, consider desks that provide vertical storage or include spaces for other accessories, such as a printer
  • L-shaped desks can be placed in a corner for better use of space in small areas.

Good Luck!

Here in this video are more tips from Chelsea and Lauren from The Financial Diet on how to move without going broke

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