Furniture Buying 101

There is an attraction among the general public to buy furniture store groupings. It's fun to see what someone else has boldly designed and put together and to imagine being the Master of the castle set before us. The reality is that furniture stores are not designed to make buying furniture easy. They woo the innocent buyer with a dramatic display but then the buyer is shocked when the magic doesn't arrive with the sofa delivery. Instead they find themselves stuck with pieces that may be the wrong color, shape, or size for their own home. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to create your own castle.

Before you even go to the store, you have a little work to do. First, measure every wall and draw it out on a piece of graph paper. Then mark the locations of the doors, windows, cable outlet, switch plates, etc. Next, measure and collect samples of everything that is going to stay in the room. Get a swatch of your paint color, flooring, drapery fabric, and upholstery. If it's going to coordinate with the new pieces you are buying then you need to take it with you. Finally, take photos of the pieces that are staying in the room. Even if it's just quick snapshots on your cell phone, you need a visual reference for the style and shape of your existing pieces. Now, grab a tape measure and pencil along with your graphed out room, swatches, and photos and head for the store.

Enter the store with caution! You must determine that you are there to buy the right pieces for your home and budget and not to be sucked into buying the first "package" that you like. It's a good idea to take an initial sweep around the entire store to get a feel for the styles they offer. Then you can go back to the section that seems the most appropriate for your home.

When you find a piece that seems to fit the color and style of your room, be sure to take measurements and pencil it onto your graph paper. Study the paper. Do you have plenty of room for traffic flow? You need at least a 3 foot width for main paths. Is the piece proportionate to the other pieces? It should not seem significantly larger or smaller. Be especially careful when purchasing sectionals and recliners. Sectionals take up a lot of room and you must consider reclined measurements, too . Also, don't feel that you have to buy the "package" being offered. You may not need so many pieces and it's much more interesting to mix the pieces while coordinating with color or pattern. Finally, be willing to explore many stores and online options too. It can take some time, but an investment this large is worth doing right.

Follow these steps and you should find success in buying the right furniture for your home. If you still have questions, don't have time to follow the process, or are redesigning your entire room call Tribeca Design Studio at 302.526.4268 and ask about our design services. Investing in the plan for your room can save you money in the end.