Shopping for new furniture can be costly and time consuming. You need to secure quality pieces that have long lifespans. However, you would not want to overspend either. These tips can help reveal some furniture shopping mysteries.
Furniture is not always cheap. That is why you can benefit from getting used furniture. You can often find used furniture that is still in top condition by checking stores, classified ads, and yard sales. If you find a piece of furniture that you like but it needs reupholstered, purchase it and find someone to do the work for you. The money savings can be great.
Thrift Stores
When purchasing a couch, look for one that is well-built, then worry about comfort. Supported by springs is what the cushions lay on top of. Serpentine springs are an option, but if possible, try to get a piece with eight-way springs. Test springs by feeling them through any upholstery. Good ones are going to be firm and placed closely together.
Shop at thrift stores. Maybe you’ve never ventured into one before, or it’s been awhile. There can be great furniture finds at thrift stores. They have all sorts of furniture, from small items to big ones.
Haggling is a good thing to do when buying any furniture. A lot of places that sell furniture mark the item up quite a bit and they may be willing to negotiate and will give you quite a bit off. If you are not comfortable with haggling, find a friend or a relative who can come shopping with you.
Take measurements of the spot in the room where the new furniture will go. When you buy a bed, table or sofa, you need to make certain it will fit in the space. A guess will never be accurate. This particular step is crucial when you are looking at an expandable piece like a sleeper sofa or recliner.
Sometimes, furniture can be expensive. To help you save money, consider buying gently used furniture. Used furniture is often in great condition and available at secondhand stores, garage sales, and online classifieds. After taking possession of the furniture, you can always get it reupholstered. This will save you tons of money.
Bring samples of colors from the walls and curtains in your home when thinking of buying furniture. Even though you love the item you buy, it just might not match your current decor. Try your best to not let anything like that occur. Look for paint swatches in your local hardware store that match your walls, or take photos of your room with you as you shop.
Look at the warranty of a piece of furniture prior to purchasing it. Little is worse than paying a lot of money on pieces just to have something happen to it that isn’t covered under its warranty. You’ll know what damages are covered if you read the warranty carefully.
How much use will your furniture get in your home? If you happen to live solo, your furniture may get light use, but if children are in the house, you need sturdy items. Pets have a habit of shedding, so if you have a white cat you might want to avoid a black fabric couch. Since your pet likely sheds, some fabrics will collect more hair than others.
Always make sure you test furniture before you buy it. Online purchases may seem to save you money, but there is no way for you to know if it will be comfortable for you. Even if a sofa looks good in the pictures you see online, the cushions might not be firm enough and the texture of the fabric might not be what you want. Test first, buy second.
For better quality, be willing to spend a little extra. Higher quality will last for a very long time, which means you should be willing to spend a little more. Buying inexpensive furniture isn’t usually in your best interests. When you get a couch made by a reputable company, you will get more out of your furniture.
Check out classified ads online if you want to find free furniture. You can often find items that may only need some TLC or may be in almost perfect condition. Lots of folks just throw items out that could easily be brought back to life. If you are willing to put in a little time and elbow grease, you might be able to get a great deal.
To alter the look of a room, use small furnishings. You can completely change the look of your room just by switching out end tables, accent chairs or more decorative furniture pieces. This helps ensure you refresh a room.
Pick neutrally colored furniture pieces. Neutral pieces make decorating easier. Neutral pieces will open up more options, and be more complimentary to your decor. It’s easy to incorporate neutral items into your home.
Consider what your family thinks when purchasing furniture. Your family members also have to live with your furniture choices, and an item that the whole family is happy with will be treated with more respect and care. When everyone loves a piece, they will all be happy.
If you want to save money on a furniture purchase, look for items that you need to assemble. You will find that unassembled furniture is cheaper to purchase due to the reduction in labor costs. If you cannot assemble it yourself, you can always ask a family member or friend to do it for you.
Consider shopping at discount retailers, or even wholesalers and liquidators. Do some research online to find these particular stores in your area. Make time to visit each of them so that you can determine which one provides the best furniture at the lowest prices. That allows you to check out a larger selection.
Bring in color samples from your walls when trying to match furniture. Without this color matching, the piece you like may not look right with your other furniture. Avoid this at all costs. You can get a coordinating paint swatch from your hardware store or even take photographs of your room to the furniture store with you.
There are some things you have to know about furniture shopping before getting started so you don’t lose out on money. With the advice you have read here, you will be able to have a positive experience. Go out and shop today, and remember to have a good time.
