There are many kinds of furniture from which to choose. This is extremely fortunate for the consumer. When walking into a furniture store, sometimes the choices can seem overwhelming. But if you narrow down your choices and look for just one or two items, it can be a lot of fun.
If you are searching for bedroom furniture, the logical choice is to go to that department in the store. But while you are there, don’t just look at the mattresses, dressers, and beds. Observe how the store has placed groupings. How are things grouped together?
Are there any specially designed furniture pieces that would suit your needs? For instance, if you or a loved one suffers from arthritis, it would not be good to choose a bed with a high mattress to step up into every night. Instead, look to see if there are any specially designed furniture pieces to help with that need. Also see how the store has arranged the pieces. Maybe the store has come up with a way of placing the bed, dresser, and nightstand in a way that you have never even thought of. Many times the pieces are arranged in a way to save space. After all the store has many pieces to display. If space is an issue with you, check out how they have arranged the pieces. You might be able to get some good ideas. Or even in talking to a salesperson, they might have some great suggestions on how to fit something into your home space.
If you are choosing a couch or love seat, by all means sit on the piece. You want to spend some time sitting on it and then standing up. Then sit back down again. Wiggle around. If this is going to be your couch, you want to try to do as many movements as you can to get comfortable with it before you take it home. If you like the feel of the piece, then start to check the colors available. Don’t walk by a couch simply because you don’t like the color or material.
Most of the time, that can easily be changed. Your first job is to determine the fit and feel of the couch. Some stores will even let you bring home a swatch of material so you can see how it will look in your home before you order it. Then if you are happy with everything, place your order. Sometimes you are able to buy the actual item right off of the floor. Other times you may have to place an order. If you do have to place an order, you need to be patient. Some items can come in a week or less, but others may take months. It is up to you to decide how anxious you are for the item.
If you are buying an item that is on the sales floor, you need to look it over very carefully. Then look it over again. This would be a time where another pair of eyes would be helpful. If you have a friend or partner, bring them with you to look the item over carefully. If you have to buy the floor item, this is also a time to negotiate. Chances are really good that if it is a piece made out of wood, (coffee table, end table, dresser, etc.) there are some scratches on it from being on the floor. If it is a dresser or an end table, there has probably been some sort of decorative piece on top of it like a lamp or a vase. Check the top area very carefully. Also, check the sides and back of the piece. You should easily be able to get a few dollars off for taking the floor sample. When you get home, it is easy to fix any small scratches with some sort of furniture cover or polish. However if there is a chunk out of it or any piece or part missing, then you will need to decide how badly you want the piece. If it is truly damaged and it doesn’t bother you that much, you should be able to get a significant discount.
Shopping for furniture can be fun but it can also be over-wheliming. Stick to picking out one or two pieces. You will probably have to go to many stores before you find the piece that you love. Love is the key word. In order to spend the amount of money needed for today’s furniture, you must be in love with the piece. By doing your homework and deciding what you need and want, you should be able to have a successful and satisfying experience. Happy furniture shopping!