Tips For Buying Furniture
Buying furniture is an integral part of the home-decorating process. It can set the tone for the room and its occupants, so you want to make sure your purchase is functional and fits with your lifestyle.
Whether you’re decorating for the first time or need a refresh, buying furniture is a serious commitment and requires careful thought to ensure that you get exactly what you want without breaking your budget. So, here are some tips to help you find the best pieces for your home:
Start with a clear picture of what you need
Before you go out shopping, ask yourself what you need and how it will fit into your space. This will help you decide what type of furniture to buy and also how much of a budget you have for the project.
Measure the room before you buy
Before shopping, use painter’s tape to block out the size of the room where you want to place your new piece of furniture and take measurements for all the doorways and stairwells it will cross. This will help you avoid a huge mistake, such as buying a piece that doesn’t fit your home and having to pay to ship it back to the store.
Shop around for deals and sales
The best furniture sale season is typically January and February. These are the months when retailers are trying to clear out old stock in order to accommodate new styles coming on the market, so prices will be low then.
Check out furniture reviews online
Most major manufacturers of furniture and other household items offer product reviews on their websites, so it’s a good idea to do your research before you make a purchase. This will give you an idea of what other people have to say about the quality and durability of a particular piece of furniture.
Read through the ratings and reviews carefully to get a sense of how other customers have rated the product’s longevity, staining, and overall quality. It can also help you compare different products to determine which will best suit your needs.
Ask a friend to check out the pieces for you
Getting advice from friends who have experience buying and furnishing their homes is a great way to narrow down your choices, but it’s also a good idea to check online furniture reviews for any negative or positive comments about a particular piece of furniture. Having a friend to test drive the furniture before you commit is a great way to avoid regrets.
Talk to the seller
Taking the time to talk to the furniture seller can be the most important step in deciding whether to buy a certain piece of furniture or not, says Jeffrey Weldler, marketing director for Vant Wall Panels, a manufacturer of custom decorative wall panels in Spring Valley, New York. He recommends asking the seller a variety of questions, including whether the furniture has been in the family for a long time and how much it cost.