12 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying New Furniture for Your Home

The decision to buy furniture is a substantial one. You want something you can live with for years and even decades, so it's important that your purchase matches up well with the space in which you plan on using it most often. 

Home decor is a significant investment. You want to make sure that you’re investing your money in pieces today that will still have the same appeal five years from now.

Each year, at Canadian Home and Garden, we consult with thousands of people searching for furniture in Canada. As an established furniture retailer in Canada, we often get asked: “What should I know before purchasing quality furniture for my home?”

 

What Am I Looking To Add Or Replace?

When you begin the furniture buying process, it is usually due to a problem: My back is killing me, I need a new bed, the sectional is falling apart, or we need to update the dining room. While your pain points help you focus on what you need, it is always a good idea to envision the end result you are going for and how you want the room to look and feel.

As you envision relaxing in your finished room, which of your current pieces have you kept? What is new to the space? Will the old stuff go with your new furniture? Do you love the old pieces?

 

What Do I Need To Coordinate With?

What colour are the walls in the room? Does it change with the lighting? Are you going to paint? Are you looking to match or contrast?

Start simple and repeat the colours in your patterns. There are endless combinations of patterns you can mix, but you’ll want to follow a few simple rules to ensure your room is not too chaotic.  Check out some creative stying tips in this article Working Within the Rooms You Have.

 

What Are My Room Measurements?

Measuring is the only way to be sure your furniture will fit! 

“To measure or not to measure, that is the question.” But we can guarantee you one thing: if you don't take measurements at all before ordering a new sectional or sofa, there is a good chance you have some problems fitting in through doorways and clearances for windows and fireplaces.  Read our article Before you Shop: Measure! to learn how to measure to make sure your new furniture will fit before you buy. 

 

What Is My Design Style?

From what you wear to where you live, your style says a lot. When it comes to interior design, your home should reflect you. 

 

How would you describe your style? Do you prefer modern, casual or traditional? Do you like comfort, what’s on-trend or both? 

 

What Features Are The Most Important In My New Furniture?

While most retailers strive to meet all their client’s needs and wants, the reality is that you sometimes have to compromise. As you get into your furniture buying experience, you will find you are in a much better position if you clearly understand your top priorities (and even better if your partner agrees!).

Leather Or Fabric Cover?

There are so many choices of furniture covers; where should you begin? First, you’ll want to decide whether you want leather or fabric upholstery.

 

Essential factors to consider when choosing your furniture coverings are:

• Comfort
• Appearance
• Durability
• Maintenance
• Cost

 Take a look at our Fabric Gallery for our wide selection of upholstery.

Who Will Be Using My New Furniture?

Is your new chair or sofa for everyone in the household or just for you? If multiple people will be using the seating, you will need to consider everyone’s size and furniture requirements for the room.

 

When Do I Need My New Furniture?

Are you moving or building a new home and have plenty of time to plan out your space? Or do you need your furniture right away? 

It takes time to build and customize your furniture to your specific configurations and requirements Knowing when you need your furnishings is crucial when purchasing custom furniture. In this case, it’s important to plan ahead.

Add the shipping of your new furniture, and it could take many weeks or even months to receive custom-made furniture in Canada.

Learn more about Canadian Home and Garden furniture delivery and pick-up services to your part of Canada.

*Due to the pandemic, some furniture delivery times are taking longer than usual.

If you are only purchasing an in-stock chair, the delivery date will be much sooner.

 

What Is My Budget?

While price & budget is something many can feel uncomfortable talking about, it can also be one of the most important factors for many people when considering the furniture buying process.  Learn how to Fortify Your Online Furniture Shopping here!

 

It can be challenging to determine a budget when you are just beginning your buying journey and don’t know how much things cost; however, you will want to have a ballpark idea before you get started. In this case, knowledge is power, and the more you know about the pricing in the furniture market, the better prepared you will be when shopping in-store or online. 

The cost of furniture varies depending on many factors, including the retailer you shop at, the quality of the materials used, custom or in-stock items, and the options chosen.

Other Important Factors To Consider

What Is A Rub Count And What Does It Mean?

When buying a new sofa or reupholstering an old settee, it’s all too easy to be seduced by the prettiest fabric on the shop floor.

 

But no matter how nice it may look in your living room, you need to know how that material will hold up against mucky hands, excitable pets and other day-to-day challenges.

A rub test is a method of determining the durability (or ‘abrasion resistance’) of a fabric.

During the test, a special machine vigorously rubs the fabric. When the fabric begins to show signs of wear, the rub count is determined by counting the number of ‘rubs’ to that point.

Manufacturers rely on rub tests to determine what a textile should be used for. Materials with low rub counts are best used for decorative functions, such as toss cushions. They are also usually only suitable for dry cleaning. High rub counts, however, are better matched with frequently used furniture, such as office chairs and sofas.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be an expert upholsterer to understand what a durable rub count looks like for your furniture.

 

How Do I Maintain My New Furniture?

It is typically recommended that you have your furniture professional cleaned.  However, the following codes will give you some insight on caring for your furniture in between professional cleanings. Check out what the different cleaning codes mean under our FAQs.

 

Ready To Take The Next Step?

If you’ve looked at all the furniture stores in Canada and decided to give us a try, you can feel good knowing that Canadian Home and Garden has over 90 years of experience in home furnishings.

You can also feel good knowing you are supporting a local business. Our Canadian-owned and operated Canadian Home and Garden store is devoted to our community and our customers. We are your friends and neighbours striving to give you the best furniture buying experience possible!

Our highly trained sales consultants are furniture experts; they will guide you through the purchasing process to help you find what you’re looking for.

Visit us online at www.canadianhomeandgarden.ca

We look forward to helping you find the perfect furniture for your home and making your space just a little bit more comfortable