Every homeowner needs furniture. But where do you start? Not only is it important to find a good deal, but the type of furniture you choose can determine your mood and comfort levels for years. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips to help you buy furniture with confidence!
The following are 10 tips for buying furniture, some of which include: understanding wood quality and appearance, knowing about your budget, researching refurbished items before purchase, and more.
We’re confident that these tips will help you find great furniture for your home!
10 Tips For Buying Furniture
- Know what to look for in wood quality.
Ask yourself the following questions:
– Have the legs and corners been reinforced? This can indicate sturdiness and longevity.
– Is it solid? What color is the wood? If it’s an oak, the wood grain should show up.
– Is the wood a natural wood or treated with a stain, oil or paint?
– Does the frame seem like it will stand up to wear and tear over time?
– Where was the furniture in its past life, usually in a climate controlled environment such as a store to ensure longevity of quality?
- Know what to look for in appearance for your type of furniture.
To get the most bang for your buck, make sure your first choice of furniture is something that you would feel comfortable in. Remember, you will be leaving it as a permanent home or bedroom piece that can be passed down to your children.
– Does it match other items in the room?
– Will it blend with other furniture that you have?
– Would the colors match those used in other items in the room? Check out some paint samples at your local hardware store to get ideas on colors.
– Is it a type of style that you would use in the bedroom or living room?
If you’re looking at modern furniture, be sure to check out their online options. Many times, retailers will offer free shipping on certain items if you purchase several items.
- Know what to look for in your budget.
Right now, we’ll assume that you’re on a fairly tight budget of $2,000 to $5,000 for any furniture purchases. That’s a pretty decent budget for furniture given the current market.
– Online or offline furniture stores?
– Are you looking for just essentials, such as a bed and sofa, or are you looking to replace your entire living room? Or what about just your bedroom?
- Know about refurbished items.
A lot of times, retailers will box used furniture pieces up and ship them out to developing countries overseas, where they’re sold for next to nothing. So, find out what you’re getting in your furniture.
– Are there any stains or dents in the furniture?
– Is it made from solid material or is it made with a cheaper type of wood that can break easily?
- Know about the quality (and origin) of a piece of furniture before you buy it.
The truth is, sometimes you might be in the right place at the right time, and the type of wood that a piece was made off can make all the difference to its quality.
Here are some tips to help you know what to look for:
– Where was the furniture made? Local or overseas?
– Would you want the furniture in your home to be made of the same type of wood as in this piece?
– Are there any national symbols on the back of your furniture?
– How long can it be used before compromising its quality?
- Know what to look for in a piece’s style.
Yes, a piece of furniture can have style. It can tell you the story about how it was made, who bought it originally, and where:
– Is the piece for your home a classic or modern design?
– Does the style fit in with other pieces that you already own?
- Know where to get furniture from.
We’re not going to say it’s wrong to buy furniture from the big box stores. In fact, we think that these companies offer a wide range of great products from bed frames to kitchen tables.
BUT, you always want to ask yourself the following questions when buying from these companies:
– How long is the warranty on this furniture?
– What type of wood is used for this piece? Is there any design? How does it work with other items in your home?
- Know about refurbished versus new furniture pieces.
Furniture is often made with a combination of new materials and old, meaning that it has a mixture of old versus new. That’s why refurbished furniture is becoming more popular.
– Is it made with a combination of new materials and old?
- Know that buying furniture online is not always the cheapest option.
If you’re buying large items like a sofa or bed, consider purchasing them online and getting them shipped to your home. This can save you a lot of money in long term shipping costs if you purchase one or two pieces at a time.
- Know about secondhand stores.
Secondhand stores are like gold mines to furniture. We highly recommend shopping there first. Not only is it cheaper, but you get a lot of unique items that can truly make your home stand out.
Hopefully, these tips will help you find the best furniture for your home!
