Furniture Shopping

Source: Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine, May 2004

Getting Started

Admit it, you love to shop. Or at least, you love to shop smart. Great deals give you Goosebumps...and bragging rights.

To help you make wise buys more often, here are some guidelines for shopping intelligently for indoor, outdoor, and leather furniture.

To find the best value in furniture -- be it indoor or outdoor -- the same rules apply:

1. Get Physical.  Sit in it. Better furniture is usually more amply sized: seating space is roomier, and the arms and legs are more substantive. Lift it. The better chair, table, or sofa, or chaise contains more raw material, such as springs, frame, and cushion, and will be heavier than a lower quality piece of the same material.

2. Examine the Finish.  An even, rich, and deep paint or stain finish should not be used to camouflage flaws. If the finish is translucent, it should be even and the grain should show through; if it is an opaque finish, the consistency should be even, never bubbled or showing brush strokes. Wicker and rattan pieces should be smooth without splinters or ends sticking out, and weaves should be tight and uniform and never clogged with paint.

3.  Check the Cushions.  Neat, well-defined corners or curves, securely attached details and buttons, and unobtrusive seams are the hallmarks of a quality cushion. The contour should be plump and well-shaped; a squashed appearance usually indicates insufficient stuffing. If properly sewn and lined, a down-filled cushion should never leak feathers.

4.  Look Beneath the Surface.  Lift the cushions or turn the piece over to see how it's constructed. Look for loose screws, padding that's not sewn correctly, insufficient support, and springs that are obvious or unprotected. Remember that you are looking at the raw part of the furniture, so don't expect perfection. But you should get a clue about the care that went into making the piece.

5.  Scrutinize the Details.  Fine-quality furniture has less apparent welding, better sanding and finishing, and mechanisms to conceal hardware. Nuts, screws, and bolts should be coloured to match the piece and should be protected from rust. Welting should be stitched straight and the joinings should not be prominent.

 6.  Study the Styling.  Excellent design shows. Knockoffs of successful designs are abundant, but check them carefully to satisfy yourself that the manufacturer hasn't cut corners.

7.  Consider the Conditions. Choose the piece based on where it will be placed and how it will be used. If you want a sofa to sit in front of a picture window, think how the fabric will fade and choose one with less pattern and less colour. If the table is for the kitchen where your kids do their homework, select one with a hardy finish. Don't put wicker or rattan outdoors in the elements, although a covered porch is fine.