Not everyone that walks onto a furniture showroom is looking for just a new sofa or just a new cocktail table. The fact is, that there are plenty of people out there looking for whole living room furniture sets. That search, though, can be one that is difficult if you are not sure what you are doing when you walk into that store. By understanding a little about living room furniture sets and how to best shop for them, you can make the process that much easier.
Understanding Living Room Furniture Sets
When you go in search of living room furniture sets, the first thing you have to do is arm yourself with the knowledge of what you want, what you need, and what will fit in your living room.
What You Want
A living room furniture set can be as few as two pieces or as many as 8 pieces depending on how you and how the furniture store defines a living room furniture set.
For example, a living room furniture set could be as simple as a sofa and loveseat or sofa and chair. In a smaller home, that may be enough to get a fresh new look in the room. On the other hand, a living room furniture set might be a sofa, chair, loveseat, cocktail table, a pair of end tables, a sofa table, and an entertainment center.
So take a look around your living room and decide what exactly it is that you want from your new living room furniture set.
What You Need
Take a look at the shape of your room and think about what you need from your new living room furniture set.
For one, look at where walls will fall in relationship to the furniture. Do you really need an end table on both sides of your sofa? Is your sofa’s back flush against the wall? If so, then you may want to skip the sofa table when you buy a new set. Be practical about what you need to complete your room with your new set. This will likely save you money as well as a lot of stress when you realize you have no spot for your sofa table or that your second end table will be sitting in front of the loveseat.
What Will Fit
Perhaps the most important thing you can do before going to a furniture store for your new living room furniture set is to measure. You need to measure a couple of different ways to ensure a good furniture buying experience.
First, especially with a new living room furniture set, you need to measure the room itself. To go along with it, you should probably take the time to map out the room. See how much room you have for furniture and since you will have already determined what you want and need, you can use that information to determine what size you can accommodate in those pieces.
One strategy for finding out how furniture of various sizes will fill a room is to tape newspaper to the floor in the space that would be taken up. This will give you a feel for how much space you really have.
The second reason to measure is to make sure you can get the furniture into the room in the first place. Despite what you may think, doorways do vary in width height, as do stairs and hallways. The result is that not every piece of furniture will fit right into a home, much less a specific room. Measure all doorways, hallways, ceilings, and stairwells through which your new living room furniture set will have to go. It will be valuable information when you make your final decision.
Material
Once you have decided on what you need, what you can accommodate, and what you can get through the doorways and hallways, you should think about material. Now, more than ever, there are a variety of materials available for the upholstered pieces of your living room furniture set. There are three basics, though, to consider
Leather: Leather furniture sets are going to be the most durable. Depending on what type of leather you get, though, it may stain or show scratching pretty easily. In many cases, though, it is durable, stain resistant, and stylish.
Microfiber: Microfiber is a material that has been set on a tightly woven backing that makes it virtually stain-proof. Additionally, most microfibers have a nice suede look and feel to them. Aside from leather, it is the most durable covering.
Fabric: Fabrics come in a variety of colors, material, and overall durability. The key is that you can get virtually any color you want, but the drawback is that this is, in most cases, the least durable covering.
What to Ask
Eventually, you will be standing there in front of a living room furniture set with a sales person. What questions should you be asking? Here are a few that will help you to have a good experience.
What is the warranty like? While warranty is not the end all be all of furniture, it is worth asking. Specifically, find out about frames and cushions since these are two things that will get much of the wear.
What is this made of? Ask about what the frame is made of, ask about what the covering is made of, and ask about what the tables or entertainment center is made of. Knowing what you are getting in terms of material can give you insight into the durability as well as the comfort.
The Shopping Process
If you are looking for a new living room furniture set, then you should take your time. Furniture sets are a big investment and since the return policies of many furniture stores are not favorable to the consumer, you should make sure you are getting precisely what you want.
While it is debatable, depending on who you ask, whether or not it is a good idea to buy furniture on-line, it is always a good idea to shop there at first. This can do a couple of things for you.
For one, you will be able to compare pricing from a number of stores without the hassle of travel. Additionally, you can look at many different sets and see various setups easily and quickly.
Once you have started with the internet, you need to start visiting showrooms. Sit on the living room furniture sets to get a feel for them. Comfort is a huge part of what furniture in your living room should be about. Visit a number of stores and showrooms to compare not only prices, but also delivery charges and warranties.
Shopping for a new living room furniture set can be daunting. After all, you are filling an entire room and changing the look while spending a fairly large sum. In order to have a good experience, though, it is worthwhile to make sure you do a couple of things. Make sure you are educated on the basics of living room furniture sets. Additionally, make sure you know how to shop for furniture effectively. Armed with these tips, you can find the best living room furniture set for you at the best price, and then have the best possible experience going forward. I’d encourage buyers to simplify the process a great deal by going straight to the source of top quality furniture. Emfurn is one of the best furniture retailers online and can help you put together your dream living room.
