Shopping for furniture is one of the most fun activities that anyone can do. However, there are some things you should know before you head to the store. This article will walk you through eight steps that will help you find just the right piece of furniture for your home or office space.
Know Your Room
If you’re looking for a new piece of furniture, it can help to know a bit about the room where you plan to put it.
- Measure the length, width and height of your room. This will help ensure that the new piece of furniture fits in perfectly with what you already have.
- Think about how people will actually use and move around in that space. Will there be an elevated traffic pattern or heavy use areas? Will people be moving chairs around for seating arrangements? Is there enough space for guests to move comfortably through a doorway at night?
- Think about what purpose this new furniture will serve—how often will it get used; is the piece intended as more decorative or functional; do you want something movable or permanent?
Research Your Style
Before you start shopping, take a moment to get clear on your style. The easiest way to do this is by taking a few of your favorite pieces from around the house and making an inspiration board. This can be done with actual pictures or just by writing down the names of furniture pieces you love on a piece of paper or in an app like Pinterest. Get creative!
Once you’ve got your inspiration board together, start looking at it for patterns and themes that appear over and over again. What kind of style are you drawn toward? Is it modern? Traditional? Scandinavian? Are there any colors that pop up repeatedly in these things? Do certain styles look better than others in different spaces—for example, would an armchair fit better in an office than it would at home on the couch next to your boss’s desk (or is this just me)?
Identify Measurements and Spacial Requirements
Once you’ve identified the elements of design that appeal to you, it’s time to make sure that the pieces you choose will fit into your space. This is especially true if your home has an eclectic design or a small space.
Measure the area where you plan on placing your furniture before buying it; ideally, have someone help with this if possible. Before making any purchases at all, measure everything in your home and write down how many feet are between each piece of furniture so that when it comes time for shopping, you know exactly what size tables and chairs will fit in which areas of the room. Also take into account any other factors such as whether or not there’s enough headspace above doors or windows (this may seem obvious but sometimes we forget about these things).
Consider Traffic Patterns
Depending on how much use your furniture will get, you’ll want to consider who will be using it and what they need from it. If the furniture is going in a busy family room or playroom, you’ll want something durable enough to withstand many years and many kids’ feet.
If pets are part of your household, then think about their needs when selecting furniture as well. For example, if you have small children or pets that like to climb into small spaces and hide there for hours at a time (I’m talking about my cat here), look for pieces that are easy to clean under so they don’t become filthy overnight!
Determine What You Like And Dislike About Your Current Furniture
- Determine what you like and dislike about your current furniture. This will help you gauge what kind of style you’re looking for. For example, if you’re going with a modern look, it’s probably best to avoid antique furniture.
- Take note of how long you’ve had the pieces in question—and why they haven’t been replaced yet. If they are old but still usable, consider whether they would be better suited elsewhere in your home or if they could be sold to make room for new ones that are more suitable for this space.
- If there is no reason not to do so (for example: if the piece is expensive or very difficult/expensive to transport), then don’t feel obligated to replace everything at once! Sometimes keeping some old furniture around can help signal that something about a room has changed without disrupting its overall flow (or making it look too “new”).
Make A Comfort Checklist For Yourself
- How much time do you spend in this room?
- How often will you use the furniture?
- What activities will be done in this room?
- Your body type and size: Are you tall, short, heavy or thin? Do your legs get numb when sitting for long periods of time? Are your back and neck stiff after sleeping on a mattress that isn’t right for you? These are all things to consider when shopping for furniture.
- Your sleeping habits: What position do you usually sleep in (side sleeper, back sleeper, etc.)? Is there enough support under your head so that your neck isn’t strained while sleeping on it at night—or have years of poor posture taken their toll on it already? Having a comfortable bed is key to getting good rest! The same goes for couches or chairs where people sit during the day; if they’re not comfortable enough then they could make life miserable as well! So think carefully about what kind of seating arrangement would work best here – maybe some armchairs around coffee tables rather than just one big sofa facing television screen plus some side tables with lamps next to each seat area would work better overall..
Understand How The Furniture Will Be Used
One of the most important things to consider when purchasing furniture is how it will be used. For example, if you are looking for a dining room set, make sure you know where each piece will be placed and how people will sit and use the furniture. Think about things like whether there will be more than one person at a time sitting at the table, or whether someone might need to walk by it regularly.
It’s also important to understand what type of activity goes on in each room so that you can determine what kind of material would work best for your needs. If a certain piece is going into an area where children play frequently (such as their bedroom), then consider getting something made from high-quality wood with rounded edges because these types of materials are less likely to chip or break easily when they get bumped around while playing with toys or climbing up onto chairs/beds etc…
Consider Fabric, Color And Texture Preferences
Once you’ve determined the style of furniture you like, consider fabric, color and texture preferences. If your current furniture is all sleek modern lines, adding a traditional wingback chair to the mix might not fit in well. It’s important to consider the room you are buying furniture for in this step as well. If you’re not sure what you like or don’t like about your current furnishings, ask a friend or family member who has their own home décor tastes (or maybe even ask them if they’d be willing to show off their style on Instagram).
Before you make a big furniture purchase, you should follow these steps to make sure that you get a great piece.
Before you make a big furniture purchase, you should follow these steps to make sure that you get a great piece.
- Know what you want before you go shopping.
- Research your style and figure out what works for your room and lifestyle.
- Determine measurements and spacial requirements; consider traffic patterns, too!
- Decide if there’s any furniture that has been in your family that needs to be passed down or used by another member of the house (and if so, what options are available).
- Make a comfort checklist for yourself—how do they feel when they sit or lie down? Are they sturdy enough? Do they support their weight well enough? Is it comfortable enough after hours of sitting in front of the TV or laptop at night when no one else is going anywhere else but bed?
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand how to find the perfect piece of furniture for your home. It’s important to know what you like and dislike, as well as who will be using the item and how they will use it. The more time you put into these considerations, the better chance of finding a good match.