Selecting Furniture – Where Do I Start?
Furniture plays an essential part in any home. It not only impacts how comfortable you feel in a space, it also helps determine how successful your home design is.
This also means that furniture shopping can be a nerve-wracking time. Not only is making the right choice crucial for your comfort, you’re likely also conscious of the fact that you’re spending money on what are often big-ticket items that can not only make or break the design/ambiance of a room but also your budget!
Given all these factors, it’s no surprise that people aren’t just concerned about making a purchase but also about choosing furniture pieces to begin with.
If you’re unsure of where to start when buying furniture, don’t worry – you’re in the right place. Here’s what you need to know when shopping for new furniture pieces.
Know Your Design and Buy Statement Pieces First
The design style you’re following will play a key role in which furniture pieces you’ll choose for your space. If you’re following an Art Deco style, buying something rustic or Victorian in design will affect the cohesion of your room. Additionally, narrowing down which stores to look at can be challenging if you don’t know what style you’re working with, leaving you with too many options and insufficient time.
Once you’ve chosen a style, the next step is to look for the statement piece you’ll be designing your room around. Again, your statement piece will affect which furniture pieces you choose – if your dining table is supposed to be the focal point, the chairs should be more understated. If you have a fireplace in your room, you’ll need to choose furniture that can be positioned near it, allowing people to sit by the fire should they choose.
Think About What You Need
Once you’ve chosen the first few pieces, the next step is to look for the rest of the furniture – the pieces that will fill out the room and make it look comfortable.
When picking out your furniture, it’s essential to remember that these pieces are meant to be functional. So, you’ll need to first decide what you absolutely need – how many chairs a room needs, for example, and whether you need side tables and ottomans as well. Once you’ve chosen these pieces, you can start filling out any empty space remaining in the room, making sure to keep your new budget constraints in mind.
Other constraints you’ll have to keep in mind when determining what you need and what you want include:
The available floor space in the room
The size of each furniture item
Your design style
Any other special considerations you may have.
Consider Quality
Quality is a crucial aspect of buying furniture – after all, the last thing you want is to invest in a chair that breaks the first time you sit in it. Make sure to pay close attention to the quality of the construction. Not only does the construction determine how effectively you can use a piece of furniture, it also plays a role in how long the item will last.
Here, again, your budget may be a constraint you will also need to consider. However, if you have a list of your essential furniture items (as mentioned above), you can take the time to search for the best versions of those items according to your budget. You can then fill out the rest of your space and start planning for when each item will need replacement.
Pay Attention to the Fabrics
Furniture items aren’t just meant to be functional – they’re also chosen for their aesthetics and design. Additionally, many items, such as chairs and sofas, need to be comfortable during use.
This makes the fabrics on your furniture an important consideration you should keep in mind. Upholstery fabric should work with your room design and complement the way you live. For example, if you’re choosing materials for a sunny room that receives a lot of natural light, silk shouldn’t be on your list of choices – though it’s an attractive fabric, it is not lightfast and quickly loses its colour on exposure to the light.
Similarly, if you’re looking for upholstery that will last as long as possible, you should consider nylon and polyester. While most people find wool, linen, and cotton more comfortable, they’re less durable. Furthermore, they can be challenging to maintain, especially if you have young children or pets.
Your budget will always be one of the most important factors when determining which furniture pieces you can buy. However, with the range of options out there, finances are only one consideration – and the tips above will help you further narrow your choices and make furniture buying both easy and fun!