It’s easy to get carried away when shopping for new furniture and forget some of the important practical details.
Whether you’re buying a new sofa or a new wardrobe, here are a few important things you mustn’t forget when buying new furniture.
Taking measurements
Once you’ve decided where you want to place your furniture, it’s important to measure out this space. If you don’t take measurements, you could risk buying furniture that’s too large. Don’t rely on guesswork – a piece of furniture may look a lot smaller in a showroom than it does in your home.
Make sure to measure all the dimensions of the space. It could also be worth measuring any doorways and corridors that the furniture has to pass through, as well as measuring your vehicle’s boot space if you plan to transport the furniture home yourself.
Budgeting for delivery fees
Getting furniture delivered to your home can often be a lot more convenient than taking it home yourself. However, most furniture stores will charge a delivery fee. This fee may vary depending on the item of furniture, how far it needs to be transported and how easy it is to manoeuvre into your home.
Make sure that you’re able to afford this fee on top of the cost of the furniture, otherwise you’ll have to work out a way of picking it up yourself (hiring a van is likely to be more expensive).
Removing old furniture
If you’re replacing old furniture, you’ll need to work out what to do with your old furniture. Some furniture stores will collect your old furniture for you, however this will usually be for an added fee. Consider whether to opt for this, or to dispose of the furniture yourself. Aim to dispose of your old furniture the day that your new furniture arrives.
If you’ve got lots of stuff to get rid of, it could be worth hiring a skip from a company like Sheridan Skips. If your old furniture is still in good condition, you may be able to donate or sell it – there are many used furniture companies and charities you can use to do this, as well as the option of selling your furniture privately online via sites like Facebook and Gumtree.
Updating home insurance
Many home insurance providers require you to name specific contents in your home that you want to insure. If you do not update your home insurance after buying new furniture, this new furniture may not be covered in the event of a disaster.
Some furniture stores will allow you to take out insurance for your furniture, which could be another option. This is different from a warranty, which may cover faults with the product, but not damage from a fire, natural disaster or break-in.
Maintaining your furniture
When choosing furniture, consider what types of maintenance this furniture needs. A good maintenance schedule could help to extend the life of your furniture.
This can be very important with certain types of outdoor furniture, which may benefit from being regularly repainted. Furniture such as sofas can meanwhile benefit from being deep-cleaned every few years.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
