With the exception of a handful of furniture in my house, I regret the majority of furniture purchase decisions I have made. Impulse buying, sacrificing quality to save a buck, and simply not doing enough homework kills me every time. The real sad part is that despite knowing my flaws, I will probably head down the same path of destruction next time around and blame it on my lack of time.
For those determined to make better decisions on furniture purchases, you should really go through this list from Sixwise. The first couple are simple but a few of them are the ones that get me every time.
- Compare prices online first
- Negotiate the Price
- Wheel 'n' Deal for Extras
- Come prepared
About six out of 10 consumers wish they could repurchase a piece of furniture because they didn't get it quite right the first time, according to research by the American Home Furnishings Alliance.
Always find out the store's return policy before purchasing any furniture. If the couch doesn't look right when you get it home, can you bring it back the next morning? Are there restocking fees? Or, are all sales final?
To avoid this scenario, it's essential to do your homework before deciding on any furniture. This includes making sure you have the exact measurements of the room (including the door or window you'll need to move the furniture in through), getting an idea of what styles appeal to you by leafing through a few magazines, and bringing color samples of paint and other fabrics with you to the store. You can even snap a couple of photos of the room you're decorating to take with you.
Remember, also, to pay attention to scale. A huge four-poster bed may look ideal in the expansive furniture showroom, but how will it really look in your cozy apartment? - Pay attention to the cushions
- Don't get fabric protection
- Don't assume higher price means higher quality
Sixwise's article goes through each of these points in some good detail at, The 7 Keys to Shopping for Furniture without Getting Bamboozled.
