Buying Furniture
 Everyone enjoys a comfortably furnished home where everything
is just the way they want it and today, more than ever before,
it is possible to have just what you want. Thanks to new
materials, construction and styles, consumers can find an almost
unlimited range of furniture in every style and price range. As
with any investment, however, it pays to keep some basic facts
in mind before you begin shopping for furniture. The purpose of
this booklet is to provide you, the consumer, with basic
information and guidelines so you can have the most enjoyment
and the most value for your furniture dollar.
Plan Before You Buy
A good way to save time, money and the risk of disappointment is
to keep some basic points of furniture buying in mind both
before and when you shop.
Know what you need
Consider your needs carefully. Whether you are furnishing a
room, an entire home or simply buying a single item of
furniture, decide just what you need and how long you will need
it. For example, do you need "short term" furniture such as a
baby crib that will soon be outgrown, or do you need "long term"
furniture such as a table or chest of drawers to be used for
many years? Keeping your needs in mind will help you save time
and money when you begin to shop.
Know how it will be used
Knowing how furniture will be used, and by whom, is important in
deciding what style, construction and material are best for you.
For example, single persons and older couples may select styles
and fabrics that would not be a wise choice for a couple with
young children and a family pet. Your furniture use is an
important factor in deciding what to buy.
Know how much space you have
The size of the rooms you are furnishing is an important element
in selecting every item for your home. It is a good idea to draw
up a floor plan of your home and sketch in different sizes and
arrangements of furniture to see how you can make the best use
of the space you have. You may want to buy one of the room
planning kits that are on the market and have instructions for
drawing scale model plans of rooms and items of furniture. (Some
retailers will assist you in drawing up a floor and furniture
plan but there may be a charge for this service. Find out in
advance.) In planning your furniture size, keep in mind the
width of stairs, halls and doorways. Many newer houses and
apartments have rooms smaller than you may be used to and it is
important to select furniture that can easily be moved in and
around rooms and hallways. In determining size, keep in mind
that you may move.
Know how much you can spend
Wise shoppers set up a budget and stick to it. Know before you
shop just how much you can spend for everything you need and how
much of that total you want to spend for each item. You may want
to spend more for a high quality table you'll use for many years
and spend less for a medium quality play pen that your child
will soon outgrow.
Keeping your NEEDS, USE, SPACE and BUDGET in mind you can
carry your planning further by seeing how professional
decorators select furniture to fit a variety of spaces and life
styles. Visit the model rooms in furniture or department stores
as well as new "model" homes and apartments that are furnished
by professional decorators. These models not only give you a
good many ideas about different furniture styles, but also show
how furniture is selected for each room to make the best use of
the available space. It is a good idea to measure the furniture
yourself.
In addition, look through different home and decorating
magazines for ideas on how to make the best use of space. Most
of these magazines also carry advertisements by furniture
manufacturers that will give you an idea of the different styles
and materials that are on the market. Also, almost daily there
are advertisements in local newspapers offering furniture.
You'll find everything from expensive upholstered items to
well-designed, inexpensive furniture in "do-it-yourself"
assembly kits and unfinished furniture lines.
Furniture Types and Terms
There are two basic types of furniture, upholstered furniture
and case goods.
Upholstered furniture has fabric covered cushions or padded
sections such as sofas. Case goods refers to furniture that is
not upholstered such as tables, chests, cabinets and shelves.
Both upholstered furniture and case goods can be constructed
of a variety of woods or wood-composition materials. Furniture
woods are either hardwood or softwood.
Hardwood is used to describe such woods as mahogany, walnut,
maple, oak, cherry, birch, teak and pecan.
Softwood describes such woods as pine, redwood and cedar.
Softwood is less expensive than hardwood and is often used in
ready-to-finish and outdoor furniture. In general, it is more
subject to dents and deep scratches than hardwood.
Veneered, bonded woods
These terms refer to the various construction techniques and
materials used in furniture manufacturing.
Veneered Wood - The use of "veneering" is a
time-honored technique in furniture construction. It involves
using thin layers of decorative woods "bonded" on the top and
bottom of "ply" construction. Veneering allows manufacturers to
match fine grain wood sections and to use inlays of various
woods to create beautiful designs that cannot be found in solid
woods. Ply construction increases the strength and resistance to
warping, and is found in all price ranges including very
expensive furniture.
Bonded Wood - Bonding is used to "build" large
sections of wood from several smaller pieces. There are four
basic types of bonding:
- Wide boards for table and cabinet tops may be cut into
narrow sections and then "bonded" or fitted back together in
the width or shape that is needed. The bonding process can
make the finished section stronger and less liable to warp
or split.
- Blocks of wood may be glued together to create a single
section of a piece of furniture which is to be carved or
"turned" to form a rounded shape.
- Wood chips or particles may be mixed with a gluing agent
and then processed to make strong, warp-resistant panels
used as backing for cabinets and chests of drawers. These
man-made panels are called "chipboard," "particleboard" or
"fiberboard" and are durable and long-wearing.
- Several "layers" of solid wood or particleboard may be
bonded one on the other in 3 to 7 layers to make a "ply"
construction wood product used to reinforce various types of
furniture. Plywood panels are strong and rugged in everyday
use.
Engraving and printing
It is possible for manufacturers to "print" or "engrave"
surfaces with a wood grain pattern to give the appearance of
natural wood. These surfaces can be attractive and may be a good
choice for surfaces where an appearance of natural wood is
wanted.
Finishes
Various materials such as paint, lacquer, oil and wax are used
both to protect furniture surfaces and provide uniform color to
an entire piece of furniture. Various finishing materials can be
used to highlight a natural wood color or grain as well as to
change the color of a wood or make two different kinds of wood
appear alike.
In addition to looking at the finish, make sure you know the
kind of wood to which the finish has been applied.
When you are shopping for furniture it is important to keep
in mind that whether or not wood is solid, bonded or veneered,
it can be called "all wood" if there are no non-wood materials,
such as plastic or metal, used in the construction.
Upholstered furniture
Today's consumers have a wide choice of upholstered furniture
ranging from firm back and seat support to soft, fluffy pillows
that give little support but do offer luxurious lounging. It is
a good idea to be familiar with the basic construction of
upholstered pieces.
The Frame
This is the basic unit of all upholstered furniture, and the
quality of materials and workmanship can determine why one piece
of furniture is more expensive than a piece that looks the same.
Frames made of kiln-dried hardwood do not warp. Frames may also
be made of steel, laminated boards or strong rigid plastic. If
you cannot see the frame or have a question as to what it is
made of, ask the salesperson. You may want to have it itemized
on your bill of sale.
The Supports
Fabric webbing, straps, wood slats and springs can be used to
provide the desired amount of support, or firmness, in
upholstered furniture. The springs can be coil, double cone coil
or zigzag and are connected with twine, wire or clips.
Cushioning materials can include cotton or polyester batting,
springs, down and urethane foam (also known as plyfoam or
polyurethane). Urethane is widely used because it is durable,
light-weight and mothproof. While there are many grades of
"foam" materials, the best are high density foams with a high
percentage of urethane.
Many different upholstery materials are available in natural and
manmade fibers, leather and vinyl. Find out what the fabric is
made of, what its properties are and how it should be cared for.
Remember, too, that there are many treatments available to
protect fabrics from soil and spill stains and make day-to-day
upholstery cleaning easier. Upholstery materials are available
in a wide range of "grades" so keep both your use and budget
requirements in mind when you buy. Fabric grades reflect cost,
not necessarily durability or quality. In addition, consider the
fact that the textile mill usually does not guarantee upholstery
fabric to the furniture manufacturer.
Keep the four parts of upholstered furniture in mind when you
shop and be sure you know, before you buy, that each piece of
furniture is what you want. Ask the sales person about the
frame, the supports, the cushioning and the outer covering, and
judge the over-all quality of the furniture against the price
and your particular needs.
Some additional reminders
Keep in mind that you will not be able to see the most important
part of an upholstered item: the frame, the strapping and the
cushioning material. Squeeze the arms of sofas and chairs to be
sure there is enough padding so that you cannot feel the frame.
If you can feel the frame, chances are the padding won't stand
up to daily use for very long. Examine fabrics to be sure
patterns are matched and seams are well stitched and strong
enough to resist splitting or tearing.
Be sure cushions fit snugly and give even support. If
cushions are not "reversible" be sure the fabric on the
underside is a good quality, wear-resistant fabric. Remember,
too, that zippers are used on fabric covers to give a snug fit
over the cushioning. They are not to be used to remove the
fabric for cleaning. Check to see if the covering material is
treated with protective finish that will help resist dirt and
soiling.
Case goods
The finish of case goods furniture is an important sign of
quality. Better quality pieces are finished on the top, sides
and front as well as on the back and the underside. There should
be no cracks or bubbles in the finish. Check to see how pieces
of wood are joined. The strongest joints are dovetail, mortise
and tenon, and dowel. The least satisfactory is simply glued or
nailed.
Lean on tables and tip back chairs to be sure they do not
wobble or sway. Be sure drawers and doors are securely fitted,
do not sag when opened and fit snugly when closed. Check drawer
construction to be sure the drawers open and close easily but
firmly and are built to hold whatever you want to put in them
without sagging or jamming.
If glass tops or panels are used, check to be sure the glass
lies straight and flat and that there are strong grooves or
ledges to hold the glass in place. The panels should be thick
enough to resist cracking or chipping in normal use.
Where to Shop
Today's consumers have a wide choice of places to buy furniture
including department stores and specialty furniture stores. Shop
around in a number of stores which sell a range of styles or the
one type of furniture you are interested in.
Shop around for quality, price, credit terms and service.
Before you buy, ask about the seller's credit terms and delivery
service. An added charge for delivery or higher credit charge
compared to others may mean that a "good buy" is not as good as
it appeared.
When to Shop
If you plan your furniture shopping in advance you often can
take advantage of seasonal sales and various kinds of
"clearances" as well as reduced prices for "discontinued lines",
"display" items and "as is" pieces. By taking plenty of time to
look before you buy it is possible to get, for example, summer
furniture for next year at this year's end-of-season sales. You
may have to give up having a wide choice of styles, but a real
savings might be worth it.
Delivery may not be immediate, so take that into
consideration. Sometimes furniture must be ordered from the
factory, and waits of 6-8 weeks are not uncommon.
Read the Label
When you shop for furniture be sure to read all of the tag and
label information provided by the seller and the manufacturer.
Federal Trade Commission guidelines require manufacturers to
state whether materials such as vinyl or other synthetics are
used to give the appearance of leather, wood or marble. The name
of a country, such as "Spanish" or "Danish," cannot be used if
the furniture was not made there unless a word such as "style"
or "design" is also used.
If a tag or label carries the name of only one wood, all of
the exposed surfaces must be made of that wood. If some of those
surfaces are veneered the label must tell you so.
For example, "solid maple" means just that, while "maple
veneer" alerts you to the use of veneer, a layer of maple wood
bonded to another material. Mixed wood construction must be
noted, for example, "maple veneer and walnut solids."
Warranties and Returns
Find out the exact terms of any warranties for the furniture you
are considering. Also, find out the store's return policy so
that if you decide an item is not right for your home or you
find something wrong with the furniture after you buy it, you
will always know your rights and responsibilities. Be sure, too,
to get all the specifics in writing.
Credit Buying
If you buy furniture on time, be sure you know the full terms
and conditions of the seller's credit service. Know how much the
finance charge will be, how many and the exact amount of each
installment payment and the total time sales price, including
sales tax. Remember that all who give credit are required by
federal law to state the annual percentage rate so that you can
compare one to the other.
Know Your Seller
Wise consumers know the seller before they buy. Ask your
neighbors and friends for recommendations and, if possible, shop
around before you buy. Remember that reputable business people
will answer all questions fully and will not rush you into
buying. They want their customers to be satisfied, and they want
you to recommend them to others. If you have any questions about
the reliability of a company, check with your Better Business
Bureau.
Checklist - To get the most for your furniture
dollar, be sure to:
- Plan carefully before you shop.
- Set up a budget, and then stick to it.
- Shop around for quality and price as well as for credit
terms and service.
- Read all the tag and label information provided by the
seller and manufacturer.
- Check the construction of case goods and upholstered
furniture for durability.
- Find out how the furniture is constructed. Is the wood
bonded or veneered? If the furniture has a finish, find out
the kind of wood to which the finish has been applied.
- In the case of upholstered furniture, find out what the
frame is made of; determine what the outer covering is
composed of, what its properties are and how it should be
cared for.
- Determine the store's return policy.
- Find out what the warranty does and does not cover.
- Get the specifics of any agreement in writing.
- Find out the seller's credit terms, if you are buying on
time.
- If you have questions about the seller's reliability,
get in touch with the Better Business Bureau.
G62.10/95
Buying Furniture © 1995 |
