| Choosing
furniture can be a very thoughtful and time consuming
task. Here we have listed some tips that will
aid you to take an enlightened approach to buying.
1. A piece of furniture should have at least one
function. If you can find a piece of furniture
that can fulfil at least your basic requirement
plus an additional useful function then it is
worth having a closer look.
2. The design should be harmonious to its surroundings.
By harmonious we mean appealing to the eye. What
differentiates it from another piece that can
fulfil the same function?
3. A piece of furniture should last well beyond
the function you require it to do. For this the
construction of the piece of furniture should
also warrant some attention. There is no point
buying a piece of furniture that just looks good
yet fails to stand up to the function it is required
for.
4. Check for materials and methods used in its
construction and finishing, i.e. Is it made from
solid wood, leather or a manmade material? Is
it stapled or glued together? Or is it properly
constructed using established techniques such
as dovetailing, dowelling etc. This scrutiny will
give you some idea of how long it will last serving
the function you require it to.
5. If a piece of furniture suits your functional
needs, and offers more functions, is designed
and well made and will outlast its required function
and is within the price bracket of a similar piece
then with less functionality then it is worth
contemplating the purchase.
6. Lastly look for the extras:
• Delivery time –
you don’t’ want to wait forever ! Standard
delivery for most furniture bought on the high
street or through an online retailer is usually
8 – 12 weeks. If it is less than that, then
that is an added extra.
• Delivery costs –
These should be reasonable and should fall well
within your overall budget or value you place
on that piece of furniture. A free delivery automatically
means that you could be saving up to 15% already
!
• Money back guarantee –
If the piece you receive is not up to its described
standard in terms of functionality and quality
then it should be returnable for a full refund.
If this is offered then it means that the retailer
is fully confident that the customer will be satisfied
with the product.
• Warranty – Is there
a warranty available and at what cost? This should
fall into overall budget and value you place on
your selected piece of furniture. Most retailers
don’t offer warranty on some furniture available
through their stores, so if warranty is offered
at a reasonable price, then it is worth taking
up on and will add to your longer term piece of
mind. |
