Furniture selection process is rather complex as you have to take into account all the external and internal properties of the piece. It will help get a perception of how long the furniture is going to serve you. Certainly, you want to have quality furniture that is not susceptible to strains and scratches and will become a family member for a while. We have made our minds to reflect on the fundamentals you have to pay attention to upon the purchase.
Wood furniture
When it comes to select a wood furniture (dining sets, coffee tables, servers, bedroom sets)․ you have to bring your attention to the joint construction. Joint construction is the focal property of quality wood furniture presented as block corners and solid wood screws.
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We distinguish between several wood types – hardwood, softwood and veneers.
Solid hardwood is made of deciduous trees, such as acacia, oak, maple and beech. They grow both in dry and damp regions. These trees are mainly broad-leaved, and we can distinguish them from the rest by their rounded appearance. These are generally wild berry trees.
Softwood includes coniferous trees, such as spruce, pine, larch, etc. Solid hardwood usually cost more, looks more luxurious and is not susceptible to stains and scratches.
Upon the wood furniture purchase, it is necessary to consult the manufacturers, learn more about its properties. Each furniture piece possesses a whale of features. Care instructions are implemented according to those features to avoid any kind of damages. You have to become really curious about every feature of your furniture piece. It will help you take joy in spending time at home.
It is important to check out all the storages, drawers and shelves. Make sure they open gliding smoothly and are fixed. Handles also should be fixed, unable to move.
Upholstery
In case of sofas, joint construction must also be taken into consideration. Vital upholstery characteristics are fabric, springs, and cushioning.
1․ Choose the right fabric that will guarantee the longevity of your furniture
Furniture is made of different types of fabrics among which the most prominent are cotton, natural and faux leather, silk, polyester, polypropylene, acryl and nylon. Probably, this fabric selection makes the shopping process a bit more sophisticated. Let’s dive in the fabric world and finally grasp the main characteristics.
Cotton is the most widely used fabric. It gives feelings of comfort and relief. It is durable against the rays of sunshine, the coloring does not fade, and however, it is susceptible to stains. Cotton is not the best solution for intensive use as it collects dust faster than you can imagine.
Silk is one of the most expensive fabric types. It is substantially used in the living rooms to create formal atmosphere for official banquettes or other events where the silk is not utmost in touch with the outer world. Silk requires in-detailed cleaning and washing, if something spills over. It is pretty sensitive type of fabric.
In comparison with the aforementioned types of fabric, wool is rather durable and solid. It is not susceptible to external damages. The only shortcoming is its ability to absorb bad smell.
Maybe, leather is the most durable type of fabric in the furniture industry. It is classified into natural leather and faux leather. You are not advised to buy leather furniture if there are pets and babies in the household who might easily scratch the piece. Apart from this, natural leather causes multiple inconveniences indoors. The temperature of natural leather might rise a lot higher in the heat and jerkily fall in the cold weather.
Ashley Homestore offers its signature Durablend type of fabric which is a combination of polyurethane (57%), leather (17%) and cotton (26%). You can easily differentiate durablend from the natural leather by its property that it is temperature-resistant. The fabric does not heat up in hot weather and does not freeze in cold weather. This helps to avoid embarrassment. Durablend is quite resistant to damages and scratches by children and animals.
Faux leather is classified into polyurethane and polychloride. Polyurethane is the safest. Inspired by the ecological motifs, faux leather can easily replace the natural leather. This is especially crucial for environmentalists to enjoy leather presence in their household without fears for possible animal cruelty. It is easy to clean and wash, resistant to stains and scratches.
Those sofas made of poly fiber are also resistant to external damages, lightweight and heat-resistant. They are easy to clean in case of dry cleaning.
2․ Consider your lifestyle
Your lifestyle is one of the key factors to consider when you want to purchase a furniture piece. If you have pets (dogs, cats, etc) or babies, it is advisable that you opt for furniture of darker coloring to avoid visible dirt and scratches. Make sure it has solid springs as you know; pets and kids are the biggest fans of jumping up and down on the sofa. It will help your furniture stay with you for the long term.
3․ Choose smart
Upon the purchase consider all the disturbing circumstances in your lifestyle. Decide in advance what style of furniture you want to see in your house that best matches your interior design.
4․ Check out the springs
If you love solid cushioned sofas, then go for coil springs, but if are a fan of light and soft feelings, then you can select zigzag springs.
5․ Check out the sofa seats on the spot,
It is of paramount importance to draw attention to sofa seats. Here you have to check out the contents of filling, whether it is possible to clean or wash, what kind of specific care instructions are required, or maybe you can go for dry cleaning. Ask your consultant to give you the maximum information about care or just read it in the booklet.
Hence, furniture purchase is not a piece of cake. That’s why you have to learn about care instructions, external or internal properties of furniture at the minimum level.
You can get a free individual consultation to select the best matching and high-quality furniture for you home. Just call us by this number: 044 611 000.