SECRETS TO QUALITY DISCOUNT FURNITURE
There are so many reasons to love shopping for new furniture – seeing modern styles, finding a great deal and having a fun family outing.
Furniture buying can be an adventure into the world of home design, from kitchen tables and desks to linens and spatulas.
But you may also wonder if the low prices mean low quality. Not necessarily, but don’t expect your inexpensive finds to last a lifetime. What you can expect from your purchases is a home filled with outstanding style. To ensure you’re getting the best that the discount furniture market has to offer, read on to learn a few tricks to shopping smart:
View the Goods in Person, if Possible
If you live near the retailer, you can have a tactile experience with the products that intrigued you on a website: opening and closing dresser drawers, touching how soft (or not) the bath towels are, and judging with your own eyes whether that bookcase will complement the other furniture already in your home office.
Avoid Flimsy Materials
Whenever you need to buy something new, big or small, it pays to spend your money on the best quality you can afford. Take kitchen cabinets, for example. Many are made with particle board, not real wood. Particle board will look good until it doesn’t. If you can spring for the real thing, it’ll be worth it. Besides wood, other materials you can trust include metal, glass, and cotton.
Take to Tailored Furniture
Think fitted, not flouncy, when you’re aiming for high-end style. Unstructured designs are too relaxed and floppy to be considered high-end. A tailored sofa, for example, would have neat cushions, a highend fabric covering, and refined arms and legs.
Use Lighting to Create Ambiance
The trick to a good lighting setup is to have multiple types of lights working in a room. Each type has a specific job to do, but together they create a beautiful ambiance. Mix ambient, or general, lighting (such as a chandelier), task lighting (a desk lamp), and accent lighting (a light focused on a single object like a painting on a wall).
Put It Together Yourself
You can always save a little cash when you purchase furniture that requires a bit of assembly – it’s cheaper to ship, store and display, so you can get a share of those savings. In some cases, furniture that is assembled is also modular, so you can custom-fit it for your home.