Choosing and buying furniture may seem so easy and fun, but it can actually be quite challenging. Whether you’re looking at completely furnishing your new home, replacing old or worn-out pieces, or hunting for the next statement piece, there will be several factors that you need to consider before deciding to purchase furniture. Here are five questions to ask yourself before buying furniture in Syracuse or anywhere else in the world.
1. “What do I need vs. what I want?”
Research shows that shopping boosts serotonin levels, the same happy chemicals that your body also produces when you eat chocolates. Shopping, even for home furniture, can be a perfect opportunity to be tempted by almost everything you see. Learn how to differentiate what you need versus what you want. This is crucial because it’s going to affect other factors in choosing and buying furniture, such as your interior design and budget.
Here are a few ways to help you determine what you need vs. what you want:
- Create a shopping list according to your priority. For example, you need a comfortable sofa in your living room more than an expensive porcelain vase.
- Consider your geographic location. Indoor and outdoor furniture lasts longer if you consider the climate in your hometown. For example, Syracuse is known for its high snowfall, and you want to make sure that you get high-quality furniture that suits the year-long weather, such as the ones offered at www.adirondackhomefurniture.com.
- Think about the occupants. The furniture that you need would differ if you have kids, you have elderly people living with you, you’re living alone, or you’re living with people in your age group. For example, you’ll need a crib for a baby or rugs with nonskid linings for the elderly members of your family.
2. “How much space do I have?”
Knowing and understanding your space will guide you with the number and the sizes of the pieces you’re going to buy. In addition, it will help ensure that your interior design will not look too cramped up or too empty. There are appropriate furniture and styling rules for tiny spaces as well as for large rooms. Hence, it’s important to determine the area you’re furnishing. Here’s how you do it:
- Measure your rooms. Your floor measurement will help you pick the right sofa, table, and others. Your wall length and width will help with choosing the right cabinets, shelves, and décor.
- Measure doors, other entries, and passages. You want to make sure that the furniture you buy can enter your home.
3. “What furniture pieces should I buy first?”
There are pieces of furniture that are more important than others. Similar to knowing what you need versus what you want, knowing what to buy first is a matter of priority. For example, a bed and a mattress are both needs, but purchasing a mattress first could be risky if you haven’t chosen a bed yet. As a rule of thumb, start with larger pieces before filling in with the smaller ones.
4. “Is it a good investment?”
Your goal is to purchase the highest quality of furniture within reason and within your budget. Purchasing furniture can be costly, so you wouldn’t want to buy something that only lasts for a year. Some guidance to determine if an item is a good investment is as follows:
- The furniture is more durable if the material is naturally harder and the construction is more sound (i.e., jointed versus glued).
- Ask for details on the item’s guarantee (i.e., how long it should last, if there’s any warranty, and others).
- Test the item. Open and close the doors, lift it, sit on it, give it a nudge – whichever applies to the furniture piece.
- Consider the maintenance or precaution the furniture needs.
- Ensure that the style fits the aesthetics of your home or at least the room where you’ll put it in.
5. “What’s my budget?”
And the most crucial of all – your finances. You need to know what your budget is, how much you’re willing to spend on buying furniture, and what you can’t afford. It’s not a financially sound decision to buy things, even home furniture, that’s going to keep you in debt or jeopardize other bills. Remember to get the most out of your hard-earned money with quality furniture so that you won’t be spending for the same things every year or two. Take time to look around and compare prices beforehand, compare store prices, research furniture websites, and look for free delivery options and other discounts that can help you maximize your budget.
There are lots of furniture pieces available on the market, and it could be a tough job to decide on which to finally purchase. Make sure that you ask these questions to make your furniture shopping fun and productive.
