Next to renovating your home’s interiors, updating your furniture has to be the second most exciting home project. While furniture provides comfort and function for any room, it also has another important job: adding extra appeal to the space.
With that said, furniture isn’t something you should shop for without a game plan, especially if you want your home to have a designer’s touch.
Turns out, there are several mistakes you can make when it comes to buying new furniture. To know what those mistakes are so we could avoid them, we spoke to two interior designers for their take on the matter. Here are the top mistakes professionals want you to avoid when buying new furniture.
Follow The Trends
It can be easy to see the beautiful curated interiors on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, and want to copy the design.
But Philip Thomas Vanderford, Founder of Studio Thomas James, says it’s not smart to follow the trends when it comes to buying new furniture.
“Furniture is the architecture of a room. Trend pieces age quickly, so it’s better for you to invest in forms and materials that will patina beautifully with time instead.”
The best way to find furniture that represents your style and lasts is to spend some time browsing lookbooks or pictures. This way, you’ll discover what you like so you can align your shopping with an intentional design.
Ignore High-Quality Craftsmanship
Tagging along with the trends, there is such a thing as fast-produced furniture that looks nice, but won’t last long.
“Good design isn’t just visual; it’s structural,” Vanderford says. “Quality is what gives furniture longevity and presence, so don’t skimp on investing in quality pieces. Check joinery, materials, and finish details to determine whether or not the furniture is worth your money.”
Forgetting To Measure Your Front Door
Before you start shopping around for a sofa or coffee table to complement your new living room design, there’s one important step you should take first: measure your front door.
“Don’t forget the biggest rookie mistake of them all, forgetting to measure your front door to ensure a large sofa or dining table will fit,” says Jennifer Jones, Principal Designer at Niche Interiors. “Measure the front door as well as the width of hallways to ensure your purchase can make it safely to its intended room without scratching the walls.”
Not Considering A Room Plan
Additionally, you should never buy furniture without considering how you’re going to set it up in the room. It’s not enough to make sure the dimensions of the furniture can fit in your space.
According to Jones, it’s equally important to make sure your new furniture looks proportionate in the room once it’s put together.
“Never purchase a piece of furniture before measuring your space. Determine where it will go in your home and then measure out the footprint with painters’ tape to make sure it feels proportional,” she says.
“Also, check that side table heights work well with the arms on your sofa or armchair. The tabletop should sit 2-5″ below.”
Buy Matching Sets
Big furniture chains have matching sets on the floor ready to complete a room. While matching furniture once had its time in design for cohesiveness, it’s now a trend that’s out.
Now, our experts say the key to buying new furniture is to choose different pieces that work together to make a space feel carefully curated and personal.
“Matching suites erase personality,” Vanderford says. “Curation is the new luxury, so don’t be afraid to mix silhouettes, eras, and finishes for a layered, intentional look.”