Furniture Pieces You Should Splurge (and Save) On

Setting out to buy furniture for your home? Here’s a guide on the items you should invest on, and get on the cheap.

Every time you go into a furniture store, you find yourself in a dilemma: Should you splurge on that divine futon? Is that antique hutch worth spending for (a.k.a. slaving over until the next payday)? What furniture piece justifies the heft of its price tag?

While this should be taken on a case-to-case basis (it always depends on your lifestyle, your preferences, and of course, and most especially, your budget), we’ve come up with a simple list of the furniture items that you should spend for, and other things that can either wait, or can be gotten on the cheap.

Splurge on…

The sofa. This is an integral part of any living room or family room. It’s used by every member of the household, as well as your guests. So it makes sense to get one that a) accommodates as many people as possible, b) is sturdy enough to withstand significant wear and tear, and c) blends well in any (or all) of your design changes through the years. We recommend getting one in a neutral shade or fabric, so that it would be easy to change your look every few years or so. A sectional sofa is great, because it can be configured in small or roomy spaces, and may be used either by one person, or five.

The bed. Mattresses aren’t items you should scrimp on. Aside from the fact that it should give you well-rested sleep every single night, it should also be strong enough to last you from five to 10 years. Beds affect your posture more than you can imagine, so it also benefits your health when you get a mattress that provides significant support to your back and your limbs and appendages. Read more about our Guide to Mattress Shopping here.

The dining set. Again, this is an often-used furniture set in any house. In some homes, the dining table is also utilised as an extra surface for kitchen work. Choose a dining set that will provide two extra seats—if, for example, there’s four of you in your household, get a dining table that accommodates six. This will be especially useful when unexpected guests drop by for dinner.

Kitchen cabinets. The look of your kitchen relies heavily on the cabinetry. When you’ve got enough storage space for all your tools and ingredients, cooking becomes such a breeze. And ask any cook or chef and they’ll tell you that a nice-looking kitchen makes the task of preparing meals so much better and easier.

Save on…

Side tables. While extra surfaces are always good to have, they’re not essential. Side tables, often found in living rooms or bedrooms, may take the form of anything you might already have in your home: wooden crates you use for storing, a chair, even a tall pile of sturdy books.

Chairs. The trend nowadays is to mix and match designer chairs, but these things of beauty are often too expensive. Even reproductions of designer chairs can sometimes cost an arm and a leg. Delay your investment for the meantime, as there are plenty other options in the market that won’t be as costly. There are furniture stores with chairs that have reasonably priced products, which already look as good as designer ones. If you already have chairs at home but don’t find them as appealing, it’s easy to have them slipcovered for the time being.

Shelves and cabinets. These furniture pieces are easily one of the most thrift-able items. Instead of going to the mall, check out furniture thrift stores for secondhand hutches that are as good-looking as brand new ones. Or, why not upcycle your old wooden ladder into a bookshelf in the study, or a towel rack in the bathroom? If you already have a hutch at home that has already lost its appeal, a quick coat of paint will brighten it up.

Article contributed by Cromly

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