Moving into a new home is an exciting time. You probably can’t wait to start decorating and putting your own personal touch on the rooms, which may include purchasing furniture. Shopping for furniture can sometimes seem overwhelming and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for finding the right furnishings for your new home:
- Before you shop, set a budget for each room that you wish to furnish. Decide what pieces you can use from your previous home, and what pieces you need to acquire. If you find some good deals and bring in a room under budget, then you can use the extra money on other rooms or another home project, if you’d like.
- Take along a file or envelope of paint colors, fabric swatches, floor and carpet samples, photos of rooms and written measurements. Make sure that room measurements include door, window, and closet openings as well as ceiling height. You might also want to include some inspiration photos of specific furniture pieces and rooms that you find attractive.
- Think about what colors will work in each room. Remember that colors in adjacent rooms or in rooms that flow together should complement each other or at least not clash. Consider what colors would work well for accessories, too.
- Decide if you have time to order furniture or if you need to buy from stock or off the floor. Ordering pieces will likely give you a wider range of options, but you’ll have to wait longer to have it in your home. You can often take in-stock pieces with you or have them delivered fairly quickly. Ask about floor sample sales, too.
- When you visit a furniture store, ask if they offer complimentary design services. An experienced in-store design consultant can help you pull rooms together, choose fabrics, and may be able to offer some ideas that you hadn’t considered. They can also help you select furniture pieces that are the the right size and scale for each room.
- Decide if you are going to stick to one furniture style or mix styles. Combining furniture styles can periods can create interesting, beautiful rooms when done in a cohesive manner. To help refine your style, look through design and home publications and websites and save room photos that appeal to you.
- In addition to new furniture stores, second hand and consignment shops can be good sources for your home. You can also visit auctions and antique malls to find some gently used treasures that may actually have better quality and craftsmanship than furniture that is made today.
- Shopping online for furniture can sometimes save money and time. However, it can be difficult to evaluate quality and comfort on a computer screen. If possible, try to visit a store that carries the furniture brand or line so that you can see the pieces in person before you place an online order. Be sure to factor in shipping costs, which can be substantial, and sales tax into the total before making a purchase decision.
- Prioritize your purchases. If this is your first home or if you’re buying a substantially larger home than you’ve had in the past, you may need a large quantity of furniture. To keep yourself on track, decide what you need the most right now and what really could wait until later to buy.
With a little planning and forethought, furniture shopping can be a fun, creative pursuit. Remember, you don’t have to buy furniture all at once. Adding pieces over time can keep your home evolving and can give you time to find the perfect things for each spot, as well as time to find some good deals, too.