The challenge with buying furniture is bringing the picture in your mind to life. By knowing what to look for in furniture and how to prepare, you can create a well-designed room that matches your wants and needs. Here are five different tips that will help you with buying furniture.
1. Choose Quality Upholstery
Good material makes a huge difference when it comes to the quality of your furniture. The importance of the materials depends on which furniture item you’re buying. For example, it’s important to look for durable materials in your couch since it gets used daily. However, for a side piece, you can choose a different type of material that is maybe less durable but provides aesthetic value.
In general, woven patterns last longer than printed ones. While shopping you’ll probably come across the term “thread count.” The term thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch in the material. Tight weaves and higher thread counts are specs to look for when inspecting different types of upholstery.
2. Go For Furniture That Serves Multiple Purposes
Dual function furniture items make excellent purchases. If you live in an apartment or are designing for a small room, furniture that can pull double duty will be your best friend. Couches that double as futons and ottoman’s that serve as extra storage can be both stylish and practical.
Multi-use furniture helps you maximize floor space. Dual purpose furniture is also convenient for quickly and drastically changing the look and purpose of a room with minimal work.
3. Pick A Timeless Silhouette
The silhouette of your furniture should match the general style and decor of your room. For bigger pieces like couches, go for a timeless silhouette instead of something that’s trendy right now. There are a lot of unique silhouettes when it comes to couches, but that doesn’t mean they’re practical or that you want to be looking at them for the next decade.
When it comes to your side pieces of furniture, you can take a risk on interesting silhouettes. Side pieces allow for creativity since they aren’t the focal point of your room. Considering the silhouette of the furniture is an overlooked aspect that impacts the feel of the room you’re designing.
4. Measure Twice, Buy Once
Before even looking at furniture, you should have a floor plan and go to the store equipped with dimensions. You don’t want to fall in love with a couch that can’t fit in your living room. In addition to measuring the space where the furniture will go, also measure your doorways to make sure you can get the piece in your house.
If you have a small living space, then large pieces will look overbearing and will dominate the room. With a large living space, small pieces often look out of place and create an unbalanced room.
5. Don’t Be Nervous To Invest A Little Extra For Quality
Furniture is a long term investment so spending a little extra isn’t something that should concern you. High-quality furniture items will retain their looks and durability for decades if you’re willing to pay a bit more.
You don’t have to aim for quality on all of your furniture pieces. For things like couches and beds, it’s important to go for high-quality materials since they get used on a daily basis. For side tables and chairs, you can sacrifice on quality in exchange for striking designs and aesthetic value.
Take your time when buying living room furniture and don’t hesitate to explore multiple options. You’ll find shopping for furniture is much easier when you have a clear theme and idea in your mind. Planning how you want your room to look ahead of time makes for a more satisfying end result.
