Going Furniture Shopping? Here's What You Need To Know

From tiling, flooring to wall coverings, you've got the basics down pat and settled in your renovation. But now comes the next big headache - furniture. While shopping will always be a fun - buying furniture for your home is a whole other story. It's a big commitment, it's time consuming and (often) expensive. But don't fret, if all that sounds daunting, these 8 tips will help you make furniture shopping a hassle-free breeze.

1. Set A Budget... And Stick To It

Interior Designer: Movent Signature Design

It’s easy to overspend when you’re tempted by beautiful pieces in a showroom or even online, but don’t start your shopping till you have your budget nailed down. The worst thing you can do is throwing a rough figure to account for all your furniture shopping. Do your research on what's a decent range to work with, then decide what you want to buy and how much you are willing to spend for each piece.

You might need to make little concessions along the way, but having a plan in place will keep you from going overboard.

2. Don’t Rush With Online Offers

Interior Designer: Zyon Interior Design

Since you can practically get everything online and often at a better price, it’s only natural to scour the web for furniture. However, it is possible to end up with a case of ‘what you see is NOT what you get’. Thus, be sure to read descriptions thoroughly and contact online dealers if you have questions. Don’t be rushed by flash deals and attractive prices alone.

In addition, you’ll want to find out about return policies and satisfaction guarantees as well before you buy. This way, if the piece is not up to standard, you can simply return it!

3. Have Measurements Ready

Interior Designer: Spazio Design

Whether shopping online or in a store, measurements are a rather essential part of furniture shopping. Buying a piece that will overwhelm your décor or settling for one too small to make an impression will be a waste of your time and money.

Interior Designer: Spazio Design

Get a tape measure and note the spaces you wish to place a specific furniture piece in terms of width, height and length. For indented spaces, don’t forget to measure the depth as well. You can also take the measurements of your current piece, if you are looking for something with similar specs.

4. Throw Your Furniture (The Right Way)

Interior Designer: Anwill Design Sdn Bhd

There really is a wrong way to do this and it involves simply throwing your old furniture away. Instead of reducing your once prized possessions to garbage, you can try reselling online to individuals, offloading to a second-hand store or charity and even recycling where possible. Who knows - the extra cash you earn can offset a chunk on your furniture costs.

One more option is to trade in your furniture to reduce the price of your new buys. Chains and retail furniture stores will not typically accept trade-ins but you can attempt it at vintage shops and custom stores.

5. Beware of Hidden Costs

Interior Designer: SQFT Space Design Management

When it comes to furniture, the sale price isn’t always the only money you’ll spend. Check if your pieces are ready made or if it will require assembly. If it needs to be put together, ask about assembly costs if you aren’t up to the task yourself. Do enquire about delivery charges and if return fees apply. Remember that these little costs can sometimes be negotiated away especially if buying multiple pieces – so do give it a go!

6. Rethink On Vintage or Repurposed Furniture Pieces

Interior Designer: SQFT Space Design Management

If you are a fan of vintage furniture, a greener aesthetic or simply enjoy DIY projects around the home, do think about the restoration works needed before buying used. Reflect on whether or not you have the necessary skills to get your vintage pieces (or reclaimed materials) in shape. Also, consider the cost or refurbishing vintage furniture as well as its care and maintenance down the road.

7. Take Photos

Interior Designer: Surface R

When visiting showrooms, you’ll have a better chance of finding what you want if you have a picture of it in hand. Simply save your favourite colours, styles or even specific pieces that strike your fancy to your smartphone. Also, remember to take photos of the furniture pieces you like! This way, you can always look back for reference, which can help in picturing out how it can play out in your home.

8. Ask An Interior Designer

Interior Designer: X Dimension Design

They aren't called interior designers for nothing, after all. If you don't trust your eye for aesthetics, get an interior designer with the expertise to find the right furniture pieces to complement your home's style or put everything together.

Interior Designer: Movent Signature Design

Besides, designers double as an invaluable source for finding new furniture stores and pieces that will match your décor, get special discounts from partner stores or even provide arrangement advice, saving you a chunk of time (and money) in the process.

Putting together a home doesn't have to be difficult.

Besides helping you create an amazing space, an experienced interior designer has the knowledge (and contacts) in finding the right furniture pieces to fill up your home. Request for a quote here, and get matched with 5 interior firms - based on your budget and style.

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