5 Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Furniture

Buying new furniture is a big deal, and sometimes we’re so excited that we rush into it. But because furniture is an investment, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Many people find themselves unhappy with their furniture soon after purchasing it because they didn’t take care of the decision.

When you’re careful about what you buy, you end up with a home you’ll love for a very long time.

Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when buying furniture.

1. Forgetting to Measure

There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect couch, buying it, and bringing it home, just to find it’s too big for your living room.

But that’s precisely what happens when you forget to measure.

Before you buy anything, you should measure the room you’re planning to furnish and plan out your placement. You may find that you’re about to overcrowd the space.

And it’s not just the room that you should worry about. How are you going to place your furniture if you can’t get it through the door?

Always measure your doorways before buying anything and make sure there’s enough space for your larger items. And if it’s a tight squeeze, you may want to forgo the purchase, or you risk scratching up your walls and dinging your paint job.

Lastly, measure any stairways or elevators you may need to use to lug your furniture to its rightful place. And leave room for the people moving it. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to fit your couch, armoire, or bed frame down the hallway.

2. Ignoring Your Lifestyle

Sure, that blue suede loveseat is gorgeous, but will it be able to withstand your kid’s sticky fingers? Or your cat’s claws? Or your dog’s slobber?

Ignoring your lifestyle is one of the worst mistakes you can make when buying furniture because you may end up wasting a lot of money and time.

If your home is full of young and boisterous children, then a glass-top coffee table is probably more of a safety hazard than it is the right decision.

If your dog likes to roll in the mud before coming inside, you should probably avoid a fluffy, white throw rug.

And if you’re a clumsy person who spills spaghetti sauce down your shirt every now and then (or all of the time), then you should probably get a couch that’s easy to clean.

Take your lifestyle into account first before you start the furniture hunt.

3. Ignoring Scale

While that huge sectional looks amazing in the showroom, are you sure it will fit in your family room? Even if it does technically fit, will you be able to leave enough room between furniture pieces so that you can actually walk through the room and sit on the sectional?

The showrooms of the furniture store are probably much larger than the rooms in your home, so remember to take that into account before you buy anything.

The same goes for smaller items. Too many of them, and you risk creating a space that looks cluttered and unorganized. And when you don’t have enough, you may end up with a layout that looks bland and unimaginative.

Map out your space before you make any purchases. Try out our Room Planner Tool and get designing.

4. Sacrificing Quality for Price

We get it. That $200 futon looks pretty appealing. But keep in mind that it’s priced lower for a reason.

When you cut costs, you sacrifice quality.

And while it may not bother you that your sofa is a little lumpy when you first set it up, it’s going to come back to haunt you when you’re hosting a movie night and can’t focus on your favorite horror flick because you’re so uncomfortable.

Furniture is more expensive because it’s meant to last you for a while. While you may think you’re saving money, it will probably cost you more in the long run when you have to keep replacing cheaper furniture.

5. Buying All at Once

It’s tempting when you move into a new place to want to furnish it as quickly as possible. It’s also not a great idea.

A new place, or a complete overhaul of an old space, means you have a blank canvas to work with. But, if you want it to last, then you should give yourself time to create a masterpiece.

You may love that showroom set on paper, but when you bring it into your home, it may look dull and will leave you with minimal opportunity for personal flair.

You’re the one who’s going to be living with this furniture, so take your time and pick pieces that make you feel at home.

And don’t be afraid to mix it up. Everything doesn’t need to match perfectly, just as long as you create a space that flows and welcomes you every time you walk through the door.

Now that you’re a furniture-buying master, it’s time to go explore.

Just remember to take your time, love what you buy, and check out Nassau Furniture for the pieces and prices you need in your life.