Buyer beware
Sofas at the lower end of the market may skimp on stitching, which could mean there’s not much streng in the sewing.Check the thickness of the thread holding the upholstery together. If you can barely see the thread, it’s probably really thin. The manufacturers may also have used fewer stitches (say, a stitch every couple of millimeters).Basically, the tighter and thicker the stitches, the longer the cover will last.Also, be sensible about how you’re going to use the sofa. There’s no point to putting an elaborate, silk fabric on the rough and-tumble family sofa. Check the fabric’s durability -it should be classified on the tag.
1. HOW DO YOU TELL IF FURNITURE IS GOOD QUALITY?
Most of us wouldn’t buy a house without expert advice, so why should shopping for furniture be any different? Sure, you’ll be spending much less on a new sofa than a new house, but changes are it’ll be part of your life for just as long. so take our advice: don’t be afraid to give furniture a workout while it’s still in the showroom.
Lie on it, sit on it, open it. Look underneath it and examine it for sturdiness and good workmanship. If it’s upholstered, check that the gaps between the stitches are short and even, and that thick enough thread has been used.
And go armed with every smart shopper’s checklist: a tape measure, measurements of the room
(including dimensions of doors you’ll have to pass the furniture through!), comfy shoes, a bottle of water and, of course, a budget.
2. SOFA SO GOOD
What a great sofa? Primaly, it’s comfort. So sit on it: it should be neither too slouchy nor too hard. You shouldn’t be able to feel any of the structure through the foam – if you can, it will only get worse over time. Squeeze the arms of sofas to feel for adequate padding. Does it need extra cushions to make it compartable? Does the shape support you back properly?
The best – and most expensive – sofas have sturdy hardwood frames, which makes them hefty. They’re also steel-sprung in the esat. So ask the salesperson about the internal workings. And, if you’re not prepared to fluff and rotate feather – or down-filled cushions on a daily basis, you’re probably better off with foam.
Got an eye for detail? Examine patterns and seems on the upholstery to see if they match and are stitched well. Ask if the fabric has been tested to comply with ‘rub test’, pilling and colourfastness. If it’s been tested to a domestic grade, great. If it’s been tested to a commercial grade, it will last even longer. Most good sofas have warranties lasting from five to 10 years.
Is there an astmatics in your houshold? Then check if there are any health guards build into the foam to protect against dust mites and bacteria. Silvya Mooney, furnishing industry Association general manager (Vic/Tas), says it’s important to take a medium-term view on making a sofa purchase.
”Look for a style that won’t date or become obsolate over a short period”, she says. ”There are some wonderfull, contemporary, streamlined sofas that will change the look of your room. But, if you go for a simpler style, you can then update it with accessories such a different lighting, slip covers or cushions.”
3. STABLE TABLES
Number one on the table checklist is that it doesn’t wobble. So jiggle it to test its stability. Then look under the table, check whether the legs are secured firmly and safely to the top. Chances are that someone will sit on a table during its lifetime,>< so it’s got to be strong enough to withstand the weight of the person..If it has a glass top, make sure it’s thick, tempered glass.
Tes moving parts on the tables that extend and avoid metal parts – they tend to rust and jam. An all-timber joint will ensure a longer life. Remember, all timber furniture should have a slightly rounded edge to protect you againts knocks. Also check that the table’s been completely sealed-even on the base. Moisture can sneak in at the unsealed sections, and you can end up with a bowed table or, even worse, cracking.
Got the chairs already and you’re just buying a table? Then measure your chair’s before you leave home to make sure they’ll fit underneath it. From chair to table top, a distance of about 20cm makes for the most comfy dining. Or, if you like to cross your legs while seated, allow for up to 30cm.
4. WARDROBE WINNERS
If there was ever a time to whip out your tape measure, shopping for wardrobes is it. The ideal depth should be 650mm, which allows wider clothing plenty of room to hang without obstructing the doors. And look for rails with an oval, rather than round, tube. They withstand more pressure from heavy clothes, prefenting sagging.
5. DRAWERS GALORE
According to Alesha Glennon, who travel the world as furniture buyer for freedom furniture, there’s more to drawers than meets the ey. The best-and most expensive-run on ”double extension runners”. This mean you can pull the drawer all the way to the front of the cabinet (without it tipping out, thanks to clever stoppers), giving you access to the whole space.
Standard metal runners are also very good. At the cheaper end of the scale, plastic component work well, but won’t last as long.
”Drawers with no runners can be okay, but they can get stuck, and become awkward to use over time,” Alesha says. ”Furniture, especially natural product like timber, responds to temperature and humadity and can expand and contract.”
And think about safety-especially if there are young kids in the house who like to climb. An anti-tilt mechanism prevent you pulling out more than one drawer at a time, so there’s no chance the unit will topple over.
6. CHAMPION CHAIRS
Unlike other pieces of furniture, dining chairs must meet a special standard. Thats because you could suffer a serious injury on an unsafe chair. So the good news is, most of your shopping homework is done for you in this departement. It basically comes down to comfort and looks.
But it doesn’t hurt to peek under the seat to check that joins look secure. Kneel on the seat, push the back and press on the arms. There should be some flexibility, but no creaking. And three-legged chairs? Avoid them!
7. OTTOMANS, CHESTS + SOFA BEDS
Ottomans are the ultimate in dual-function furniture-many come with clever bulit-in storage. The smart tip is ti find
one with a safety catch mechanism on the tilting lid, wich means you have to release the catch to lower it down. So no change of jamming stray fingers.
Sofa beds unleash a whole range of issues. To save you wrestling with the bed, ask the salesperson to show you how it works. It’ll save heaps of embarrassment. Sofa beds come in two basic type: with a trampoline-baesd, fold out bed, or with a timber-slatted base.
If your sofa bed is for a main living area, make sure the sofa part is in the style you want. Is it compartable to sit in? Bear in mind that you’ll probably be sitting on it more than your guests will be sleeping on it.
Sofa workshop manager David Faorlin recommends you lie on folded out sofa to make sure it’s compartable.
”Inner-sprung mattresses are generaly more comfy than all-foam,” he says. ”But, if you’re buying the sofa bed as a spare bed, it’s likely you’ll never sleep on it. I guess it comes down to how long you want visitors to stay!”
If you have a studio and you’re buying the sofa bed to sleep on full time, ”timber slatted style are a lot firmer,” says David. ” They’re more comfy for the long term. You can sleep on these ones every day.”
And don’t worry about squishing the mattress when it’s folded up. The spring fold into special pockets. Go for 100 per cent-foam cushions, so you don’t feel any of the framework.
8. TOP TELEVISION CABINETS
Ever noticed how TVs are getting bigger? So where we put them must be able to cope with quite a load. The trouble is, a lot of purpose-built cabinet are only designed to take up to 40kg, but today’s widescreens can weigh anything up to hefty 100kg.
So ask about the load-bearing capacity of every shelf of the unit. Then check out the unit’s cable entry ports. Can you put electrical plugs through the holes, and can you put more than one plug through the hole?
As best you can, make your entertainment uint ”future proof”. Think ahead to what technology you might upgrade to in the next five years, so that there’s plenty of room to accommodate extra plugs and gadgets as your ‘home theatre’ grows.
9. BEDDY BUYS
The experts says, if you’re bed shopping, don’t rush it. Lie on each bed for least 10 minutes..so be prepared to get comfy! Try out all your reguler sleeping positions, too. And, if you sleep with a partner, make shopping for a bed dual effort. roll to the centre and the edges to test the support at pressure ppoints, such as your hips and shoulders, wich place greater demands on matterss.
If you’re buying a frame, consider how it pulls apart to fit through a door.
10. THAT FLATPACKED FEELING
Assembling flatpacked furniture can turn into a major headache if you don’t have all the components before you start. Once you’re sure you have everything you need, stick to the instructions.
Check any gaps between the panels-if you can see daylight, it’s time to tighten them up. before you buy, check that the edges and corners aren’t too sharp. Often, flatpacked furniture is cut by very sharp blades and can be razor-edged. slightly bevelled edges are best.
THE FINISH LINE
furniture that’s fit to become a family heirloom will have a quality finish. So, on timber, check that the finish is consistent. That means the sheen should be the same all over, whether the satin or high gloss. It should be smooth and free of runs, drips and bubbles.
