5 Do’s for Buying Furniture for Your New Pad

You just finished moving into your new house/apartment/condo/log cabin/tiny home. Your furniture is in, and you look around, surveying the situation. You come to a realization: the sofa is too small. That accent chair is the wrong color. And you need a desk.

Buying new furniture is often a must after you move. Your new space has different requirements that call for new solutions – ones that your old pieces can’t solve. But how do you shop smart? What are the most important factors to keep in mind when buying furniture?

Buying Furniture: Must-Do’s for Every Situation

When picking out a new couch, desk, table, or chair, there are key considerations to mull over.

1. Do Consider Scale

You need to think about scale in a few different ways when buying furniture.

First, consider the scale of the piece in relation to the scale of the room: will it fit? Will it overwhelm the space? Will it get lost?

Second, think about how the furniture relates to your other pieces in terms of size. They don’t all need to be the same scale, but they should work together to create a balanced room. For example, if all of your furniture pieces are heavy and dark, it will weigh down the room and create a corresponding heavy and dark mood. Mix it up with light, streamlined pieces to balance out the heaviness.

2. Do Think About Fabric

The fabric on upholstered pieces like sofas, loveseats, chairs, and more should be given serious thought. Will the color mesh well with the rest of the room, or will it stand out? Do you want the piece to be versatile and match everything, or do you want it to be a bold accent? Make your purchasing decisions accordingly.

3. Do Think About Logistics

That dining table may look grand and elegant on a furniture showroom floor, and it may be the perfect size to host dinner parties, but these things are moot if you can’t even fit it through your front door.

When buying furniture, you have to think in incredibly practical terms, too. Think about how you will get large pieces into your home. Measure doorways to see how long or wide you can go with pieces, and consult a salesperson and ask if the piece can be taken apart and reassembled if it’s too big.

4. Do Weigh Price Versus Quality

Buying furniture just because it’s cheap is never a good idea. You have to think about how long you need to have the piece, and whether it is made well enough to last that long.

Consider: a cheap bookshelf saves you money now, but what about when the shelves start buckling in a few months? An inexpensive futon may seem like a great purchase, but if it’s incredibly uncomfortable no matter which way you sit or lay on it, is it worth it?

5. Do Take Your Time When Buying Furniture

Furniture pieces are tough purchases because you have to live with them (and on them) for an extended time. The wrong choice can make your life harder, so take your time, weigh your options, and make a smart buy for you and your home.