Shopping for furniture can be a difficult task or an exciting adventure. It’s up to you. If you follow this advice, you’re more likely to enjoy shopping and find the right pieces of furniture to fit your home and lifestyle.

• Decide What You Need
  Measure the space where you’ll put the new piece, keeping in mind that you’ll need room between other pieces for walking and traffic patterns. You might want a sofa but realize that you really only have room for a loveseat or a pair of armless chairs. Write the numbers down so that you can confirm them when you find something that you like.
• Set Your Budget
  There’s nothing more discouraging than finding a piece you can’t afford. Set you budget and don’t look at things that would break the bank. While it’s a good idea to buy the most expensive and best constructed piece of furniture that you can afford, you wouldn’t want to spend every penny you have available on one piece of furniture and then not be able to paint the walls!
• Plan Ahead
  Do some research on the internet. Find the websites for furniture manufacturers and see what they have to offer. You’ll most likely be able to see everything that each company makes, get exact dimensions of each piece, see the different finishes available, and see the pieces arranged in decorator rooms. If you see something you really like, you can order the company’s catalogue to be sent to your home.
• Learn All You Can Without Leaving Your Home
  If you find a piece you like, look at the fabric options or wood finishes available. Try to picture the piece in your home. Locate a store in your area that carries the line of furniture you’ve found. Check their opening hours.

Once you’ve decided exactly what you need, how big it should be, how much you can spend on it, and gotten all the information you can on companies, finishes, styles, and fabrics, it’s time to see some pieces in person.

• Go to a Furniture Store
  It’s almost impossible to determine if you’ll like a piece of furniture from a picture. You’ll want to see it first-hand. If the store you visit doen’t have the exact piece you’ve found on-line, at least you ean evaluate the quality of the line, see the different finishes available, and determine if the company makes things that have a look you like. If you’re looking for a coffee table, you might be able to see a side table. You’ll get an idea of how your piece will look and you’ll feel more comfortable about ordering the piece at the store or on-line if you’ve seen it in person first.
• Visualize All the Elements
  Fine furniture stores use professional decorators to create fully-decorated rooms. In these settings, the merchandise is shown at its best. You can get an idea of how the piece you want will look in a real room. You might get ideas for other decorating, too. If the walls are painted an interesting shade of a warm mocha, you can ask the exact shade if you think it would look good in your home. It can be almost like going to a decorator showhouse, and you can buy anything you like.
• Get Things in Perspective
  Remember that furniture show spaces are spacious with high ceilings and no side walls. You have to keep the size and scale of your own rooms in mind. A piece that looks great in a cavernous showroom might be too large for your living room.
• Get Decorating Ideas From the Pros
  As you walk through the showroom, look around you. Do you see interesting accessories? Do you have some pieces at home that could be used in the same way? Is a picture placed in an unusual way that would add interest to your space? Does a mirror reflect a beautiful view or add depth to a space? Is the furniture arranged in a way you hadn’t thought of? Without buying a thing, you can get lots of ideas to take home.
• Talk to the Sales People
  A furniture showroom will not have every piece that a particular company makes. If you don’t see the item you want on the floor, inquire about placing a special order. Be sure that you feel comfortable with the sales person and get someone who is knowlegeable about your chosen company. Some stores have specialists for each line. Inquire about the availability of different wood finishes, sofa skirt options, or alternative arm styles.
• See the Fabric Choices
  Each company that builds upholstered furniture supplies their showrooms with fabric samples. You can choose from a full array of colors, patterns, and textures. If you’re not sure about colors, ask to check out fabric samples or a matching pillow. You’ll be ablet o live with the fabrics for a day or two and see the different choices in changing lights.
• Place a Special Order
  If the store doesn’t have the piece you need, place a special order. In many cases, you will not be able to take advantage of special sale prices, and you might have to pay additional shipping charges. But it will be worth the price to get just the piece you want.
• Take the Piece Home
  Some furniture stores will allow you to take a piece home “on approval,” meaning that you can see how it will look in your home, but return it if you don’t like it. After all, you’re making a big purchase and should have a right to change your mind. Make sure that you can return even a special order piece if it is not right for your home. You might be asked to pay the charges the store incurred to get the piece from the factory to their store.

Buying a piece of furniture can be a big expense and you should end up with just the right piece. If you follow our guidelines, the shopping will be easier and you’ll end up with just what you want.

Article courtesy of about.com

The dining room is one of the most family-oriented rooms of the home. Whether it is used for a late-night pizza party or a huge holiday dinner, the dining room brings everyone together. The furniture and décor should be inviting as well as functional. Here are some suggestions for buying dining room furniture.

Step1

Consider the family. If your family has small children or pets that are still being trained not to chew things, don’t invest in an expensive dining room set at the time. Look for furniture that is appropriate for the age and needs of your family. Buy a less expensive, more durable table that will withstand spills and broken dishes now, and buy the more high-end furniture in a few years when the kids are older.

Step2

Plan ahead for special occasions. Your dining room will be used for regular family dinners the majority of the time it is in use, but for special occasions, holidays and parties there will be more people gathered around the table so plan ahead for this when buying your dining room furniture. Look for dining room tables that have removable leaves or wings that can lengthen or expand the surface area of the table to accommodate more diners.

Step3

Get plenty of seating. Purchase the number of chairs that your immediate family will use when having dinner. Then consider the number of extended family members likely to be invited to holiday functions and special occasions and plan seating for them as well. Buy a dining room set with an adequate number of chairs for everyone, or buy enough for your everyday use and purchase less expensive extra chairs to be stored when not in use.

Step4

Find a place for storage. Dishes, glassware, placemats, napkins and other dining room necessities must be stored somewhere when not in use on the table so consider this when purchasing your dining room furniture. Look for dining room tables that feature built-in drawers that can be used to store place settings and silverware or invest in a small corner hutch for storage to keep your dining room stylish and uncluttered.

Step5

Inquire about warranties. Many furniture companies have warranty coverage that will repair any scratches or damage done to your furniture. Since your dining room furniture will likely see a lot of daily wear and tear, it’s worth your time to find out about repair options when buying your dining room furniture.

Looking for new furniture can be really tough if you don’t know how to spot a good deal. Just because the price is right, is not enough. Very often with furniture, you get what you pay for. Here are a few tips to decide if a piece is right for you.

Step1

Not all wood is created equal. Pine is considered one of the cheapest types of wood. It splits easily and is a little difficult to work with if you are planning on painting or staining. Bamboo is an excellent “green” choice; however, it is not made to last and your choices will be VERY limited. If you are looking for temporary pieces and would like to contribute to making the world a greener place, this choice may be for you. Birch is a cheaper wood but it is also very soft. A glass top would be recommended to protect table tops. Oak is a sturdy, long last wood that is easy to stain or paint. This type of wood will be costly.

Step2

Dovetailing. This type of craftsmanship is very desirable. It is the way the pieces lock into each other such as in a dresser drawer. This is one of the clues that the furniture is sturdy enough to test time.

Step3

Solid Wood. Solid wood is an ideal choice for quality furniture. This choice will be more expensive than the alternative press board or composite wood.

Step4

Veneers. Veneers are tricky. In high moisture areas they have a tendency to separate. This could be a problem if you are considering buying a veneer top to a kitchen table that you would be wiping clean often. High end manufacturers are making very good venire tops, however, there is still the chance that they will separate or bubble up.

Step5

Upholstered furniture. When buying upholstered furniture. It is a good idea to unzip the cushion covers if possible to make sure there is an actual cushion inside. Typical stuffing will lose its shape. A tight back will also prevent sagging, opposed to loose pillows or cushions. Look at the back of the piece if it is a sofa, chair or love seat. Does the fabric continue? You may be thinking of pushing the piece up against the wall for now but in the future, you may like the piece to float in the room. A finished back is another point of furniture well made.

Step6

Buy American. This may sound a bit patriotic but if you are buying American made, chances are the quality is pretty good if not very good. The Italians are also very well known for their furniture. Furniture made in China or any other place for that matter may not be very well made. Ask the sales person where the furniture is made and then check on-line to confirm. Surprisingly, sales persons are not always the most knowledgeable about their own products.

Step7

Fabric by the yard. Better stores will sell fabric by the yard. It is a good idea to buy extra fabric if you are buying upholstery for dining chairs incase you should have an accident and need to have a chair reupholstered.

To see on living room furniture, continue reading our blog.

Do you have a child that keeps staining your kitchen chairs? Perhaps you just want to update the look of your dining room table. I will show you how easy it is to reupholster your cushioned dining room chairs, and in no time you will have redecorated your dining room set.

Step1

Turn the chair over and on the underside of the cushion, you will see screws in holes that hold the upholstered cushion onto the chair frame. Unscrew those and keep them close by; they always seem to want to disappear on me.

Step2

Place the new fabric right over the old; no need to remove the old fabric. If your chairs are really old and could use a little help in the padding department, add a couple of layers of quilter’ s batting to make the old chair feel like new.

Step3

Flip the cushion over and tack down each side of fabric in the middle. Check to see if your material is the way you like it, then continue stapling the fabric down each side, stopping about an inch away from each corner.

Step4

Tuck the corners in with just hand-gathering, then stapling, trying to keep the corners as even in gathering as possible. Trim away any excess material so the cushion fits evenly on the chair frame.

Step5

Place your newly upholstered cushion face down on the table, then align the chair frame on top of it. Replace the screws that hold the cushion to the chair, you will feel a little resistance due to the new fabric, but the screws should go in easily.

Step6

Repeat above steps for each chair, then enjoy your redecorated dining room!

Compliment any bedroom with rustic style bedroom furniture. The allure of a rustic style should make you want to go to a store and buy rustic pieces. Learn more about this provocative style.

Step1

Rustic style bedroom sets compliment a bedroom in many ways. A rustic style bedroom set can augment the atmosphere that creates cherished memories. The color of the bedspread and sheets help bring out the luster of the furniture. You could also have contrasting bed sheets and a rustic style bedroom set in order to create a different look. Indeed, bed sheets can make or break the look.

Step2

A uniform is essential for a cohesive fit. The armoire and dresser should match the bed as well as the nightstands. While slight variations are common, the general thread of the bedroom set should be constant. A mixed match rustic bedroom set gives an appearance of being haphazard. A night-stand that differs from another one suggests the owner was given the piece or bought the piece at a garage sale.

Step3

The minor dissimilarity that exists in rustic style bedroom sets is what makes the style appealing. While uniformity is warranted, dissimilar pieces of the same style contribute to the allure and should be a focal point to any salesperson. The slight imperfections are the result of the wood, not the manufacturing.

Step4

What to look for in a rustic style bedroom set differs from each person or couple. A single person may need the advice of a friend or partner. The insight could prove pivotal in selecting the right style for their bedroom.

Finding furniture can be a burden especially when it is furniture for the workplace. Price is often a factor when buying furniture. But there are discount furniture stores where you can by all of your office furniture at an affordable cost.

Step1

Create a list of the office equipment that you need. If you are just looking for one or two items for your office, there may be stores dedicated to just that item. However, if you want an entire office of furniture, it is best to go somewhere where you can find everything. Determine what you need before you look for it.

Step2

Look for the specific pieces of office furniture you’re seeking and find all the sources for these pieces. You might search online web stores like Office Dr.

Step3

Ask local furniture stores if they have any office furniture that is slightly damaged or if they have any floor model furniture that is for sale. Furniture that is damaged or is used as floor models is often offered at discounted prices.

Step4

Design an ad. If you want discount office furniture, buying used furniture from someone is often an easy way to do this. Put an ad in your local newspaper asking for office furniture and see what kind of offers you receive.

Step5

Watch for business auctions of companies that are selling office furniture. If the furniture is what you need, you often can buy office furniture at discounted prices at these types of auctions.

Step 1:

Think about how you plan to utilize your new dining room set. Decide if you need it for everyday use or just for entertaining and special occasions.

Step 2:

Decide how your dining table

will fit into your life. If you will use your table for dinner parties, then decide how many people need to be seated and served. Also, if many children will be dining at your table, then consider buying a table made of very sturdy material.

Step 3:

Measure your space. Furniture in the stores looks a lot smaller than when you get it home and sometimes just eyeballing a space can get you into a lot of trouble. When measuring, leave at least three feet from the edge of the table to the wall, for each chair to be pulled out.

Step 4:

Look at the surrounding décor to decide what kind of table will fit in without buying all new furniture. If you have dark wood in the adjoining rooms, you may want to buy the same type of wood for your dining room. Glass tables fit in with most decors, but keep it modern or traditional, according to your current style.

Step 5:

Figure out if you will use a tablecloth or if you will want to show off the top of your new dining room table. Get a table with a good finish if you do not use tablecloths or placemats, particularly if you have children or if you do a lot of entertaining

Chairs

Chairs, everyone needs them! Office Chairs, Club Chairs, Dining Room Chairs, Folding Chairs and Recliners are popular chair types available. What ever type of chair type you are shopping for, read this guide for some practical advice on choosing the right chair.

Office Chairs

Almost everyone around has an office chair. Picking the right one can be the difference between pain and pleasure! The longer periods of time you spend in your office chair, the more important it is to choose carefully! Many are ergonomically designed to keep your posture proper. But is you slouch in it it does not make much difference! So sit up straight like a good boy or girl! Give yourself breaks and try not to spend too much time just sitting there. Log your World of Warcraft character and walk around a bit!

Club Chairs

Club chairs get their name from “Gentlemen’s” clubs of the old heydays. A place where men were men and smoking cigars and hanging out with the boys was commonplace. No women allowed! Now this term simply describes a usually leather chair with raised arms and a thick cushion. They are perfect accent chairs for bedrooms and basically any other room where an extra seat is desired. Many of these have matching ottomans available.

Dining Room Chairs

Yes people still use formal dining rooms! A dining room chair is an integral part of the experience of filling your gut till you bust around our popular holidays like Thanksgiving. Usually a dining room chair is either an end chair or a side chair. Typically arm chairs go on the ends, and the side chairs go on the sides. hence the name. Arm chairs are like dad’s little throne at the head of the table. Truth be told they can be a pain to get in and out of because the arms get in the way of entry and exit, but hey dad needs his throne! So they are here to stay. Use style as your main focus when choosing, unless you use them frequently, then you will also want to consider comfort.

Folding Chairs

Folding chairs are great for temporary seating or infrequent use. They can be easily folded away and stored when not in use. Many have matching folding tables. The key consideration is how sturdy you need them. The more frequently you use them the heavier duty you will want. Also keep in mind that many are available in wood grain finishes or plastic blow mold types.

Recliners

A nice leather recliner GREATLY enhances any sporting event you watch on TV! Ahh……kick back and enjoy the game! A key consideration when picking a recliner is where it will be placed and making sure when reclined it has clearance so it won’t hit a wall. Other than that look for comfort and style to match your existing furniture.

You don’t want to break the bank buying bedroom furniture. But you don’t want to break the bed because you bought cheap. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability, or affordability for quality. But you do have to keep your eyes open and your expectations realistic. There are plenty of furniture manufacturers that will be more than happy to part a furniture fool from his money.

Why Bedroom Furniture Craftsmanship Is So Important

Why does bedroom furniture so often seem to give out before the rest of the room’s furniture? Because it’s usually used more frequently and more heavily than any other furniture in the house.

Guaranteed frequent use.

For many people, bedroom furniture will get used more consistently than any other room’s furniture. Even if you spend all day at work and never turn on your TV, you’ll still begin and end the day in bed.

Heavy use.

No one is a gentle creature in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.

Toss and turn in bed? Better hope your bed joints can take it.

Who remembers to use a coaster for a glass of water in the middle of the night? If your nightstand’s finish is just sprayed on rather than a genuine varnish, you can expect that water glass to leave some pretty nasty scars.

Your nightstand will get a good rattle when you hit the “snooze” button. If the pieces are just loosely bolted together, there’ll be some damage within a few years.

Your bureau drawers will be yanked open and slammed shut. If the drawers are sliding on metal rather than plastic runners, you might just yank the drawer and pull it right out.

Of course, you could treat the furniture delicately. If that’s even possible to do when you’re tired, it would be a great way to bring a lot of stress into the room.

Considering that you may spend a third of your life in the bedroom, why not make it nice?

Judging Quality Discount Bedroom Furniture

You can find both good and bad furniture at just about any furniture store. Furniture stores tend to be a bit like car dealerships that way. But some stores can be worse than others.

In particular, be wary of any of the new bedroom furniture lines being sold by discount department stores. Kmart and Target, in particular, have moved into the furniture business with mixed results. According to a recent New York Times article, when a professional furniture craftsman checked out the “designer” pieces at Target, he found a lot of reason to believe the furniture wouldn’t last. The biggest cause for alarm: parts that were bolted together without also being glued.

When parts are only bolted together, they will inevitably start wiggling just a bit. As time goes on, the wiggling will pull the bolts loose. Then one day when you slam the “snooze” button, the nightstand will go crashing down beneath it.

Materials are of course as important as workmanship–at least when it comes to price. Everyone knows that hardwood costs more than particle board. But not everyone can spot particle board right away. What does “oaken” mean? Just because something looks like oak, doesn’t mean it’s oak.

If every inch of surface is covered in some kind of veneer, check the materials label on the furniture’s tag. Every piece of furniture you buy should have some kind of label like this. If you’re buying online, the website’s description of the piece should say what the materials are. If not, take your business elsewhere.

Want a shortcut for finding well-made discount bedroom furniture? Try looking for furniture from a respected design company. An Ethan Allen table sold in one store should be roughly as good as an Ethan Allen table sold in another. Of course, these brands are expensive. You can cut down on cost by comparison shopping online just as you would for electronics or cars. You can even buy the furniture online and have it delivered to your house, the same as from an offline furniture store.

Wherever you buy your bedroom furniture, just make sure it’s quality. After all, you’ll be spending a third of your life in it.

Buying bedroom furniture? Here are some ideas for choosing a bed for a contemporary bedroom. Contemporary Bedroom Furniture: Planning a Bed Don’t let your bed be an afterthought. Your bed will be the most prominent object in your room, so it has to go with your bedroom’s theme, color-wise, size-wise, and style-wise. A huge bed in a small room will likely look out of place, as would a four-post bed in a room with sleek modern furnishings.

Bed Sizes

The most popular bed sizes are king, queen, twin and the increasingly popular California king. A California king is narrow and long, rather than the traditional king bed’s square shape. Just make sure you have the exact dimensions of your bed before you go mattress shopping, since bed manufacturers sometimes don’t follow the standard bed sizes exactly.

Bed Styles

Don’t confuse bed sizes with bed styles. Bed styles refer to the headboard and footboard. The basis of any bed is still the mattress and frame, which only vary outwardly in terms of the sizes listed above.

• Daybed. Daybeds are twin beds. What makes them special is that they can double as couches if you position them against a wall. Being compact and versatile, daybeds are great for small spaces.
• Platform. Platform beds are elegantly simple, fitting in with just about any style of decor.
• Sleigh bed. Sleigh beds have curved headboards and foot boards that look like, well…a sleigh. There are simpler and more modern sleigh bed designs, so you can get one even if you are going for a more modern-looking room.
• Four post bed. You know this bed already: it’s the one with a post sticking up out of each corner. The posts can support a canopy, but the canopy is optional.
• Pencil post bed. Pencil post beds are like four-post beds, only the posts are tall and tapered like…well, pencils. Harking back to their heyday in the 1700s, pencil-post beds fit a room with colonial furnishings especially well.

Bedroom furniture