How to Shop for Furniture
Pasadena interior designer Robert Frank shares some tips on how to find the perfect collection of new pieces for every room in your house.
As a Pasadena interior designer, we are often asked for tips on shopping for new furniture. And, with so many retail and online options, it’s not a surprise that many people get overwhelmed. Before shopping for new furniture, take a hard look at what you already have – you don’t want to splurge on a gorgeous new sofa that will only throw your current coffee table into sharp relief. Ask yourself 'what do you love?'. 'What do you wish you could get rid of?'. If you have any furniture pieces you don’t want, don’t try to integrate it into your new design scheme – donate it and start fresh with something you can really enjoy having in your home. If you have a hard time letting go, you may want to hire an interior designer to cast an impartial eye on your furniture.
You may also want to think about cleaning upholstery and carpet – it’ll help you give a sense of what the finished interior will look like, and figure out what can be salvaged and what needs to go. This is also an excellent time to engage in some hard-core decluttering.
Size It Up
One of the most important factors in a furniture purchase is whether the piece will fit in your home. Make sure you know exactly how much space you have to work with. This is another good reason to clear out unwanted furniture before buying new – if you’re tossing that old armchair by the window, you’ve given yourself that much more interior wiggle room.
Measure each potential location carefully, and consider 'flow' as well as square footage. A good strategy is to spread out a sheet or pile pillows or cardboard boxes in the new location so you can get a sense of what it would be like to navigate the room with its new addition in place. Measure carefully when you get to the store, too. If you’re thinking about a modular piece like a sectional sofa or a table with removable leaves, think about whether the expanded version can really be installed in your home.
Give It a Facelift
In most of our projects we try to integrate vintage classics to layer depth and interest in a space. Typical retailers have limited selections of the ‘typical pieces’ and many of these are not exciting at all nor are they made well. You can circumvent dull retail options by shopping online or looking for estate and tag sales. Consider buying a gently used classic piece that you can have reupholstered or, in some cases, reworked. As a Pasadena interior designer, one of my favorite sources for classic pieces is Chairish and 1stDibs. Both online sellers provide access to countless furniture options, both new and resale.
When considering a used furniture piece, try to overlook the basics, like the upholstery, cushion fill, or even arm, back or seat height. Even if you find a piece that you love that is in poor condition, all of these things can be updated with the help of a good upholsterer. Try to find heirloom pieces that are classic in style, but just need a furniture facelift to work with your personal style.
See the Big Picture
When you’re redecorating, it’s important to think holistically – consider how each new option will fit into a unified whole. Otherwise, you might find yourself designing the entire room around one piece of furniture, which will be frustrating rather than fun. A good way to build an interior is to take photographs of each piece you like then upload them to your computer desktop and look at them together rather than in isolation. You can also search the Internet to find ideas for similar spaces and furniture pieces.
Stay Neutral
For larger pieces – especially a living room sofa or club chair you may keep for years – it’s always best to stick with neutrals. These pieces will age better with changing styles, which can often update interior color palettes by shifting them several shades, and they’ll make it much easier for you to integrate new furniture and accessories that might otherwise not work together. Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring. I like to layer textural contrasts – like wood, metals, glass, ceramics and textural fabrics – to add visual interest to a neutral space.
Buying furniture always takes some time and careful planning, but with these tips, you should be well on your way to a harmonious new living space in no time.
Robert Frank is a local resident and owner of Robert Frank Interiors, a full-service interior design and construction company located in Pasadena, California. As a Pasadena interior designer, Robert Frank Interiors works in collaboration with clients to create beautiful, classic spaces that reflect their lifestyles and personalities.