Do you need new pieces of furniture? Are you moving to a brand-new home for the first time? Are you moving into a bigger house? Has your old furniture simply seen better days? No matter the reason, review this piece to get great tips for buying quality furniture.
When you buy older furniture, be sure to look at the underside to determine its stability. Without looking at the “bones” of the furniture, you can not tell how sturdy or well made it is. Dry rot and rust are common problems that affect older furniture.
When purchasing a sofa, consider longevity first, then pay attention to comfort second. Cushions should be supported by springs. Hand-tied springs are ideal, but serpentine versions can be good too. Test them out by feeling and poking at them through the upholstery. Good ones are going to be firm and placed closely together.
Choose a sofa that has longevity and comfort. Be sure that the cushions are supported with springs. Hand-tied 8-way springs are your best bet, but serpentine work, too. Test the springs by touching them through the furniture’s upholstery. You want to be feeling something that is firm with close together placement.
Furniture can get expensive. You can lower your costs by shopping for used furniture. Ads in the local paper as well as yard sales and thrift stores can often have some great furniture. If you don’t care for the color or style, you can always opt to have it reupholstered. This will help you save a ton of money.
If you are looking at outdoor furniture pieces, consider buying them when summer has just ended. Many retailers offer clearance prices at the end of a season to quickly make space for new incoming items. This is when they slash prices dramatically.
If you are purchasing a recliner, give it a test run at the store. That way there will be no unpleasant surprises when your furniture is delivered to your home. Trying to replace it can be a headache.
The cost of furniture is often high. If you find it to pricey, consider used furniture. Look to the paper for yard sales and people or stores selling used furniture that is still in great condition. You can always reupholster furniture if needed. This will save a great deal of money.
Look for pieces of furniture that are built solidly. Avoid chests or drawers with pressed wood and go with those made of solid wood. Seek out a plywood back, and avoid pieces made with a heavier cardboard or composite wood. Apply some force to each side of the item to ensure that it’s not moving in either direction.
Be sure you carefully read over the warranty of any piece of furniture you are considering purchasing. It’s terrible to spend a huge chunk of money on a piece of furniture only to discover that damages you believed would be covered weren’t. Knowing the warranty ensures you know the defect is covered.
Who will really be using your new furniture? If you live alone, your furniture will be lightly used, but if you have children, purchase sturdy pieces. If you have animals, think carefully about the fabrics and colors you decide on. A lot of pets will be shedding and that can make some fabrics collect the hair more.
When buying outdoor furniture, try to buy at the summer’s end. At the end of summer, most stores are looking to sell their items to make room for winter furniture. The prices are very attractive to make the furniture sell quickly.
Try to resist the temptation to buy all of your furniture at one time. It may be best to buy pieces individually so that this doesn’t break your budget. By slowly buying one piece at a time you’re going to be able to save your money and your back!
You will get better quality if you spend a little bit more money. High quality pieces mean a larger budget is necessary. Bargain basement couches may be affordable, but they may not be well-made. To get good couches created by quality manufacturers, you will have a piece that will last longer.
Try out any used furniture you are thinking of purchasing. In other words, sit on it, shake it, tip it over. Be sure that it is solid and doesn’t have any damage that is hidden. Flip it over to see what lies beneath, too.
An option that works great for families that eat at dinner tables is buying a type of tile top table. Cleaning up messes is a snap and you can even disinfect the table. You can also find a lot of different styles when it comes to this type of table.
Faux Leather
If you’re purchasing a leather sofa, it needs to be top-grain leather. Some retailers attempt to sell faux leather sofas at much more than they are worth. Make sure you do an inspection and pay attention to the salesman’s wording. A regular faux leather sofa shouldn’t cost any more than around 800 dollars.
Check resale shops in your area to find deals on furniture that’s great in quality. You will most likely find quality furniture at reduced prices. The quality is higher than discount furniture retailers.
When furniture shopping, bring along color samples from wall treatments. You might fall for a piece on the showroom floor only to realize it clashes with everything in your home, once there. Avoid that at all costs. Bring along a color sample or pictures of your existing furniture to help find the new items that you need.
Solid Wood
Teach yourself to recognize the distinct wood types used in furniture making. If you are paying good money for solid wood furniture, you don’t want to find out later on that it is actually constructed of particle board. Although solid wood costs more money, they will likely last many more years than other woods.
Buying smaller pieces helps change the room’s character. You probably can’t buy large sofas every single day, but every couple months, try changing your room using small pieces like lamps and end tables. This often makes a world of difference in a space.
When purchasing upholstered furniture that has a pattern in the fabric, be sure the seams line the pattern up properly. Cheaper sofas often have patterns or fabric that is misaligned a little. High quality items of upholstered furniture always have the pattern in the fabric lined up properly at the seams. If the tailoring does not look good, choose another sofa.
Do not buy a furniture piece you don;t like just because it is more in your price range than something you would prefer. Layaway can help you get better pieces without overspending. You will be happier if you choose furniture you really want, even if it takes some time to pay it off.
Fabric Protector
Fabric protector is useful on upholstered furniture. Several different brands create great fabric protectors that can be used on furniture. Fabric protector guards your new furniture against stains and other damage. If you have spills, it can be cleaned much easier.
If you are purchasing furniture online, ensure the retailer is legit before buying. You can check out the BBB and look at online reviews to get information about a given company. Also, be sure to look at the price after taxes and shipping and handling fees.
Look at all the drawers and cabinets prior to buying some furniture. You should ensure you test the drawers by pulling them out and shutting them. Open the cabinets, then close them up. You are looking for stickiness and/or poor quality. Make sure that drawers are able to stay open without you worrying about them falling out. After all, you want this furniture to work.
This article has proven that purchasing furniture can be easy. If you’re smart, you can get great deals on furniture. Take what you learned in the above article to help you make wise furniture decisions in the future.
