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HOME DECOR
HOME DECOR TOPICS
Furniture is a major expense for most households, particularly newly established households. Furniture not only makes your home livable, but it provides comfort and reflects who you are as a person. Since everyone is different, with different budgets and tastes, not to mention differences in the home being furnished, the amount and type of furniture required for a home varies considerably. But whatever your tastes and needs, homes can be furnished nicely within a reasonable budget. Consider the following ideas:
1. Furniture is a major investment, so do not try to furnish your home all at once, or as quickly as possible. While it is nice to have all of your furniture in place so you can enjoy your home, rushing to furnish will almost always lead to less than optimal furnishings and higher overall costs. So, except for some necessities like beds and a table and chairs, take your time to make sure you get what you need and want, while staying within your budget.
2. Avoid impulse buying. Make sure you visit all types of furniture stores to see what is available and its cost. When you start totaling up the cost of your favorite pieces for that room or house, you are sure to have sticker shock. This is the time to “back off” and really reflect on what is necessary right now and what is affordable. Consider the following:
a. Do you really need all that new furniture? It looks great in the store, but will it look good at home, and will it still look good after a few months use? Is it really worth it?
b. Do family or friends have extra furniture available for free (or at minimal cost) that will do just fine? Remember, even if that “free” furniture is not exactly what you want, you can always replace it later when you find different furniture that is more suitable and within your budget. Besides, furniture that has some character and does not exactly mix and match can be a great eclectic look.
c. Can you do without that extra chair or table at this point in time? Is it really necessary, or can it wait?
3. Consider purchasing used furniture. It comes in all shapes, sizes, styles and condition and, like buying a used car, you will get a lot more for your money. And, fortunately, unlike used cars, it is pretty easy to determine the quality of the furniture and whether there are any underlying problems. And don’t forget to bargain on price. Just because there is a sticker on an item does not mean the price won’t be reduced.
a. Visit used furniture shops.
b. Look for sections in new furniture stores that sell one-
c. Go to estate sales where great bargains on very nice used furniture can often be found. Look for notices in your local paper.
d. Visit antique shops. Many items in these shops are not really expensive antiques, but just used furniture. Just make sure the piece you are interested in is priced like used furniture and not an antique.
e. Visit garage sales. Many times little will be available, but you just might find that perfect table at an irresistible price.
f. Do not forget about thrift stores such as Goodwill, The Salvation Army, etc. They offer some nice items that people donated rather than holding a garage sale.
g. And, believe it or not, you can even find some decent used furniture put out by the curb during trash day, and sometimes even at the “city dump” where people have dropped off that unwanted table or couch.
4. If you are considering buying new furniture (including new outdoor and patio furniture), from a local furniture store, try the following ideas to ensure that you will get furniture that is right for you at the lowest possible price.
a. Since furniture will ideally last a long time, make sure you buy decent quality furniture. This is available at reasonable prices, that are often no higher than poor quality furniture. Check to make sure the furniture is put together well. Make sure wood tables and chairs are sturdy and have a quality finish. Look how the legs and drawers are attached, and if they fit well and look like they are built to last. Compare many types of table and chairs to get a feel for quality. Upholstered furniture can deteriorate particularly fast if it is not decent quality, due to the need to bear weight and the constant use it receives. Look under the furniture to try determine if it is built in a sturdy manner, and look at how the upholstering is done and if the material seems resistant to wear. Stain repellents, such as Scotchguard, are also important. Sit on many different upholstered chairs and couches to get an idea of different levels of quality.
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