Tips on Buying Furniture

There are allot of factors that feed into your final decision on what furniture pieces you will purchase. Cost, style, color, durability, and overall look and feel that you are going for. My first apartment, I was really into the queen anne victorian look on a very small budget. My apartment warming present from my mom was a beautiful, victorian style couch from big lots. Lucky me, that was the most expensive purchase besides the dining set. My first coffee set was an inexpensive cherry coffee set. I got a beautiful swivel tv stand from Clay Road Furniture. It was on clearance and an awesome deal. My dining set matched the coffee set to a tee so I was happy that the colors and style flowed in my living quarters of the apartment and I worked hard at finding the best deals. It was the search for my first apartment's furniture that made me want to sell furniture. I was selling jewelry back then at Trader's Village and was looking for another business to get into. It was so fun furniture shopping and price matching that I knew selling furniture and bringing awesome deals to people would suit me just fine.

My style has changed since my first apartment as I have moved into my first home. While I still like the traditional dark colors, it is no longer victorian. It is more of a tuscany italian feel. Well, at least that is what I call it. My personal pieces in the living part of my home are the hawthorne coffee set , lamont formal dining set (discontinued in 2007), lamont bar set (used in my breakfast room; counter heights weren't in then or I would have went for a counter height), a couch set from http://www.noahsmfg.com/, and the Neo-Renaissance bench in my entry way. Even though, by this time I was selling furniture, it was still a welcomed challenge and fun searching for the perfect pieces to match my homes look and feel.

After you narrow down what you are looking for, cost is the second if not most important thing. Have a budget set for each individual piece you are looking for and try to stay within reason of it. Price check and be sure you are getting the best deal. Furniture prices can range drastically. It is a free enterprise and businesses can price an item for whatever they want. It is up to you, the consumer, to do the legwork and be sure you are getting a good deal. The dining set I bought for my first apartment was over $400 at one furniture store but after looking at a few stores, I found the same exact dining set for $250. A $150 savings was definitely worth the search. I was on a budget and that was money I had for other furniture and my accessories which were equally as important to me. Don't blow your budget on the very first piece because you may have to sacrifice on other pieces. Buy alittle at a time. If it is not something you plan on buying right away, ask the sales person if they think the item may be discontinued in "x" amount of time. If so, or they are not sure (we don't always know; hehe), make a point to put that item at the top of your list and get pieces that are not going anywhere later. Of course, you may have your priorities. A table to eat dinner with your family may be more important than a coffee set to put your feet on; hehe.

Durability is also at the top of the list. While I have some awesome inexpensive pieces that will be durable and hold up to the average person's use, it is important to understand that not all furniture is made equal and not all people use their furniture equally. My first coffee set in my apartment is the cheapest coffee set I sell. It is light and not solid wood. However, to me it might as well been top of the line, because I loved it. After a while, my coffee table got in the way of me working out (apartments can be so damn small) so it was demoted and I got TV stands that replaced my end tables. The end tables were then sent to my bedroom to be used as nightstands. I used those end tables as nightstands for 5 years even into my home (actually just replaced them in September 08 because I desperately wanted drawers on my nightstand). They worked like a champ and even held up to my rugged use. So, when you are thinking of durability, know what you expect to get out of the furniture piece you are purchasing. Be reasonable and buy what will be best for your needs. If you have a baby that will be walking soon, don't get a light set like what I had. Get something heavier that your child can't pull over on themselves when they are in the stage of using furniture to pull themselves up. It will cost more but that is the durability that you will require. So, always think of how your furniture will be used and buy furniture built for that use.

Whether you are a single parent, bachelor, or buying for a large family, I hope to have something to suit your needs and reflect your personal style. The best way to find your style if you do not already know it, is to go out and browse furniture stores or look at different pieces of furniture online. Another great source for figuring out your style, if you have cable, is to watch HGTV. If you have comcast cable, tune to channel 49. See what colors and styles you are drawn to. In my first apartment, I loved the dark cherry colors and the Queen Anne style legs and knew that right away. Your home is an expression of yourself and what you like. Go crazy and make it your own. I have a customer that likes light on dark furniture. She has a light maple table and deliberately bought my brandy side chairs which are a dark dark espresso to go with it. It actually looked really good and reflected her style and personal taste. Her purchase actually inspired me to have individual prices for my chairs on my website so people could get just the chairs if that is all they need.

There is no right or wrong way to purchase your furniture, but making sure you get the pieces you love at a price you can afford, is important. Furniture is something the average person will have to look at for a while. It is a bigger purchase and cannot be swapped out like your socks or t-shirts can. Good luck with your search and please email with any questions you may have with purchasing your next furniture piece.

By: Melissa Ward
http://www.furniturequeen.com/