Top 10 Things to Know When Shopping for Your Modern Home’s Furniture

You’ve just closed on your dream home – congratulations! Now comes the most exciting part: furnishing your humble abode. Keep in mind that after a house and a car, furniture is likely one of the most expensive things you will ever buy, and for good reason. A good piece of furniture can last for decades with the proper care. Some high-quality, well-crafted pieces even last for centuries, becoming family heirlooms that can be passed down through the generations.

From bed frames to bookshelves, armoires to modern dining room chairs, there are so many different furniture options, and necessities, that it can start to feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! There are quite a few things to keep in mind prior to and while you shop for furniture for your home, and we’ve compiled them for you. Read on to discover our list of the top 10 things to know when shopping for your modern home’s furniture.

1. Dimensions and Layout of the Room

One of the first things you should think about when shopping for furniture is the size and layout of the rooms you are looking to furnish. Taking accurate measurements of all aspects of the space, meaning not only length and width, but also depth and height, will save you from potential headaches down the road. 

Be sure to give thought to proportionality as well. No matter how badly you want a king-sized bed, if you’re looking to furnish a studio apartment, the bed will completely overwhelm the space and everything else in it. Another important aspect to consider is the measurements of any doorways or hallways that the piece will need to fit through to get to its final destination. No use splurging on a new dining room table if it won’t fit through your front door!

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2. Budget

Prior to embarking on your furniture shopping excursion, it’s extremely important to set a firm budget. Take into consideration the realistic amount that you can afford to spend on furniture and stick to it while shopping. Establishing a clear budget will not only help you narrow down your choices, but it will also ensure you are able to make the most out of the money you have set aside to put towards furnishing your home. 

If you are looking to furnish multiple rooms, consider setting a specific budget for each room. Finally, do not be afraid to consider second-hand quality furniture, if that is a better fit for your established budget. Many cities have consignment and thrift shops that are worth checking out while browsing for your new piece of furniture.

3. Lifestyle

This is arguably one of the most important things to keep in mind while shopping for furniture. If you’ve got small kids at home, a light-colored suede or velvet couch is likely not the best choice. A beautiful wooden coffee table may not be optimal for a family with a puppy in the chewing stage. Considering practicality while furniture shopping will pay off in the long run – look for furniture that can withstand you and your family’s lifestyle. 

4. Quality/Materials Used 

When you’re browsing for furniture, be sure to prioritize the quality and durability of the piece. Choosing higher quality will ensure a lengthier lifespan of the piece, and feels much sturdier than cheaper counterparts, due to the superior materials used in construction. Putting in some extra research to find the highest quality that fits within your budget will pay off, likely giving you more years and use out of your piece. 

Do keep in mind that certain materials, such as hardwood or suede, require much more maintenance than your average softwood or microfiber. With extra care, though, furniture made of hardwood, such as teak, or ipe, can last up to a hundred years, or more. 

5. Function of the Piece and Where It Will Be Used

Focusing on the functionality of a potential piece of furniture can help you get the most out of your investment. If you’re furnishing a smaller apartment or room, every piece matters; considering furniture options that serve multiple purposes, such as an entertainment center with bookshelves, or a sleeper sofa, will ensure you get the most out of minimal space. It’s also important to determine where the specific piece of furniture will be used. A sleeper sofa wouldn’t make much sense in a high-traffic area of your home, as your guests would constantly be woken up. 

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6. Color and Style

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised. There are hundreds of different color and style choices, which can make matching different pieces a bit of a headache. Be sure to give some thought to where your new piece of furniture will be placed, the color options that would work with your current furniture, and the specific style you’re going for. Are you looking for more of an art deco theme, or is mid-century modern more your taste? By having a chosen color and style in mind prior to beginning your shopping, your options will be narrowed down enough to make your decision a bit easier. 

7. Best Time of Year to Purchase

This is quite possibly the most important thing to keep in mind when looking to furnish your home, especially if you are on a tighter budget. Keep an eye on sales and plan your furniture shopping around them, if you can. Planning your furniture shopping around these sales can potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Typically, furniture retailers hold their biggest sales around Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Presidents’ Day. Need to get your home furnished in time for the holidays? Have no fear, black Friday is usually the biggest furniture sales event of the year.

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8. Whether You Want to Shop Online or In-store

It can be extremely tempting to do all your furniture shopping online, but there are quite a lot of positives to shopping in store, too. By visiting stores, you can try out the pieces you’re eyeing, and some retailers offer special deals to those who shop in store. Typically, retailers can offer the same customization in-store that you can find online, and ship directly to your home, or offer in-store pickup to save money. 

Consider narrowing down your options through online browsing, allowing you to figure out what you might like, then bring those options to your local furniture retailer to help narrow down your options. This will save you from browsing hundreds of different displays trying to determine what you like.

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9. Cost and Add-ons

As with any big purchase, be sure to keep in mind that there may be an extra delivery fee for large pieces that you are unable to transport yourself. Most online and in-person stores offer delivery and assembly, if needed, for an extra charge. For those who aren’t the handiest, or who might not have the ability to assemble themselves, this extra charge for assembly is usually quite worth it. 

Another potential add-on to consider is a warranty on your new piece of furniture. Most pieces of furniture come with a warranty to cover any manufacturer defects, while additional warranties (for an additional cost) can cover tears and spills. Consider your lifestyle and whether a typical manufacturer warranty will be enough for your new furniture.

10. Plan Ahead

While our list is extensive and covers quite a few things to know, planning ahead is absolutely key when shopping for your modern home’s furniture. It may be tempting to buy the first couch that catches your eye, but without the proper planning, there’s too much that could go wrong. What if it doesn’t fit in your space? Or complement the rest of your furniture? Aesthetically pleasing does not always mean that the piece is of the highest quality, or that it is even comfortable. Taking the time to do your research on quality, materials used, potential sales, sizing, and cost, will save you from impulse buying, or purchasing something you won’t be happy with in the long run.

High-quality furniture is an investment, much like your home, or your car. If you wouldn’t purchase a house or a car without putting in ample time and research, you shouldn’t impulse buy on furniture, either. Furniture shopping without proper planning can leave you feeling frustrated, but it doesn’t have to. Keeping these top 10 things in mind when shopping for your home’s furniture will assist you in ensuring you get the most out of your space, and the most bang for your buck.

We hope you find this article helpful. If you do, please share it with others on your Facebook page so they can benefit from it as well. Thanks in advance!

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