Living Room

“For most people, furniture-buying decisions are either based on emotion - ‘falling in love’ with a piece - or on the lowest price. Neither way is likely to lead to a happy, satisfying long-term relationship with your furniture. This is especially true of upholstered furniture, where poor construction and quality can be hidden beneath layers of fabric and padding.”

Successful furniture shopping requires a careful balance between emotion and intellect. If you’re planning to update your furniture this summer, here are two important areas to examine when assessing furniture. If the piece measures up to these standards, chances are you’ll still be able to love it next summer.

Frame Construction:

If you’re shopping in a showroom, be sure to ask the sales person about the frame under the upholstery. If you’re shopping online, be sure it’s with a company that can answer this basic question - what is the frame made of? Hardwood frames like oak, maple and poplar provide a strong, solid foundation for the furniture. Avoid soft woods like pine or plywood.

Wood should be kiln-dried hardwood, which imparts strength and durability. Several types of hardwood are good; Carrington Court Direct uses maple/poplar and ash. “Of course, the strongest wood in the world is no good if it’s cut too thin,” Haas notes. Many manufacturers use 5/4-inch lumber, Carrington Court uses 8/4-inch lumber, meaning the wood is nearly 65 percent thicker than planks commonly found in wood frames.

Fabric:

If you’re buying from a big-box furniture store, you’ll likely have only a few fabric selections to choose from. Limited fabric choices allow manufacturers to buy their fabric in volume, keeping their costs down. If you go with a smaller company you may find yourself with more choices - or even the ability to supply your own fabric. If you’re having furniture made for you, the manufacturer should be willing to send you sample swatches of the fabric you choose.

If you’re furniture shopping in a showroom, carefully inspect the upholstery and repeat your inspection when the furniture is delivered to your home. Look for fabric that is clean, free of rips, tears or stains. Also, if the fabric is patterned, be sure the patterns line up at fabric seams.

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