First time furniture shopping can be a ton of fun, as well as a
little overwhelming. Don't let yourself walk away from a store with the
wrong thing! Here are three first time furniture shopping tips.
1. What you want is not the same as what you need.
First time furniture shoppers often get a little over zealous with their planning. It's easy to do and understandably so. This is the first time you get to pick out your furniture for yourself-no hand me downs from mom and dad, so leftovers from roommates of days past-this is your change to furnish your apartment the way you want. Of course you want a sleeper sofa and a wet bar and three bookcases and a modern coffee table and a huge entertainment center and so forth-but do you really need it? A better question to ask is will it fit? Before you jump off the deep end of furniture buying make sure you actually buy the pieces you need (like a bed and desk) before you invest in the things you want (like funky free standing shelves or retro light fixtures). You'd be surprised at how little furniture it takes to fill up a room, and you don't want move-in and realize you have no space for all your new things.
2. Don't underestimate how quickly the costs will add up.
No matter how cheaply you try to make your first furniture shopping trip end up, it's always going to cost more than you thought. Even low-quality furniture can come with a hefty price tag. It's also important to consider how many times you're going to have to replace that item. A $75 coffee table might sound cheap now, but when it breaks in 6 months and you have to replace it was it really worth the savings? Sometimes spending a little bit more now can actually save you money on furniture in the long run.
If you can't afford to outfit your entire apartment in brand new furniture right now, there is nothing wrong with doing it bit by bit. Start with a great new bed or couch and build outwards. This will be less pain on your wallet but you'll still get a whole new set of great furniture with time.
3. Check it out in person.
Furniture shopping is one of those things that should be be done in person. While looking online is a great way to get a good idea of what is out there and get some inspiration, you want to actually go see your furniture options in person BEFORE you buy. Make sure that chair is comfortable, that your desk will actually fit in the space you have, that the color of the wood matches your expectations from the image online. It's better to know what you are getting ahead of time so you can make sure it's exactly what you want.
One final thing all first time furniture shoppers should consider is where/who they buy their furniture from. Make sure it's a reputable furniture manufacturer that is known for creating quality products, offers home delivery services and some kind of warranty on their products. This will help keep buyer's remorse at bay!
1. What you want is not the same as what you need.
First time furniture shoppers often get a little over zealous with their planning. It's easy to do and understandably so. This is the first time you get to pick out your furniture for yourself-no hand me downs from mom and dad, so leftovers from roommates of days past-this is your change to furnish your apartment the way you want. Of course you want a sleeper sofa and a wet bar and three bookcases and a modern coffee table and a huge entertainment center and so forth-but do you really need it? A better question to ask is will it fit? Before you jump off the deep end of furniture buying make sure you actually buy the pieces you need (like a bed and desk) before you invest in the things you want (like funky free standing shelves or retro light fixtures). You'd be surprised at how little furniture it takes to fill up a room, and you don't want move-in and realize you have no space for all your new things.
2. Don't underestimate how quickly the costs will add up.
No matter how cheaply you try to make your first furniture shopping trip end up, it's always going to cost more than you thought. Even low-quality furniture can come with a hefty price tag. It's also important to consider how many times you're going to have to replace that item. A $75 coffee table might sound cheap now, but when it breaks in 6 months and you have to replace it was it really worth the savings? Sometimes spending a little bit more now can actually save you money on furniture in the long run.
If you can't afford to outfit your entire apartment in brand new furniture right now, there is nothing wrong with doing it bit by bit. Start with a great new bed or couch and build outwards. This will be less pain on your wallet but you'll still get a whole new set of great furniture with time.
3. Check it out in person.
Furniture shopping is one of those things that should be be done in person. While looking online is a great way to get a good idea of what is out there and get some inspiration, you want to actually go see your furniture options in person BEFORE you buy. Make sure that chair is comfortable, that your desk will actually fit in the space you have, that the color of the wood matches your expectations from the image online. It's better to know what you are getting ahead of time so you can make sure it's exactly what you want.
One final thing all first time furniture shoppers should consider is where/who they buy their furniture from. Make sure it's a reputable furniture manufacturer that is known for creating quality products, offers home delivery services and some kind of warranty on their products. This will help keep buyer's remorse at bay!
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