When we enter our home, we are entering a safe haven that we have built for ourselves. It’s a place where you can have a good time with your friends, play games with your kids, watch them grow, and unwind after a long and exhausting day.
Find the best fabric according to your needs
What to consider: Furniture that is both durable and stain-resistant is essential for large families. You don’t want to be constantly concerned about your children drinking grape juice while watching TV on the couch.
What you’ll require: Leather, mohair, denim, and wool add a sophisticated look to your garments. They can be cleaned with a vacuum or a damp cloth. You can also get a sectional sofa made of these materials to increase your seating options. However, if you prefer a more refined look, pieces made of delicate fabrics such as linen, velvet, or silk are the best choice.
Choose the location of your furniture wisely
What to consider: If you wish to put your sofa close to a large window, the color of the fabric will eventually fade away due to direct exposure to sunlight. In this case, you will either need to find a more suitable location or choose a color or fabric that won’t fade so noticeably.
What you need: Color patterns, such as gray or cream, tend to conceal the fading better, whereas darker shades will easily show the parts of the fabric that were exposed to sunlight. Also, choose natural fabrics, like cotton and wool, since they’ll be less likely to fade.
Check that your furniture is made with the most durable materials
What to consider: If you’ve got small kids, then you probably know by now that your entire house is their playground. A sofa can be used as a trampoline, and fluffy pillows will be the ideal weapon in pillow fights. Try to find solid and durable furnishings constructed with hardwood.
What you need: When choosing the right sofa, for example, make sure it’s been screwed and not just glued together. If you spend long hours together at the dining room table, consider solid wood, such as oak. It will resist long hours of homework, accidents that may happen at mealtime, and any fights that may arise during a competitive board game.
Take into account what works best for small spaces
What to consider: For those living in small-ish places, choosing the right furniture can be a difficult endeavor. Make sure that you choose pieces that aren’t overloaded with details.
What you need: Pedestal tables make a space look less visually cluttered. Sofas with visible legs or a chest of drawers that’s raised up seem lighter than something that’s solid all the way to its base. Easy to build and to install, wall-mounted shelves are useful for storage as well as for holding decorations or treasured mementos.
Consider your family’s safety and health
What to consider: Although this is not what we immediately think about when furnishing our home, the right height or material can play an important role in our overall well-being.
What you need: Senior citizens or people with physical challenges might need seating options at a slightly higher height and with secure arms. Also, go for furniture with soft corners and edges to prevent any injuries. Heavy drapes, rugs, and some bedding fabrics can trigger allergies. Get light cotton drapes or blinds as well as wool comforters when seeking out bedding options.
Bonus: what to avoid
- Sofas and chairs with skirts: They attract pet hair and tend to collect dust.
- Fabric-covered tables: If you’ve got toddlers who are just starting to take their first steps and need surfaces to hold onto, then you’d better get rid of any fabric that they may accidentally give a tug on. You’ll be collecting objects off the floor on a daily basis.
- Precious antiques or fragile works of art lying around: Kids love exploring every nook and cranny of the house. Even if you get these items at a seemingly unreachable spot, they’ll manage to get their hands on it. Apart from risking losing that precious heirloom, your kid’s safety might be in jeopardy.
- Surfaces that reveal all: Pieces of furniture made of glass or that have pale colors will quickly show any fingerprints, spills, or smudges.
