Blog Design: Sofa Shopping... Did you Know?

Labor Day Savings are Starting Soon... Let's revisit Furniture...

Furniture shopping has changed dramatically over the years... It used to be that there were family owned furniture stores in every community. Choices were plentiful. That is definitely not the case in today's market.

I am going to share a few things that you should know before you go out to buy new furniture.

First: Choose what you want to spend your budget on and what items warrant the majority of your budget. I always say that your upholstered pieces will get the most use and wear, unless it is a formal room with very little "sit time". Upholstered pieces should get a good chunk of your budget in most cases. So, that's the topic that we are going to tackle today. Check back for information about case-goods "wood pieces", mattresses and other types of furniture.

Where can you find Sofas?

• Department stores: JCPenney, Macy's and Sears.
• Major Department stores get all of their furniture from multiple third party vendors. None of the merchandise is made specifically for those companies and you can probably find the same exact items in other places at different price points - including online sources. In almost 100% of the cases they are produced overseas and are mid to low end quality.
• Home stores: IKEA, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn
• In these types of stores: you get what you pay for. The price is indicative of the quality. 
• Local Furniture Stores: Varies by market... there are a few left.
• National Chain Furniture Stores: Ethan Allen, Thomasville, Ashley, La-Z-Boy, Bassett, Restoration Hardware
• Interior Design Centers and to the trade wholesalers: There are many manufacturers. You will get the best quality by far. Price points vary dramatically and a lot of that is based on the fabric that you choose. They can cost the same as one from Ethan Allen, but they will be better quality... or they can cost tens of thousands of dollars. There is something for almost any reasonable budget.

With all of the Retailers:

•  It is okay to ask where the item is made. 
• You should ask about the construction. Anything assembled with staples or soft wood should be avoided. You would be horrified if you saw what the inside of a sofa from Ashley looks like....
• Lift the sofa. Weight matters. If it's super light weight, it's probably made with substandard materials.
• Make sure there is a warranty. The warranty needs to cover the materials and craftsmanship. A quality product will have a warranty. 

You should know:

• A love seat typically only costs $50 less thank you think  a sofa. So, if you are buying a love seat because you think you are saving money... you aren't.
• Special order sofas take at least 6-8 weeks to get or longer....
• All sofa manufacturers used to talk about 8 way, hand tied sofas. Not all quality sofas use that anymore. It doesn't mean that they aren't good. With the invention and improvement in materials, there are some constructed hardwood frames that are solid. Make sure it is a hard wood or manufactured hardwood. It is worth getting a designer to help you get the most for your money. Everyone has a budget and this is a good place to spend it.

Designer Thoughts and Feedback: IKEA... Read more.....


Kimberly R Lifestyle by Design 
Designing a life with grace and ease