Stay Focused when Buying Furniture

When heading out to buy a sofa, chair or coffee table, you need to prepare and stay focused.  Take a picture of the space where the new piece will go; this suggestion may  sound odd, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you forget what is surrounding the space and how it will affect your overall design.

Measure, measure, measure!  Take note of the height of the room: do you have standard 8’ ceilings or are you among the more fortunate with 8.5’ or higher ceilings?  The ceiling height makes a difference because you will be dealing with total volume.  Wall space and walk around space are critical; walk through your room and make note of your family’s traffic patterns so the new furniture you select will be compatible with these patterns.

Make a list of things you want in the new piece: family friendly fabric, color, pattern, style and don’t forget comfort.  It’s so easy to flop into a huge piece and tell the salesperson, ‘Sold’, without much thought if the chair or sofa will fit in the space.  If your room is small, look for a sleek design with lower back and small arms that won’t add visual bulk to the already crowed room.

If you are looking to add a pattern, make sure the piece coordinates with existing pieces and that you don’t overwhelm the room.   It is a good idea to take color and pattern samples with you when shopping, and don’t forget your paint color and the photo you took of the room along with the room’s measurements

Rooms can be interesting even with a monochromatic color scheme; you just need to remember to add different textures.  Keep the color tones close, but remember that texture will change color; you are looking for a blend, not a match.

Shop for what you want armed with your room photo, measurements and a wish list-- and I do mean a paper and pencil list of things you want. It is so easy to be swayed by a design, color or texture, but if a piece doesn’t meet your needs, pass it by to avoid disappointment in the end.