How to Buy Furniture
When buying furniture, go as high-end as you can. Buy quality over quantity, and you will never be disappointed. When furnishing a first whole apartment or home, most people turn to Ikea or other cheap stores. Ikea offers clean design at a great price, but It’s not going to last the test of time. I recommend replacing this type of disposable furniture piece by piece, and always have a plan, so you’re not investing in any mistakes. Having a proper floor plan will ensure that you are investing wisely.
One of the hardest things I see people struggle with when buying furniture is scale. Furniture Showrooms have really tall ceilings, which makes it hard to judge scale. Make sure to consider the size of your room and have a floor plan before you head to buy anything. Otherwise, getting the scale and proportions of each piece right will just be guess work. If you have a big sofa, 2 small chairs will look ridiculous. Good design has balance and scale with varying heights of furniture pieces. You create height with tall pieces of furniture, window treatments and even artwork.
How do you know if what you’re buying is quality? High-end upholstery is made to last and is more comfortable to sit on, since it is made with the right type of springs, better foam and a hard wood frame. High-end case goods or wood furniture have more finish options, and the finish is clear instead of cloudy. Drawers glide open easily and function that way for many years to come.
I also have to say that I love antiques. You can usually find better quality pieces for less money with antiques, just be cautious about dressers; they are sometimes stored in damp places, and then the drawers don’t really open smoothly any more. I should also point out that in the early 1900’s, when we had just started figuring out mass production, the veneers used were not well made. Furniture from this period has not stood the test of time because they didn’t have strong enough glues yet or proper drying techniques. As a result, veneer has gotten a bad name. However, today’s veneers can be stronger then solid wood construction, so don’t be fooled by the word veneer.
Heather McManus
Creative Director
Artistry Interiors
July 30, 2013
Dana Owens
15 Aug 2013You have some great tips. If you are looking for High End Furniture, I would recommend Mecox Gardens. The furniture they have is so beautiful and it is long lasting. I have bought a few pieces from them and they all look amazing.
MarcioWilges
8 Oct 2015This is a really useful article, although I think that the furniture that you really DO end up buying, will really depend on your taste and the tastes of others who live in the same house as you! One thing that a lot of people actually don’t consider when they buy furniture though, is removals. Nobody ever thinks about the poor movers who have to squeeze a humungous sofa through a teeny tiny door frame!