How to select the right furniture and then hang it up
Ok, this is important and we know you’ve been waiting for it. New furniture is an expensive big investment so you want to get the best out of your investment. You also want to have someone else come into your home and tell you that they saw something better at Ikea last month. They’re not gonna do that because if they did then there’d be no point in buying new furniture every couple of weeks right? When designing/redecorating a room or building a house it’s very important to have an idea about what kind of lifestyle you live before making any decisions regarding the matter. If you live alone, have kids running around all day, have pets or just like hosting parties then us help guide your hand on the matter.
If you live a ‘kaleidoscope’ of lives doesn’t worry we’ve got some tips for all of them. It’s important to think about the concept of furniture and what it symbolizes because like with everything, your choices say something about you. Not lying or anything but there’s actually a science behind this (that probably doesn’t exist) and we’re going to teach you how to apply this science in real life.
Here we’ll cover: furniture selection, hanging up your new furniture and then lifting weights like they do on TV (Kmart has good deals on dumbbells).
For many of us, the first place to start when thinking about furnishing our homes is with the sofa. This is probably because it’s where we like to relax and curl up with a book or watch telly. Not only that but many people believe that your choice of sofa will say more about your personality than any other single purchase you make.
Let’s get down to basics and answer some of the common questions that surround this most important of purchases:
How long should it last?
The main sofa manufacturers (such as B&B Italia and Cassina) will all guarantee their sofas for at least 10 years. If you buy a more mass market brand (such as DFS, MFI or ScS) then the warranty will be shorter – usually five years.
What style should you go for?
Think about what’s going to best fit into your home and compliment your lifestyle. There are sofas available in every shape, size and colour imaginable – from classic Chesterfield looks to futuristically curved designs. The range of fabrics and leathers is equally as wide, from the sleek simplicity of plain black 100% wool to zingy lime green velvet.
How much should you pay?
You can spend anything from £100 for a mass market sofa up to many thousands of pounds on a top-of-the-range designer sofa. Often the difference will be in the quality of the materials used, how it’s put together and (crucially) the guarantee that comes with it.
How much should you spend?
As a rough guide it is possible to get a decent US made sofa for around £600; a decent Italian made one for £1,000 and a top-of-the range designer sofa easily for £2,000.
How big should it be?
All the manufacturers have different guidelines on this but an average three seater will measure around 3ft by 6ft 6ins (90cm by 200cm) while a two seater will measure around 2ft 9ins by 6ft 6ins (85cm by 200cm). If you think you might need something bigger then look out for sofas that are classified as ‘oversized’. These can be anything up to 5ft longer than the standard measurements quoted above.
What style of sofa is best?
This is really down to personal choice; only you know what sort of look you’re trying to achieve. If you want a vintage look then designer furniture companies such as Flash Furniture or Manutti will be able to help; if it’s more modern then one of the big Italian manufacturers like Cassina, Calligaris and B&B Italia will have what you need.
So where do I go for advice?
If at all possible try and visit a specialist dealer in your area who should be able to give you sound advice on everything from fabrics and materials through to styling and comfort:
Conclusion:
Sofas are a big purchase, so take your time and think about what you really want from it. This way you’ll be sure to choose the right sofa for you that will give you many years of comfort and style!