Whether you just bought your first home, moved into a new apartment, or are merely looking for an interior makeover, buying furniture is always exciting. But it isn’t necessarily easy.
From managing the unexpectedly high prices and settling on a design aesthetic to getting everything into the space and arranging it, there is just a lot going on. The whole experience can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t spend much time thinking about a strategy before you begin.
Everyone could use a little advice, and the following tips are here to help. Whether you just need a single piece or are outfitting an entire three-story house, the same principles will apply.
1. Buying for Value
In the story of Goldilocks, the fairy tale protagonist famously tries out three beds. One is too soft, another is too hard and the third option is just right. This isn’t a recommendation about buying beds or selecting mattress firmness, but it makes for a good lesson in finding the furniture you’ll be happy with in the long term.
Of course, you don’t want to buy any low-quality stuff. While finding a great bargain is one thing, truly cheap products are usually made of poor materials. They won’t be comfortable, visually appealing or last long. At the same time, too many people are quick to walk into designer shops and spend two — or five — times what a piece of furniture is really worth just for the fancy name.
The best bet is usually to find something in the middle; after all, you want great quality at a great price. So, don’t fall into the trap of shelling out your whole paycheck on an end table or thinking you can get a decent couch for the price of a pizza.
2. Visualize Furniture in Your Home
One problem buyers have is purchasing something that looks amazing in the showroom but feels underwhelming once they get it home. Do you just keep it and learn to love it? Return it and consider all that time wasted? No matter what, it is a disappointing experience.
This is why you need to remember you’re buying something for a specific room, not just to sit there by itself. Visualize what it will look like in your desired location and how the color and design will fit in with everything else.
While mentally doing this can be tough, retailers like Jerome’s Furniture have created apps that allow you to actually see a piece in your own home before making a purchase. The technology is based upon augmented reality, which can be a tremendous help in picturing how a chair or sofa will work in your unique living room.
3. Prioritizing Your Purchases
If all you need is one new chair, the furniture-buying process isn’t that complicated. It becomes a lot more difficult, however, when you have to buy several items all at once — or fill an entire house. And while a few lucky people may have unlimited funds to furnish their dream home, most of us in the real world will be forced to operate with a tight budget.
This is why you should understand which pieces of furniture are the most important and prioritize them accordingly. Know that you’ll spend one-third of your life in bed, so reimagining your bedroom is a good place to start. Then, you want to get the daily-use pieces like your sofa, dining room table and other must-haves out of the way.
In addition to utilitarian goals, also be sure to consider your design objectives. For example, if you buy a turquoise couch on Day 1, that will start to define the look of the whole room and you’ll have to build from there. Or, if you want some artwork or an eclectic coffee table to be the showstopper — but just can’t afford them yet — it may make sense to go with more neutral colors for the big items that will play well with anything.
Furniture Buying for the Long Haul
There are a few goals everyone should have when it comes to buying furniture. Get pieces you love, can afford and that will last. If you check all three of those boxes, you’ll undoubtedly be happy and comfortable for years to come.
To do that properly, focus on buying for value. Visualize how items will look in your house before you make a purchase, and get the right items in the right order for both practical and design purposes.
Get all this right, and you will be thrilled to enter the door every day. Just like that, your house will be well on its way to truly becoming a home.
