Tips to buy new furniture

Have you just moved into a new city for your first job? Or probably you’ve just taken up a new apartment on your own in a different part of the city. Or, have you got engaged recently and will be married in the next couple of months? Oh, so you purchased your brand new apartment in a plush gated community? Very well, indeed! We now understand why you’re looking at options to buy different pieces of furniture. Unlike our earlier generations, buying furniture has become an easy routine affair for us. All we need is a great idea and a minimum budget, and the choices are aplenty.

But before buying any piece of furniture you need to keep in mind a few things. Do you already have some furniture at home? Are you planning to keep it or dispose it off and buy everything anew? Do you only want to add a few things and juxtapose them with your existing furniture? Which rooms in your house have an urgent requirement? Are there some pieces among your choices that can wait? If you enter a furniture showroom with these kind of questions in mind, you’ll be clearer about what to buy and how to go about it. That way, you won’t get tempted or influenced by the salesperson’s impressive words! Below are some of the aspects that you need to consider before buying anything.

Lifestyle: What kind of a lifestyle do you lead right now? This is important especially if you’re single and you just need a couple of things to see you through before you contemplate marriage. Or, you’re also a workaholic and you spend most of your time, including weekends, at office. If this is the case, making choices would be easier as all you need are a mattress, a cot (optional), laptop/computer table and a few kitchen appliances.

Budget: Money, and your budget, play a very vital role in choosing furniture. If you have a limited budget, then choose your pieces and items according to the need and urgency principle. What you can’t do without will have to be bought first. Rest of the stuff can wait. Don’t buy it all together and thereby avoid unnecessary accumulation of things.

Colors: While a lot of us get instantly attracted towards brighter colors, think before you invest a hefty sum in that bright orange couch or red-and-gold sofa set. These might go well with the wall colors in your current home, but will they complement the set up equally well if you move to a different house where the furniture stands out? While it is okay to give in to temptation at times, buying something that you’ll regret selling later is not worth it. If you really want something in brighter color to light up your room, go in for a bean bag rather than a three-seater sofa set.

Time: By time we mean the amount of time you intend to keep the furniture for. If it’s something that you really really love and want to keep it for the rest of your life, then think about aspects like durability, sturdiness and longevity. Each piece of furniture will have a life of its own. While wood has a longer life because of its sturdy nature, an upholstered piece may not survive the wear and tear for long. One also needs to keep in mind the amount of time one spends on that piece of furniture. If it’s a mattress or a couch, it needs to be strong and durable. If it’s a stand for a flower vase or a center/ side table, there’s no point in spending a bomb on those – fashion keeps changing and you can always keep up with latest trends by disposing off some of the older pieces and buying new ones.

Own house or rented: This plays a very significant role in choosing your furniture. If you’re buying furniture for your rented house, then keep in mind the obligation of moving the furniture into your new apartment. Make sure your furniture is neither unwieldy nor incapable of handling the wear and tear with each move.

Cheap or expensive?: Furniture should neither be too cheap nor too overly priced. While cheap furniture may not last long, expensive furniture may not fetch you good returns if you contemplate selling it off at a later stage. Choose something that is easy on your pocket but is trendy too!

Second hand or first hand?: While it’s human nature to aspire to possess brand new stuff always, sometimes it might work out cheaper and better if you consider the option of seconds’ sale. Many websites like Quickr, Olx, Ebay and even some groups on social networking sites help you find second hand furniture in excellent to good condition for cheap. This concept might not go down well with us Indians but the idea of auctions and garage sales are very popular in the West. Sometimes you may end up hitting a jackpot or finding a treasured piece at throwaway prices. Don’t let go of chances like that.

Period furniture: The concept of Period furniture or Antique furniture is picking up fast. There are a few stores in the city that sell period furniture (which is about 50-60 year old). Pick up a chest of drawers or the wooden book shelf or that comfortable solid teak cot for less than Rs. 15,000. These hand-me-down pieces not only last long but are also considered cool.

Space, Comfort & Kid friendly: Keep in mind not just your comfort level but also make sure that your furniture is child-and-elderly-friendly. Ensure that there are no sharp edges anywhere when you buy something. Also keep in mind the space available around the furniture in each room. If you think something is too huge and unmanageable or if it occupies too much of a space in your room making your movement uncomfortable, then let go of it. It’s not worth the risk especially if you have elderly people or children at home. A minimum space-furniture ratio needs to be maintained to feel cosy – and not claustrophobic – in a room.

Of haggling, Discounts, Festive offers: Last but not the least, never let go of a chance to haggle with the salesperson/shopkeeper. It’s our money so every rupee haggled is a rupee saved. If there is a discount offer, make sure you get maximum benefit out of it. We know of people who wait for the clearance sales and festive offers to invest in their favourite piece of furniture. Also, keep checking websites like Pepperfry, Urban Ladder, and Fab Furnish for their exclusive pieces of furniture and excellent bargains.

Shanti Nanisetti