The Home Furniture Buying Guide

When decorating or refurnishing your home, furniture is an often expensive purchase and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are several things to consider when buying furniture, besides the usual colors and types of fabric that would work best in your home. You’ll want to decide on a budget, take plenty of measurements of the rooms you are furnishing or replacing furniture in, and do some comparison shopping before deciding on where to spend your money.
Decide on a Budget
It’s always a good idea to have a set budget in mind before actually going to the furniture store or browsing the many sites online. This way you’ll be sure to get everything you need without spending too much on one or two particular items. Also take into consideration how often you’ll be replacing the new furniture, and whether or not the price you are paying now is actually worth the expense.
Plan Before You Shop
Break out the measuring tape and measure not once, but twice to get accurate numbers so you’ll know exactly what will fit where. Be flexible in your design plans so you’re prepared in the event you spot the absolute perfect piece of furniture, but find that it won’t fit in the place you planned on putting it. If possible, having two plans in mind of where you’ll put things definitely opens up more options.
For example, when furnishing a baby’s room, remember that the crib or bassinet will soon be replaced with a bed, so having large pieces of furniture now might work, but will need replaced again before too long. When buying furniture for smaller rooms, or those with little closet or storage space, plan on looking for pieces that do double duty, such as benches that open for storing items, or tables with plenty of drawers. There are also ottomans that serve as extra, hidden storage.
Consider Your Own Personal Style
In addition to the countless colors, fabrics, and patterns available for the home, furniture also comes in a wide array of finishes and types of wood. Some pieces are made from solid wood, while others merely have veneers or wood finishes on the surface designed to resemble wood, which does keep the cost down as opposed to solid pieces, although they aren’t as sturdy and might not last as long as their “real” counterparts.
Besides the type of wood, there are plenty of actual styles and designs of furniture to choose from. Here are just some of the popular styles that are available today:
– Casual
– Contemporary
– Country
– Eclectic
– Formal
– French Modern or Classic
– Modern
– Renaissance
– Retro
– Traditional
– Victorian
Do Your Research
When comparison shopping from home, many furniture stores have web sites that showcase all of their collections and pieces, as well as information about the company, the location of their independent dealers, and their various policies. Some stores may offer free delivery, while others charge for the service but may include set-up or removal of old furniture at no additional charge. The internet is excellent for comparing sales and deals of the numerous manufacturers and dealers, and also offers the perfect way to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when buying furniture for the home.