It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of furniture shopping and end up overlooking certain important details. Below are just six common mistakes to avoid so that you can make the right purchase.
Not taking measurements
Buying a sofa or wardrobe only to realize that it’s too big to fit in your home is not a smart move. Don’t try to guesstimate how big the space in your home is – take the time to measure it precisely before you start shopping for furniture. You can then check the dimensions to ensure that the furniture will fit.
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Overlooking access
It’s also important to consider how you plan to get the furniture in and out of your home. Large furniture may have to be delivered in parts for you to build or dismantled and reassembled by a professional. A local removalist may be able to help when getting old furniture out of your home. Hiring professionals could be particularly necessary if you live in a high rise apartment or house with lots of stairs.
Having no budget
You should be careful of spending too much money on furniture. While many furniture sellers offer finance schemes, you don’t want to end up paying huge amounts per month that becomes difficult to keep up with. By establishing a budget before you start shopping, you can keep your spending under control. Used furniture is generally cheaper than brand-new furniture and could be ideal if you’re on a tight budget.
Prioritizing cost over quality
While you shouldn’t have to spend lots of money, you also shouldn’t settle for the cheapest furniture you can find. Very cheap furniture will be lower-quality – which could result in it getting damaged more easily. A cheap shelving unit may end up collapsing under very little weight, while a cheap sofa may quickly grow uncomfortable to sit on. Always consider the quality as well as the cost – if you’re buying second-hand furniture local online, take the time to inspect the condition before you purchase it.
Prioritizing style over practicality
Prioritizing style over practicality is another common mistake. For instance, if you have kids or pets, you may want to make sure that any sofa you buy is easy to clean and damage resistant – elegant materials like linen and silk may not be suitable. Similarly, if you’re buying a table for a small apartment, something small that you can fold away might be more practical than a large dining table.
Shopping at the wrong time
You can find deals on furniture throughout the year, however furniture retailers will only run discounts on specific furniture for a limited time. In other words, if you see a great deal, you may want to consider grabbing that deal there and then rather than waiting. January often tends to be the month with the best range of deals, so if you’re looking to save money you may want to shop then. Outdoor furniture is meanwhile heavily discounted in the winter when there is less demand.
Photo by Lina Kivaka