Tips from a Designer: Buying Furniture

[Caged Great]

Typically, the addage you get what you pay for holds true in furniture. The difference between a $1000 sofa and a $3000 sofa is in most cases the quality of the materials used. The difference between the two is that the $1000 sofa might last you a year or two before it begins to fall apart, whereas the $3000 sofa will last 5-10 years before it begins to fall apart.

It has always been my opinion that it is always better to wait for a sale at a higher end store, at one of the boutique shops on 11th ave than to purchase something at the Brick or Leons etc.

For example, at the shop that I worked at, we had a sofa that was regular $2500, on sale for $1500. That sofa was of good quality and from a good manufacturer and yet it was only marginally higher in price than a sofa that would fall apart in no time.

When you decide to go shopping, and you find a piece of furniture that you like, go to another 10 stores. The reason being is that you will be able to make sure that that piece of furniture is what you really want as you might be able to find something better.

Another good thing to do is if you see a piece of furniture you like, as the people in the store what the manufacturer is in order to research that company.

There are many different ways to determine the quality of a piece of furniture based on it's construction.

Typically with sofas, 8 way hand tie is the best in terms of durability but is not as comfortable (it's stiff), whereas an sinuous springs will not be as durable but more comfortable (softer).

With cabinetry, if it has drawers, open the drawer. If it does not have dove tail joinery, the piece is not very good quality wise. In addition, the wood in the drawer should be the same as the external wood. If not, it's a sign of poor quality. With all the case goods coming from China, examples of that kind of poor workmanship is increasing.



If you have any specific questions, I'm here.

[sparky69]

Thanks for the tips. I'm looking at buying a bedroom suite tomorrow from Sears. its the Seymour one, so far its the one my wife and I both agree on it, and compared to Leons and Brick, it looks like a lot better quality.

[Tyler]

I think you're being a bit dramatic when you say a $1000 sofa will only last a year or two.

It's outlandish claims like that they tend to give designers a bad name.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I think you're being a bit dramatic when you say a $1000 sofa will only last a year or two.

It's outlandish claims like that they tend to give designers a bad name.

Agreed! I have some $1500 sofas that I have had for 5 years and if I didn't have a cat they would probably look brand new. And there is no way a $3000 sofa would have done any better against that.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I think you're being a bit dramatic when you say a $1000 sofa will only last a year or two.

It's outlandish claims like that they tend to give designers a bad name.

You haven't heard some of the horror stories I have, especially with The Brick. One of my friends purchased a sofa out of there and it was basically trash in 6 months, and that's not the only example of that I've heard.

Also, when I'm saying that, it's the durability of the actual mechanics in the sofa, not the fabric itself.

For example the difference in the foam in the $1000 dollar sofa will crush relatively quickly, foam in the $3000 sofa will be more durable. That's actually part of why there is such a difference in cost. Most of the frames of the sofas are kiln dried fibreboard so they won't expand or contract and thus crack. The fabric itself is about 30-60% of the cost, and the rest is the foam.

[Caged Great]

Also, usually I would recommend against purchasing wood products out of places like home outfitters etc. as they're quite often made from MDF with formaldehyde which releases toxins over time.

[Bagor]

$1000 or $3000 makes no difference to kids.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by sparky69

Thanks for the tips. I'm looking at buying a bedroom suite tomorrow from Sears. its the Seymour one, so far its the one my wife and I both agree on it, and compared to Leons and Brick, it looks like a lot better quality.

Just looked up that set, the chests and dressers have very good lines. I am not a fan of the night tables though. There is too much emphasis on the drawers on them. With the cabinets, the individual drawers do not have the same weight as on the night tables. Also, perhaps getting another piece that is similar to but not exact for the night tables would help to break up the continuity of group which would help to create some tension and create a more interesting visual space.

Which pieces are you getting from the group?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Bagor

$1000 or $3000 makes no difference to kids.

True enough

That's why most people get their dream homes when their children are teens or out of the house entirely

[BlackArcher101]

My $400 Ikea couch has been going strong for 6 years.

[Redliner]

Bought a leather couch from Palliser for $1200 six years ago, and it looks and feels exactly the same as the day we bought it - and that's in a household with 3 kids under the age of 7. We got a wicked warranty on it as well; basically, even if one of my kids sticks a knife in the thing, they'll come fix it.

In most cases I agree that quality costs more, but you don't have to spend stupid money to get nice furniture. I would imagine that people who buy the throw-together stuff from Wal-Mart know they aren't getting something that will become a family heirloom.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Perhaps I haven't owned enough sofas, but it doesn't seem like too many sofas fall apart anyway. They seem to tend to last, and a quick search of classifieds will shows tons of 20-30 year old, but ugly, crappy sofas still going.

[4X4]

My $500 sofas I bought from CP poster Seabass (IIRC?) are holding up just fine, TYVM. 2 years running. They can't have been worth more than a grand brand new. I think the trick is to not jump on them. Even though I do. Sometimes.