Furniture shopping can be exciting and intimidating all at once, especially if you’re attempting to elevate your home’s specific style and aesthetic. Whether you’re searching for the perfect center piece for your living space or searching for the perfect ingredients to spruce up any room, here are some tips to help you find success in furniture shopping.
1. Set a budget – Before you even start to browse furniture items for your home, it’s important to establish exactly how much money you’re willing to spend. This way you can keep your shopping within your price range so you can avoid overspending.
2. Choose timeless pieces – Investing in timeless pieces that never go out of style is a fool-proof way to ensure you won’t have to repeat your furniture shopping experiences any time soon. This means think twice before selecting quirky pieces with bright colors and fancy designs that might look good now but be unfashionable later.
3. Measure the space – While this may feel tedious, it’s important to measure the space you’re shopping for and take those measurements with you on your shopping day. Keep these measurements handy in order to make comparisons and determine which furniture is the right size for the space.
4. Just because it’s in the budget – Just because you’ve set yourself a budget doesn’t mean you should go bargain hunting for the cheapest furniture in your price range. This is likely a recipe for disaster. It is important to keep in mind that you often get what you pay for and that furniture that’s too cheap may not stand up to everyday wear and tear.
5. Mix it up – To ensure you don’t end up with a bland and mismatched look in your home, vary up the materials, textures, and prints in the furniture you select. Keep prints and textures to a minimum, as too many of either can overwhelm any given space.
6. Quality over quantity – Quality furniture doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, but it’s important to try and keep the ratio of quality furniture items high, and the ratio of low-quality furniture items minimal. Quality is important as vintage pieces have a charm and character that modern, factory-produced items don’t have, and often hold up better as well.
7. Build in versatility – You may need furniture that can serve for multiple purposes if you want the flexibility to move things around on a whim. Pieces such as ottomans with removable lids can function as a coffee table, storing blankets and guest bedding, or double up as extra seating.
Searching for different options to give your home a new look? Instead of buying expensive items, add vitality and appeal with some natural elements. Add a potted plant to any room to bring a sense of life and freshness, and plants can also serve as a pick-me-up and mood booster. Artwork is also great for giving your walls a fresher look. There is a range of printables online for those on the hunt for a more budget-friendly option while still being able to get a creative look.
Varying the shapes and sizes of your furniture is essential for creating a pleasant and harmonious home space. Too much of the same shape and size can create a disjointed and awkward feeling in any room. Combine soft, curvy pieces with more angular and sleek items for a balanced and inviting look.
Crash course decoration isn’t a great idea. Don’t be too hasty to decorate a space with the first piece of furniture that comes your way. It’s important that you respect the decorating process, take your time, and carefully consider what will work well within the rest of your home. Settle for nothing less than great.
Don’t forget about functionality. You need furniture that serves a purpose and fits into the designated space. Take into account how you want to use the space. Is it a place for cozy Sunday mornings or a spot for guests too lounge? Think about your needs and lifestyle – and how the pieces of furniture will fit into that.
Don’t be afraid to bring a little life to your home with fun and whimsical pieces. When you find something with a funky character that isn’t overpowering but still has its own personality, it can instantly bring a room to life more than any feature wall ever could.
Think outside the box. If you’re looking to create a unique space, then it’s important to think of unconventional solutions that help you express your individual personality and taste. Consider upcycling old furniture by giving it a fresh coat of paint or reupholstering it with a fun pattern of fabric or new cushions.
Also, think outside the store. Visit flea markets, garage sales, and second-hand stores to find furniture that’s more unique and that’s likely to have greater character than what you find in the big chain stores. Just ensure you check over your furniture carefully so you can spot the hidden issues that are almost guaranteed to exist in second-hand furniture.
While you’re out, bring the feeling of the room with you. Having pictures, fabric samples and colour swatches of the existing furniture and decor will help you when it comes to selecting pieces that will seamlessly fit in with the feel of the room.
When it comes to doing up the bedroom, you need to consider comfort above everything else. Consider the material of the bed frame, the temperature of the room, and the colour scheme that you’d like to have; whether it creates intimacy or has a calming tone. Finally, don’t forget to accessorize and make sure you add some personality to the room.
Look for furniture pieces that will elevate the mood of your home, are timeless, and fit into your budget and space restrictions. When it comes to furniture, focus on items that are functional and can be integrated into the existing furniture style. Accent furniture pieces are great for stimulating conversation; nothing says conversation like a beautiful little trinket displayed in the living room.
More importantly, don’t forget to make the experience a stress-free one and to enjoy the process. Furniture shopping is an awesome opportunity to affordably give your home a makeover and you should take your time to explore your options and to bring out your creative side.
Take advantage of all the colors and textures the world of furniture has to offer and find the styles and materials that are right for you. If your going to buy leather furniture, make sure you know how to care for it and keep it in good condition. Rattan, wicker, and bamboo are also great materials that can bring a unique aesthetic to any room. And if you’re looking to save some money, opt for multi-purpose furniture pieces that serve more than one purpose.
Dig deep and explore all the different options you have when it comes to the fabrics and colors of your furniture. A splash of mustard can bring an incredible ambiance to any space. Or combine retro and modern for a look that encourages conversation. Get playful and explore prints for a vibrant experience.
You want to make sure your furniture is functional as well. Think of the function of a room and lets the furniture serve that purpose. The goal is to choose pieces that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Choose the couch that can fit your whole family. Or pick the desk that allows you to work efficiently.
When it comes to choosing the right size, remember to measure. Avoid the common mistake of eyeballing it. You want to make sure the furniture you buy fits perfectly into the designated room. Bring the measurements with you shopping to double check.
It’s always wise to have a theme in mind when shopping. Remember a home is a collection of mini worlds so all the pieces need to fit together. Stick to colors that will serve as the foundation for the room, use accessories to add vibrancy and then use furniture to help define the style.
Make sure you pay attention to the little details. From the buttons of a sofa to the handle of a door, these small elements are what define the quality of the furniture. Undoubtedly, these small bits can make or break the furniture you purchase.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and dare to be bold. Step outside your comfort zone and buy items that you love regardless of the prevailing trends. And if your unsure, ask the store associates for help.
Finally, try and make your furniture timeless and functional. If the item is too modern, or too specific it won’t work with the changing trends. But having furniture that is idiosyncratic of your style allows you to have a more personal home decor.
Don’t forget to use the furniture you already have to your advantage and be creative with it. Rearrange pieces to create a new look. Build your own unique pieces to maximize the functionality of the room. Or even try repurposing certain furniture pieces to give them a fresh, new life.
And if you’ve got the money to splurge, why not bring in the professionals and get your home customized exactly to your specifications. And have it one of a kind.
Make your piece of furniture stand out with a personal touch. Have it embroidered with initials or get special handles made just for it.
Add subtle touches to your furniture to give it a more luxurious feel. Whether its adding gold or rose gold handles, or getting embossing done on the leather, small details make all the difference.
Funky furniture don’t have to be restricted to your living room. Adding interesting pieces to your bedroom works too, especially if the vibrant and whimsical colors match your current decor and scheme.
When it comes to picking furniture for your dining room, it pays to prioritize comfort. You want the chairs to be so comfortable you can sit on them for hours.
Matching upholstery plays a major role in completing the look of your furniture. Whatever you choose, be sure to think it through and pick something that’s built to last.
No matter what your personal taste and style when it comes to furniture, think through the decision carefully, remember your budget and focus on practical pieces that are built to last. Enjoy the journey of shopping for furniture and make it a reflection of you.