Regardless of where you live, it is possible that you will need new furniture at some point. You need to know some things before you head out the door on a shopping trip. This article provides some guidelines and good advice about how to find just the pieces you want at the right price.
When wooden furniture is what you seek, especially antiques, take your inspection deeper than the exterior surfaces. Check through the undersides and inside, and this includes the drawers. This visual inspection can help you determine the actual condition of the item. Sometimes these are called secondary woods and their surface will allow you to figure out how they’re constructed and what the quality is like.
Thrift Stores
Always inspect a sofa’s frame. The board needs to be a bit more than one inch thick. If your sofa is squeaking, that’s a sign the boards aren’t thick enough. Experiment by sitting on potential sofas to check for noises.
Look at thrift stores for furniture. It may have been a while since you’ve been in one, or maybe you never have. There can be great furniture finds at thrift stores. Most stores only take small pieces of furniture but you can sometimes come across a nice dining room table or a sofa.
You should be negotiating when purchasing furniture. Markups are always high, so negotiation is possible. If you don’t like haggling, bring along a loved one who loves it.
When you purchase a sofa, ask the salesperson about what kind of springing system it has. If your salesperson cannot tell you anything about the springs, try to find someone who can. Do the springs run from the front to the back? Do they spring back?
Before buying a new piece of furniture, you should measure the spot where you plan on placing this new item. It doesn’t matter if you are buying a bookcase or a loveseat, always make sure the new furniture will fit the allotted space. Guessing is something that usually leads to disaster. Larger pieces mean this is a must.
You should always inspect the legs of any furniture you’re about to purchase. The legs should be completely joined with the frame and should be rather heavy. Plastic and metal legs on chairs aren’t as durable as chairs with wooden legs; however, they are less expensive. Be sure that they’re not nailed to the furniture’s bottom and that they’re joined to its framing structure.
Figure out your budget prior to shopping for furniture. Even if you are only buying a single item, the prices can vary from store to store. You might end up bankrupt if you aren’t prepared. If you have a price limit in mind, you are less likely to overspend.
Take what you have learned here to make your furniture shopping fun and easy, once you have settled on a style and a budget You need to know the basics when looking for furniture of top quality. Use the tips and techniques to help you the next time you are shopping for furniture.
Take along a color swatch of your existing wall color when you are looking at furniture. 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.
