How do you want your items?
Beautiful home decor starts with the basics: your furniture. That's why it's important to purchase pieces that last. Knowing what and what not to look for can help make your furniture shopping experience quick and easy. Consider these helpful tips when choosing furnishings for all your living spaces — indoors and out.
Your living room is the gathering place in your home, so make sure you have a good-quality sofa. Look for sofa frames crafted with joint construction and not held together with nails, staples, or glue. Sofa frames should not twist, creak, or wobble, and sofa legs should be made from solid wood. You can protect living room floors from scratches by applying stick-on felt to the leg bottoms.
Leather couches make a good option if you have small children or pets because they're durable and easy to clean. For the best quality leather sofa, choose a product made from top-grain leather. If you need an extra bed for guests in your home, purchase a sleeper sofa or a futon.
In the kitchen, an island offers a number of key benefits. It provides additional storage space, extra seating, and a separate work area for preparing food. Before you purchase a kitchen island, make sure to measure your space. Allow about 3 feet of clearance around all sides of the island, so you can freely move around the kitchen.
For a smaller kitchen, consider purchasing a butcher block. These islands are ultra-sturdy, and the natural wood top adds warmth and character to the room. A butcher block cleans up easily with soap and water, and it only requires occasional oiling to maintain. This product provides a surface for cutting and chopping, but you can extend the life of your butcher block with the purchase of a few cutting boards.
Whether you're sharing mealtime with the family, playing board games, or entertaining, you spend loads of time at your dining room table. Make sure you get the right product for all your needs.
When shopping for a dining table, take shape into consideration. If you need to seat a lot of people, shop for a rectangular table. For smaller spaces, consider purchasing benches instead of chairs. Benches hold more people, and they can be tucked neatly under your table when not in use.
To promote a sense of intimacy while dining, shop for a round table, and look for one with a pedestal base for maximum legroom. A square dining table makes an ideal option for singles or couples, and it can be pushed into a corner to save space.
When it comes to bedroom furniture shopping, it's easy to focus on getting the right bed, but don't forget about your dresser. When shopping for a dresser, look for quality construction.
Like your sofa, make sure drawers feature dovetail joinery — not nails, staples, or glue. Dresser drawers should feature stops to prevent them from sliding all the way out, and they should open and close smoothly. Drawer handles and knobs should fit tight for easy opening and closing.
If your children share a bedroom, bunk beds make a great furniture option. When shopping for bunk beds, always take measurements. Allow at least 2 feet of space between the top mattress and the ceiling. For the most safety and durability, buy bunk beds crafted from solid wood like birch, cedar, or pine, and make sure they meet federal Consumer Product Safety standards for children's products.
Keep your kids' room neat and tidy with a spacious toy box. Wood or plastic toy boxes both make great options, but choose products featuring a cutout design to prevent pinched fingers. Collapsible toy bins are soft-sided, kid-friendly, and easy to set up and break down.
When it comes to your office, it's all about your chair, especially if you work from home. To buy the best product for you, make sure the armrests, headrest, height, and tilt of your chair are adjustable. If you sit in your office chair for hours at a time, make sure to purchase a product with an extra-comfortable seat and good lumbar support to prevent back or neck pain. To inject personal style into your office space, trade a traditional black chair for a red, lime green, orange, teal, or white chair.
If you're shopping for patio products, some materials withstand the elements better than others. Items made from wrought iron are heavy and durable, and they can endure moisture and heat well. Resin furniture is moisture resistant and is available in many styles and finishes. Both wrought-iron and resin furniture can combine with outdoor cushions made from colorful fabrics that are resistant to mildew and fading. For the best wooden outdoor furniture, look for products made from cedar, teak, or eucalyptus.
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