Many people have no clue how to buy furniture. I have complied a guide for you to use when you buy furniture. It includes tips I have used myself or tips I have received from people who work in the furniture industry.

Sofas/Love Seats/Chairs

The first thing you should do is find something you like the look of, yes you do need to like how it looks. Check out everything in the showroom, don’t look at price, just go to the piece that your drawn to first.
Feel the sofa, if you don’t like how it feels in the store, your not going to like how it feels at home.

Find out now if the store does any custom upholstery work, that way if you find a sofa you like but do not like the color or fabric you know if you can change it. If you have children this is also a great time to find out about stain resistance and if it’s available on the piece you are looking at.

Sit on it for at least 30 minutes. Now this may be the hard part as the sales people at some stores are pushy and want to make a quick sale, but you need to do this. Most people watch at least a half hour of TV while sitting on a sofa, sitting on it in the store that long will help you to make sure it’s comfortable.
Sit on the sofa as if it were in your home. If you put your feet up, do it! You are making a big purchase, don’t be afraid to test out the product.

Mattress

The first thing you need to do when shopping for a mattress is find out if the store has any special types of mattresses like a sleep number or other mattress that can be customized to your needs.
If they do, try those out first, but don’t skip trying other mattresses, sometimes you can find one that works well for you that is not custom. Customized mattresses usually do cost more, so you want to be sure it’s your only option.

Lay on the mattresses for at least 30 minutes; in fact you really should try to sleep on one in the store. If the sales person will not let you I would suggest finding another store. You need to be relaxed and sleep how you would at home in order to know if the mattress is going to work for you.
Do not buy just because of the brand name. Test, what works for your friend or family may not work for you.

If a store offers a try it for 30 days or allows you to return a mattress, leave the store. A mattress cannot be returned to a store, this is law and do you really want to spend all that money on a mattress that others have slept on?

Wood Furniture

Tables/Chairs/benches

Wood furniture is a huge part of the furniture business. You can get factory made, handmade and Amish furniture almost anywhere in the United States.

There really is only one good tip when buying wood furniture, make sure it’s constructed well. Check the joints and the craftsmanship.

Also wood furniture, that is not antique, is never solid; the US government does not allow solid furniture to be made. This was put into existence in the early 20th century to help preserve forest.

General Furniture Buying Tips

Research, sales do not always mean great deals. Research the product, find product reviews online, get information about the company that makes it and the store that is selling it.

Measure the space the furniture will be in, then when you find what you want compare to make sure it will fit. If you can reserve the piece, measure it and return home to make sure it will fit before it is delivered. You should also make sure you can get it through a door in your home and to the space you want to put the piece in.

If the sales person is pushy and you’re not comfortable, go somewhere else. This also applies if your looking for custom work and the store your at does not do that. Your spending the money, get what you want.

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