Furniture makes a home and choosing the right furniture is important for a number of reasons:
- It should look good in the setting in which you place it
- If it includes seating, it should be comfortable
- It should be functional and fit for purpose
- It should be value for money
Many people make the mistake of assuming that if it looks good it will be good. Unless it is being displayed as a work of art, furniture should be functional and have a purpose. Here are some tips for choosing the right furniture.
Assess the construction
When you invest in a piece of furniture you should be sure that it is well constructed and will last a decent amount of time. Check the joints and how the various pieces are held together. Do legs look too spindly to support the weight? Is it top heavy? Do drawers run smoothly? Consider the pros and cons of flat-packed furniture versus ready-assembled furniture if you are thinking of flat pack.
Evaluate the silhouette
Essentially this is looking at a piece of furniture from various angles. Picture the piece in your mind in black and white so you can judge the “line” and how it will look in your room. For example, for a dining set, do all the chairs fit neatly tucked under the table or do they stand away? At this point, you should also consider the footprint. Measure the space you have available for a furniture item so that when you’re browsing you can identify pieces that will fit. Additionally, you can consider the setting of the interiors and the purpose of furniture. If it is for residential use, you may select minimalist or traditional furniture based on your preferences. If it is for a commercial space, say, a restaurant, you might complement it with the restaurant’s theme such as rustic or classic. Outfitting a restaurant can have significant financial impact, therefore, sourcing from reputable firms like Plymold wholesale restaurant furniture can be cost-effective as well as offer quality. Further, these suppliers often carry a wide range of designs and materials to choose from. This way you can select from a diverse variety that aligns with your preferences.
The finish
The finish is a factor when considering the use for the furniture. The look is probably what first attracts you to a piece, but it should be practical for its intended purpose in your home. For example, if you are looking for a console table for your hallway or lounge that you intend to always be set with a vase of flowers or a plant, you need a finish that will stand up to water. Although there are ways to remove water stains, it will never be as good as new. A consideration for the finish on wooden furniture is whether you want to see the beautiful grain.
Materials and fabrics to suit your lifestyle
When you visit a wooden furniture store you are presented with a wide range of beautiful, practical and affordable, light and dark oak, walnut and mahogany furniture. Wooden furniture might also come with paint treatments. Your preferences and lifestyle will lend you to evaluating the main construction materials and fabrics. For example, will highly polished chrome look good in a 17th century thatched cottage?
Furniture that has personality
It might seem odd to talk of inanimate objects having personality, but it just means the character of a furniture item. The personality of a piece of furniture is what attracts you to it. Is it the style, the colour, its lines? All the features should combine so that the furniture speaks to you in some way that calls you to pay attention to it when you’re looking for pieces to buy.
Follow these tips and you’ll choose wooden furniture that will look good and last, making your home a home.