Look around you and assess your house and furniture. What catches your eye? Do the furnishings you see look attractive? Is it worn and dreary? Is it fulfilling the purpose it was intended to? You should keep reading if you are thinking about buying new furniture.
Outdoor Furniture
It’s important that outdoor furniture is made well. Check out each individual weld to make certain that no weak ones are present. If you notice any welds that seem weak, do not purchase the outdoor furniture. Look for something that will be able to hold up to the outdoor elements.
When you buy older furniture, be sure to look at the underside to determine its stability. A lot of times, furniture will look good but be in terrible condition. Dry rot and rust are common problems that affect older furniture.
When furniture shopping, bring along color samples from wall treatments. Even though you love the item you buy, it just might not match your current decor. Avoid that at all costs. You can get a color sample from the store or take pictures of the room the furniture will be in.
Make sure fabric is aligned correctly when you purchase a couch that has a pattern. The fabric on cheaper pieces is usually off somewhat. If you are purchasing a more expensive sofa, find one with a pattern that is perfectly aligned. Pick a different couch if the upholstery looks low-quality.
Find solidly built furniture pieces. Avoid chests or drawers with pressed wood and go with those made of solid wood. Check for a plywood backing vs heavy cardboard or composite wood. Put pressure on both sides of each piece to ensure there is no movement.
When you purchase a couch, find one that is intended to have a long life and then decide if it is sufficiently comfortable. Cushions should be supported by springs. The best type of springs are eight-way, hand-tied springs. However, if serpentine springs are made properly, they can also be effective. To find out the type of springs a sofa has, remove the cushions from the couch and press on the seat. Good quality springs should be firm and close together.
Take into consideration who will be using the furniture you purchase. If you live on your own, your furniture may not get much use, but if you’re a parent, you’ll want pieces that are sturdy. If there are pets around the home you should figure out what kind of fabrics should be used on your chairs and sofas. A lot of pets shed hair, and there are some fabrics which collect more hair than others.
Look on the Internet for your next piece of furniture. This might not be traditional, but the pricing can be much better. Many stores often have free shipping. If you want to save money, consider shopping online for your next furniture purchase.
You will get better quality if you spend a little bit more money. Even though budget is very important, you should spend more for higher-quality items. Cheap sofas fit into your budget, but are probably made cheaply too, which can lead to a diminished life in your home. Instead, purchase a better quality piece to extend the lifespan of your furniture.
Examine all the surfaces of any used furniture you are buying. Especially if you think a wooden piece may be an antique, look at it thoroughly to determine this. Inspect the frame and the joints and test out drawers or moving pieces. In a lot of cases, visually inspecting something will allow you to figure out how durable the furniture piece really is. Often referred to as the secondary wood, these areas can tell you a great deal about quality of construction and how the piece has aged.
If you use a credit card without interest to buy furniture, be sure you pay it off prior to the term’s end. Not doing so can result in a significant amount of interest added on during the entire period. When selecting this option, make sure to read all fine print.
Check the condition of used furniture before accepting it. You may receive an item that has been heavily used and is nearing the end of it’s life. Don’t just get a piece of free furniture because you don’t think you can afford a new couch.
Learn when the optimal times to purchase certain things usually is. Just like the recommendation for purchasing a new car in September, it’s better to buy furniture at certain times based on industry events. Take advantage of these windows of opportunity to save more money.
Look at secondhand stores. Maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve been to one, or maybe you’ve never shopped at one before. You’re really missing out, if that is the case! While smaller pieces are prevalent in these stores, couches and other larger items often show up as well.
Find free furniture by perusing online ads. You can get wonderful pieces this way. A lot of folks dispose of old chairs and tables that really just need cleaning or a little touching up. You can substitute some hard work and time to save you money, resulting in fabulous furniture.
Some holiday periods traditionally deliver great savings for furniture purchases. Many stores have sales on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Try buying your furniture around Christmas or the Fourth of July. Prices are often lowered by upwards of 75% during those periods.
Green furniture is becoming more popular. But be aware that there are scam artists out there who will mislead you into thinking you’re getting something that is good for the environment when it might not be. To simplify your search, ask if that furniture is Oeko Tek or FSC certified. This ensures you know whether you’re buying in conjunction with the green movement.
When you buy new furniture, inspect the legs before you purchase. Legs must be joined at the frame, and must also be heavy. Plastic, metal, or rubber legs are not as sturdy as wood, and may scratch your floors. The legs should be attached to the frame, not just tacked onto the bottom.
If you just want to make a small change to the character of your room, buy a few small furniture pieces. It’s unreasonable to buy a new sofa or dresser every month, but there are more affordable things you can purchase more frequently. Think about small end tables, lamps, and shelving. This makes a room look refreshed fast.
You know everything you need to know before you go out and get new furniture. You should now have an expert eye for quality pieces that will not cost you a fortune. Having the knowledge from this article will help set you apart from everyone else when it comes to choosing the right furniture for you.
