Furniture Buying Tips
Before you go to the furniture store to purchase new furniture for your home, do your homework first to avoid costly mistakes later.
Consider function first
Think about how you are going to use this room. Will you be gathering with friends, watching TV, reading, or eating? List everything you will be using the room for, then make a furniture wish list of items you will need to comfortably use this space. For example: What type of tables, how much seating, or lighting?
Consider the layout
Measure your room, then on a piece of graph paper; draw out the room counting each square as one foot of wall space. Include windows and doors as blank spaces on the paper. Note additional items such as heating ducts, fireplaces, outlets, etc. Now, on a separate piece of graph paper, get the measurements of the furniture you want to use and draw a rectangle for the sofa and squares for the chairs and tables using the same (one square = one foot) rule. Cut out the furniture pieces and place them on top of your room layout. You can move them around to try different arrangements and can make sure everything fits before you buy it.
Buy to last
You may think that buying inexpensive furniture is saving you money, but if you compare quality instead of price you will be making a wise investment. Furniture isn’t something that you purchase often so make sure the furniture you buy is going to last you a good long while.
Stay neutral
When you buy a good quality upholstered piece you want it to last. Make sure you stay relatively neutral with your fabric choice and this way if you get the urge to redecorate you can just change your accessories and window treatments and get an entirely different look without having to buy new furniture. Think of it like your basic black skirt. It goes with everything and you can change the whole look with different tops and accessories.
Shop where you feel comfortable
I’m not crazy about high pressure salespeople and I am a very casual person, so I shop again and again at places where I feel comfortable. Shop around to find a place that has the styles that you like, the prices you can afford, and the type of sales people you enjoy working with, and stick with them. Most furniture stores also have catalogs, so if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for in the showroom tell them what you want; they can probably get it for you. And when you’re comfortable there, it can really be enjoyable shopping for just the right pieces.
