|
Your budget will usually determine what you can
buy but today there is a wealth of styles,
colors, woods and fabrics to suit all budgets.
As a general rule, the more expensive the
furniture the longer it will last but this
doesn't always apply.
If you have young children you will probably
need robust furniture that will stand up to wear
and tear. On the other hand, retired people are
often in a position to indulge their love of
fine, delicately constructed furniture. If you
dislike classical or traditional furniture you
may well prefer modern, contemporary styles or
opt for the minimalist look. Those who dislike
reproduction furniture often have a love for the
real thing, that is, antique furniture which
comes with a high price tag.
Whatever your preference, whether it's
mahogany, limed oak, yew, pine, cherry wood,
teak or glass, your choice will often reflect
your individuality. It indicates that you are
making a statement about yourself.
Whatever you decide to buy can make your home
look smaller or larger which is often worth
bearing in mind. This doesn't really matter
unless you have small rooms, in which case the
lighter the color of furniture and furnishings
the better, as these help to make the room look
larger.
Buying furniture gives me a buzz particularly
when buying sofas and/or armchairs. There are so
many styles, fabrics and colors it can
sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Do you
want plain, patterned, striped, flowered,
velvet, silk, tweed, cotton, leather or chintz
fabric? Then again do you want a 2, 3, 4 seater
or corner sofa? Perhaps you'd prefer two sofas
and no armchairs or a combination of both. Once
those decisions have been made you can then
think about the style you want - i.e. traditional,
modern, country house style etc. At this point
you're almost there ! This is my favorite part
- actually getting to choose the furniture after
giving it so much thought !
You'll then want to concentrate on other
furniture such as coffee tables, occasional
tables, lamp tables and maybe mirrors.
Your initial choice of sofas and/or armchairs
will have a considerable impact on the rest of
the furniture you choose for the sitting room.
You'll no doubt want these other pieces to
complement each other which can be fun and
fascinating to arrange. If your sitting room is
small, glass topped coffee, occasional and lamp
tables will give a feeling of space and light to
the room but can look equally stunning in much
larger rooms. In particular, glass topped
occasional tables with brass legs usually look
extremely good with most furniture.
Next may want to think about furniture for
your dining room. Again, the style of your home
will influence your decision. If you want your
dining room to look elegant you'll very likely
consider a classic, highly polished dining table
and matching chairs. For a more `homely` look
pine may be your choice. If your dining room is
large you'll want matching dressers or corner
tables to complete the picture.
Your following concern will probably be the
kitchen. Most are completely fitted these days
so you may only need to buy a kitchen table and
chairs. The existing units and counter tops are
generally a good indication of the type of
kitchen table you need which helps considerably
when making a choice. You'll find the range is
huge !
Now it's on to the bedrooms where you can let
your imagination run riot ! Your first task will
consist of selecting the beds if you're
furnishing throughout. I'm sure you know the
mattress is the most important purchase when
making up your mind. This is one item which
really is worth spending as much as you can
afford for obvious reasons. The better the
mattress the more comfortable it will be and the
longer it will last. The style of bed you choose
will be personal which shouldn't present a
problem as this narrows the choice tremendously.
It there are no custom built wardrobes or
chests of drawers you'll need to add these to
your list of furniture to buy. Once more, the
range is endless including rich wood finishes
such as mahogany, light limed oak, teak, pine or
a white matt finish to name but a few. It's also
worth remembering bedside tables. Here again
your lifestyle will have an effect on your
choices. Very young children or teenagers will
be crucial to your decisions.
You may have a conservatory in which case you
can't go wrong with pine or white cane furniture
plus deep, comfy cushions in whatever color or
pattern takes your fancy.
Should you have a family room, how you
furnish it will be dictated by how many people
use it and how often. If it's used frequently
the furniture you choose obviously needs to be
hard wearing. Leather or tweed covered sofas
usually work well in addition to being hard
wearing and looking good.
For those of you who have a study or office
remember that it, too, needs to be and look
comfortable. So yet again you'll want to buy the
best you can afford. Apart from a good desk and
office chair, a really comfortable armchair is
always useful and gives a cozy atmosphere. A
matching bookcase will be functional as well as
attractive.
Finally, the garden! Garden furniture is a must
and is now much more comfortable than it used to
be. Tables, chairs, sun loungers in matching or
coordinating fabrics look inviting
and create a relaxed atmosphere for the whole
family. Last but not least don't forget the
canvas garden umbrella and stand.
Oh, I almost forgot! You might like to add a
couple of garden benches. |
