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Getting a new set of furniture for your home is expected to be an exciting activity. It is not a task you carry out in a hurry because your home deserves the best. However, some homeowners are usually indecisive on the kind of accent pieces, tables, chairs, and sofas to buy. But with some planning and research, which is why you may be reading this article, you will enjoy the shopping process just as you would love to snuggle on your new sofa.
Bibra Lake is a beautiful and safe suburb of Perth, Western Australia. It is known for peace and quiet, neighborly spirit, parks, and lots of recreation areas. So, if you want to buy furniture for your property in Bibra Lake, you can quickly search online for Perth furniture stores to see a list of stores you could patronize.
Whether you want to shop online or in a physical store, here are simple steps to make your furniture shopping enjoyable.
1. Have a Budget
The baseline of any interior décor project is the amount of money that you can spare. This also applies to shopping for furniture. Budgeting is important because large pieces like tables, chairs, couches, and sofas are among the expensive aspects of décor projects.
Also, early planning helps you place more emphasis on the items that your money can buy. And if you know how to discern quality, you may be able to get good value at an affordable price. The factors that influence the cost of furniture include:
- The design – is it original or can it be reproduced or adapted?
- The materials – are they simulation, veneer, or real wood?
- The manufacturing process – was it mass-produced or handcrafted?
- The detailing – was it plastic-molded or hand-carved?
- The process of shipping and storing – are the items pre-assembled or can they be set up in the home of the buyer?
Hence, you may want to consider these factors when setting up a budget.
2. Differentiate Between Your Needs and Wants
The next step is to determine the things you must buy. Usually, our list of “wants” are longer than our list of “needs”. For example, getting a replacement for your broken chair could be a “need”. But buying a beautiful set you saw in a sales flyer for your dining room could be a “want”.
The first step to learning how to prioritize is when you realize that you must not have everything at once. When preparing a list of things to buy, you have to give it a proper thought. Will it be better to give your bedroom a facelift while the dining and kitchen areas look washed out? Or do you consider the highly used areas and recreation room more important?
Well, whatever decision you make, you need to remember that simple fabrics and classic lined furniture will always be in vogue. The implication of this is you will not need to remodel for several months or years.
3. Evaluate Your Lifestyle
Your lifestyle determines how you will use your furniture, and this is a very important point to consider. If there are pets or kids in the home, sturdy construction, as well as fabrics that are not difficult to clean, will be better. However, if the room is used sparingly like the den or library, then you can place more emphasis on aesthetics.
Furthermore, your lifestyle determines the colors you prefer. When you have pets and kids, you will not think about going for white colors. You would rather choose other shades that are mid or dark toned. At least, they can help you hide some dirt for those days when you may be unable to clean up before your guests arrive. However, do not forget that even durable pieces of furniture, when abused, will wear out.
4. Assess Your Space
When your room has so many items, it will start feeling awkward and cramped. But you still need to make sure that you have enough tables and seating surfaces. Here’s what you should do…
Measure the rooms, and make a sketch to include the windows, doorways, cooling and heating vents, and any other permanent fixture. Measure the current furniture in your home and place it on that sketch. You will be able to envision how the spaces will be used.
You may want to read more about measuring your space: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-measure-space-for-furniture-1391403
While this may be an archaic method, it is still helpful. Because of the trend towards overstuffing items in the home, a sketching exercise will help you pick the pieces that will fit in your room. Areas like the spacious floor, open lofts, and soaring ceilings usually need this kind of attention.
5. Do You Have a Style I.Q?
You do not just buy an item; you must have figured out that you liked it before purchasing it. One thing to bear in mind is that a room that comprises of different styles that were carefully combined is better than a room with lots of matching, same-size pieces. So, do not refrain from mixing and matching styles to get your desired look.
The major styles are:
- Traditional – mahogany, cherry, damask upholstery, antiques, and different antique styles.
- Contemporary – glass or metal accents, sharp lines, and bold colors.
- Casual – wood accents in maple, pine, or oak, overstuffed couches/sofas, earthy colors.
- Country – painted wood, floral prints, soft cushions.
- Eclectic – a mixture of periods and styles.
6. Know How to Judge Quality
When you get to the store, you need to ensure that what you are seeing is quality. You can open the dresser drawers, tip over that reclining chair, and watch the outcome. If you are shopping online, you may want to find out if the manufacturer has a retailer around your area.
Irrespective of the shopping procedure you choose, consider the following:
- The type of material used – is it concealed and rust-proof?
- Does it have a solid frame and joinery?
- Is the finish deep and rich or is it weathered or aged?
- Are there splinters, brush strokes, or bubbling?
You may also want to read this article to find more buying tips.
Conclusion
Whether you are shopping online or in a physical store, we have shared some tips that can help you to shop for furniture. We hope that this article has been helpful.