Securing truly great furniture that speaks to your distinct sense for style may be something you have always wanted to do. But, you may have lacked the know-how necessary to find terrific pieces at prices you could handle. The article that follows is meant to solve those problems for you and give you a much-needed leg up.
Learn to recognize different quality of woods. Some furniture is made from solid wood, which is a lot more expensive and fragile. Veneers are basically made from a low quality wood base covered in layers of real wood. The cheapest wood furniture you will find is made from resin, plastic and wood scraps.
If you want to make a truly environmental statement, buy furniture made with recycled wood. This not only saves trees, but often the wood pieces are available in sizes and widths not possible from managed or young forests. This means you get unique furniture that is as good for your style as it is for the Earth. Wood is often recycled from old buildings and structures, remnants from historical logging periods, landfill scraps and even retired orchard trees.
Start your search on the internet. You may end up going to a brick and mortar store for your final purchase, but starting online is good for a few reasons. First, you can get an idea of what the price range will be, and you can also find specific pieces you ultimately buy.
When determining your budget for furniture, consider the expected lifespan of the piece. Light aluminum frames or particleboard pieces are likely far lower in price, but also lower in life expectancy. Heavy wood, solid furniture lasts a lot longer, albeit at a higher initial investment. How long you plan to be in a home can factor in too.
Consider used furniture. A good, solid piece of furniture can be passed down for generations and still look great. Check thrift shops, moving sales, and estate sales. You may find a gem that not only will stand the test of time, but costs a fraction of the price of a new piece.
Decide what material you want before you start looking. If you only want oak tables, for instance, that will stop you from wasting time looking at other materials which you won’t need. If you want a candle chandelier, know that before you start looking so you get what you want. If you walk into a store without a goal, you’ll feel much more uncertain.
Most of the time, furniture can be negotiated in price. Though a sales person obviously wants to sell an item for as much as possible, they are usually willing to compromise. So, if you see something you like but it is too pricy, offer a cheaper price. If they are not willing to compromise, tell them you will do business elsewhere.
Perhaps furniture shopping has long been a significant challenge to you because you really just did not know where to turn for the best deals. But, with your new base of knowledge, this should no longer be the case. Use this article as a handy reference every time you head out to find some great new items.