Choosing Home Furnishings and Quality Furniture

Well designed furnishings should cover at least 3 criteria:  they should function well and serve the requirements of its users; they should be made of quality and appropriate materials; and it should express your individuality.  Furnishing your home usually starts with basic pieces of furniture.  Make the most of your shopping time and money when choosing your essential pieces by selecting solidly constructed items.  Consult your local interior designers for more personal expressions in your style and concept.  Here are some suggestions for the basics:

• Sofas.  A Sofa is probably your most important purchase.  If you look for wood frame sofa, make sure the sofa frames are made of kiln-dried hardwood and secured by double-doweled corner blocks or bolted construction.  Verify that the cushions are non allergenic and are made of high-density or high resiliency foam core for durability.  For upholstery, consider micro fiber fabric for your sofa; it resists stain.  Avoid using stain repellant finishes for your furniture.  Stain repellant finishes form a barrier between the stain and the upholstery, which means that you have to clean the stain quickly when spillage happens.  If the stain is left to dry, you will have difficulty removing the stain because the finish will bind to the stain.

• Bed.  Make sure there is at least 3 feet of space on each side of the bed for comfort and functional room arrangement.  For queen-size beds, there should be two slats supporting the mattress, and three slats for king-size beds.  Compare prices when shopping for a mattress.  Choose the one with best support and size for you and your bed mate.  Be willing to pay  a little extra for a bed that is the right size for you both; the more room you have to move around in bed, the more comfortable you will be.  After all, you have to sleep in that bed thousands of times. 

• Dining room table.  There should be at least 32 inches clearance between the edge of your dining room table and the nearest walls and other furniture.  This gives enough room to move the chairs back and to walk around your dining room table. 

• Side chairs.  Many side chairs are beautiful and versatile enough to be used at a desk or a dining table.  Pass up any chairs that feel wobble between the seat and the back.  Select chairs with kiln-dried hardwood frames, double-doweled joints, hand-tied coil springs and high density foam padding.

• Armoire and cabinets.  Choose items that have solid construction.  Look where pieces join together for an indication of poor craftsmanship such as parts joined together using staples or glue.  If the back panel is made of fiberboard you may want to pass on the piece.

• Lamps.  Start by determining if you want direct or ambient light.  Ambient lighting provides overall illumination and comfortable level of brightness, allowing you to move around safely.  Hang a light fixture 30 to 36 inches from the top of the dining room table.  Select a light fixture that is 12 inches narrower than the top of your dining room table.  Electrician charges about $90 to install a ceiling or wall-mounted fixture, more if additional wiring is needed.

By considering the size and shape of your space and careful placement of the furnishing, you will create a well design and well balance home environment regardless of your style preference or budget.