Do you hate furniture shopping? Would you rather hide under the covers of your bed than go out again? Would you prefer to watch paint peel? If so, your problem is likely that you aren’t shopping with knowledge behind you. This article has some simple strategies to make yourself a better shopper.
If you are looking for new furniture and you don’t have a lot of money, consider picking up some at your local thrift store. There are usually a few different sets available, and you may find one that is in fairly good condition. You can have a set that is new to you without spending a ton of money.
Before rushing out to buy furniture, make sure that you measure the doorways in your home. It would be a shame to pay a lot of money for furniture that is not able to fit into your home. While some movers will remove doors frames to get the furniture inside, others will insist on taking it back to the store.
Shop for used furniture to save money and get quality pieces. Many times you can find furniture that an individual no longer needs for a great price. You can either shop at used furniture stores, from the newspaper, on Craigslist or any other place where people sell the furniture they no longer want.
Furniture can really take a bite out of your wallet. Sometimes, used furniture is the way to go. You can buy slightly used furniture that is in great condition from stores, garage sales and classified ads. After taking possession of the furniture, you can always get it reupholstered. You can save plenty of money by following this advice.
Check Craigslist for deals. There’s often a lot of furniture that’s given away for absolutely nothing, other than your expense to pick it up! That’s a huge deal. Why do people give furniture away? They’ve decided to upgrade, and it can cost a lot of money to hire someone to get rid of the older piece. Take advantage of these situations.
While it’s good to talk to the salespeople in furniture stores, realize and remember they might not be your best source of advice and information. They may be focused on customer service, but only to sell. An actual interior designer is someone who can really help you find the right furniture for your home.
The next time you’re shopping for furniture, try searching the clearance section in your local large chain retailers. A lot of these retailers have a section set aside especially for overstock and clearance product. If you go shopping in these places you can find great items that are of good quality for very cheap.
When shopping for home office furniture, consider how much actual surface area you need. Do you like to have room to spread out papers? Or are you more minimalist, with just a laptop and all-in-one multifunction printer? Length of cords or wireless connections also factor into the size and number of pieces you need.
Consider taking part in an estate auction if you want to find high-end furniture at a great price. The sellers usually just want to sell off the furniture to clear the property for sale. Look in newspapers for announcements for upcoming auctions. Just make sure that you have your cash or checkbook ready when you attend.
Before buying a piece of furniture, try removing the drawers. Touch the inside of the drawers to see if it feels rough. Low quality furniture usually feels very rough. The better pieces of furniture also have dust panels between drawers. Do not hesitate to ask for a lower price if you do not see dust panels or finds that the wood inside the drawers is rough.
If you have upholstery that needs a proper cleaning, consider going with a professional cleaning company. When you are choosing a cleaning company to take care of your upholstery furniture, make sure that they do not use products that are tetrachloride-based. These products may damage the integrity of your pieces.
Flea Markets can be a great place to find unique pieces of furniture. Although, because there is such a huge variety of different items to see, you really want to take your time looking around. If you don’t, you could miss that perfect piece of furniture! The nice thing about flea markets is that you can always bargain for a lower and better price.
Think about your choices when it comes to “green” furniture. Remember that you should examine claims of eco-friendly practices carefully. To simplify this process, ask whether the furniture is certified by Oeko Tek or FSC. The answer will let you know if your purchase is good for the environment.
When purchasing wooden furniture pieces, examine the finish carefully. Nothing is worse than spending hundreds of dollars on a piece of furniture only to find a knick when you get it home. Bring along a flashlight and go inch by inch over the entire piece before purchasing it to ensure that the finish is intact.
Before you purchase an item of furniture, look inside all the drawers and cabinets. Be sure to pull all the drawers out and then shut them again. Open the cabinets, then close them up. Make sure that nothing sticks or comes loose. See if you can keep the drawers open without them starting to fall out. It’s important that your furniture be functional.
Keep UV rays and light away from antique furniture. It can damage your pieces. Direct sunlight degrades early woods, finishes, and fabrics. Try placing these pieces out of the sunlight and using drapes or curtains to block or diffuse sunlight when you can. Clear finishes that are exposed to sunlight can turn opaque or start to yellow.
These techniques have been used by countless others to make furniture shopping more enjoyable, so put them to use yourself. You’ll find your next trip out is one which doesn’t leave you so frustrated. In the end, you’ll find the furnishings you need and your home will be more comfortable than ever.