Buying Furniture

One of the biggest expenses you will have in your life and throughout is buying furniture.  It's inevitable.  You can live off of hand-me-downs for some time but at some point you will have to make a purchase.  It can be overwhelming and also very risky.  You can drive down any major street and find a store that sells furniture.  Then there's those you see advertising on TV all the time.  And then there are those ginormous furniture stores like...well, you know.  Wherever you decide to purchase your furniture from I strongly recommend keeping these things in mind.

• The cost of furniture
• Take inventory of what you really need
• Set a budget
• Add about 15% to that budget
• Stick to that budget (the original one)
• Measure the spaces of where you are going to put this furniture 
• Measure the doorways/hallways/staircases of where this furniture will pass through
• Measure the spaces between this new furniture and any existing furniture
• Measure everything all over again
• Window shop online
• Window shop at the store
• Do your research
• Compare online prices to store prices and competitors prices
• Make a final decision and make your purchase, or decide to wait.

Buying furniture is a big expense.  One that will make a significant dent in your bank account.  But remember that this isn't stuff you switch out often.  Most of this stuff will last you well beyond 5 years.  If you take the amount it costs and divide that by at least 10 years you will agree the purchase is more than justified.  And with this in mind I encourage you to follow all of these tips and go out there and get what you want.

First of all you need to understand the cost of furniture.  The prices vary between stores, whether it's a well-known retailer or a local furniture maker.  If you want quality you will end up paying more.  Solid wood furniture is going to be more expensive than hardwood.  Custom upholstery (when you get to pick the upholstery as opposed to buying what's in store) is going to cost more.  Custom furniture versus pick-and-choose is going to cost more.  

Next, take inventory of what you need, not what you want.  If you're a newlywed or just bought a new house you may not want to purchase all your furniture at once.  It will be overwhelming shopping for so much at one time, plus there are pieces of furniture that can wait to be purchased at a later time.  Make a list of everything you need, then go over that list at least one more time so that you prioritize the bigger, more important pieces.

Having a budget is key to not overspending.  Any store you walk into will have something you want, need, and like.  That doesn't mean that you have to have it all.  So, if you've made your list of priority pieces and stick to purchasing those first you will be sure to not overspend.  

This, also, is where adding that 15% may come in handy.  You may end up seeing something you absolutely love and it may cost more than you anticipated spending.  When it comes to furniture I always tell my family and friends that if you absolutely love it then go ahead and get it.  Unless it is insanely over your budget, you probably can justify the cost.  Why would you spend $1,000 on a sofa that's just okay when you're in love with the sofa that's twice that amount?  Yes, it's going to serve the same function but you're going to "hate it" at some point and in a few years will probably want to switch it out anyway, costing what you would have spent in the first place if not more.

That being said, stick to your original budget.  Don't allow yourself to spend that 15% contingency unless you find something that absolutely justifies it.  And if necessary let that added expense be the last thing you buy so that you know you will not "need" to spend it on anything else you are "in love" with.

Measuring is a very important part of the whole process.  You may have your heart set on a sectional sofa or a king size bed, but if the space isn't big enough then you're going to have one big problem when that furniture is delivered.  

 

Measure every space you need furniture for and take into account furniture that is already there.  If you're going to buy a sofa but already have the end tables then measure the space where the sofa is going to be so that you know what size sofa to get.  If your kids are going to share a room and you're going to have separate beds measure the room and make sure that the size beds (mattress and frame) will fit in the space.  The same goes for appliances.  Measure, measure, measure!!  That six burner range may not fit!  Also, be sure to measure the doorways, hallways, staircases, and pretty much any tight space that this furniture will be passing through.  Squeezing big furniture through small doorways will almost guarantee some kind of damage.  Don't risk it!

Window shopping online will save you a lot of time, money, and will help you keep your sanity.  Check out the websites to the stores you intend to shop and consider any local stores in your neighborhood.  See what the selections are, compare prices, factor in custom choices or call to get information, and don't forget delivery charges.  Don't forget to take advantage of sales.  You may want to wait a couple of weeks if necessary to get that extra 15% off, or free delivery.  Whatever will save you money.  If you've done your online window shopping you will know exactly where to shop and what stores to avoid.

Window shopping at the store can also save you a lot of money, and in the long run, a huge headache or heartbreak.  The same way you try on an outfit before you buy to make sure it fits, you can "try on" furniture to make sure it's right for you.  It may look comfortable but once you sit on it, you realize its support doesn't seem that strong.  The upholstery color and pattern may look appealing at first but may not be of great quality.  That dining table may have a gorgeous look and finish but once at the store you realize it's not solid wood, or it's made from a material of lower quality.

Doing your research is part of window shopping.  Find out what kind of material and upholstery options are available and what meets your needs so that when you make your purchase you will get exactly what you paid for.  Don't settle for sale items or floor model sales just to avoid the higher cost if that's not what you really want.    

Compare prices when you can.  You may not find the exact same furniture pieces in other stores, but you'll find similar pieces that you can compare.  Also, online prices may differ from in-store prices due to sales or promotions so be sure to ask if you can get the lowest price available.  

Once you've completed your window shopping online and in-store, done your research, and compared prices you are ready to make your decision and ultimately your purchase.  Making a decision doesn't necessarily mean you'll make the purchase.  It may just mean that you've decided to wait for either the sale or until the store offers new selections.  If it's not an item, like a bed, that you need right away, you may want to wait on it - especially if you're not in love with your choices.  

Buying furniture can be overwhelming, but it should also be fun, and ultimately you should be happy with your purchase.  

And if you're still overwhelmed about purchasing furniture after reading this I am more than happy to help you out!

Side note: other things to consider when buying furniture is a change in style.  You may currently have a certain look to your home, but you're ready for something completely different.  If you're buying major furniture pieces, this is the time to make that transition.  

Here are some links I found that could be very helpful:

Guide:How To Measure
furnishing design resources
How to measure for furniture