Okay THIS You Can Buy Online

As I was purusing the internet, I came across every furniture lover's dream. I normally, as you know, do not advocate buying furniture over the internet. Shopping for it over the internet is fine, researching it is fine, but buying I think creates more problems than anything else. Anyway, I found something I love, but that no self-respecting furniture store would buy: the car sofa.

For giggles or for your television room, go ahead and check them out. I have no idea what the quality is like, but what a great little item! Oh and for the record, they aren't paying me or anything, I just thought it was a cool idea.

Update

Sorry for the absence, but an emergency came up. Sure, emergencies come up even in the furniture guy world. I will be back later this evening and the rest of the week with great furniture information for the furniture consumer.

Don't forget to check the Furniture Guy blog every day. Again, my apologies for the absence.

The Furniture Guy

Consider Your Salesperson a Resource

I know this goes against overtaking you think about retail sales people, but if you get the right sales person in a furniture store, use him or her. Your furniture sales person can be your greatest resource when it comes to your furniture shopping experience. He or she should be able to help you with not only choosing furniture, but also learning about it. I know that as a salesperson, I actually enjoyed the opportunities to help people more than those lay down write 'em up sales.

Inside Furniture had a post a few days back where sales people in furniture were referred to as a furniture counselor, and I find that refreshing. I also find it is the trend in retail furniture sales; sales people are becoming less pushy and more helpful. They are on your side rather than it being you against them. There was a second post at Inside Furniture where the idea of the internet with furniture marketing comes into play. I think it is certainly worth a read if you are planning to shop for furniture. It will give you a feel for the retailers' side of the online furniture industry.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy

Top 3 Furniture Sites For Consumers to Check Out

While I usually discourage customers from actually buying furniture online, that does not mean there aren't good furniture websites out there that can help you. For one, there is this one (this is where you give Furniture Guy his props), but there are actually others as well. When it comes time for you to shop for furniture, be sure to read and/or email the Furniture Guy, but you may also want to stop by and check out these sites:

Furniture Fan: This site is designed as a way for you to do one-stop browsing of furniture. With unbiased listings of furniture, furniture retailers, and furniture manufacturers on their site, this is a great place to start shopping.

Consumer Reports: If you don't know who Consumer Reports is, then you need to learn. This is a great place to visit no matter what kind of shopping you are doing. Virtually any product you would want has been tested and graded by this great company for retail customers.

Furniture Brains: This site is one jam packed with information for you. You can find information about furniture stores in your area, furniture websites, furniture advertising, and the industry as a whole. This is a great place to visit once you have done some looking around and are ready to walk into a *gasp* furniture store.

Hopefully these sites are of some help to you. To me, they certainly looked worthwhile to you. Oh and just for the record, I have no affiliation with any of them. I legitimately find these to be great resources for you. If you have any feedback, the Furniture Guy communication lines are always open.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy

What About Leather recliner?

Those who enjoy having the best often go straight for leather. There is certainly nothing wrong with that since it is the most durable upholstery material known to man. There are times, though, that I think going with all leather is actually a bit of a disadvantage. One of those times is when you are talking about a recliner.

Don't get me wrong, a leather recliner is nice, but a 100% leather recliner actually presents problems. When I talk about 100% leather recliners, I mean a recliner on which every inch is upholstered with leather. The other option is a leather-match recliner which is one where leather is on the seat, back, and arms (everywhere your body touches)and the rest is a color matched vinyl. Why would this be better than all leather? I have a couple of reasons.

For one reason, it is cheaper. For getting a leather feel, you are paying as much as 50% less than on a 100% leather recliner.

The other reason is functional. Leather, as you may know, will stretch. As a recliner goes back and forth to positions, leather can have a tendency to get stretched out and tend to wrinkle. Going purely on what I have seen time and time again, the look is ugly and customers (that's you) end up unhappy. The vinyl on a leather-match, though, has more of a chance of maintaining its look and shape for a longer time.

Hopefully this will help you make a more informed decision when it comes to leather recliners. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with all leather, but just know going in that you may end up with a wrinkly back and sides on your chair.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy

Choosing a Recliner

I was looking at a blog post by Gillian Markson at Families.com regarding recliners. She had some really good things to say, and I think a look at it is worthwhile if you are considering a recliner. I would just like to add a few things to it.

The interesting thing about recliners is that they are one of the few pieces of furniture that actually have mechanics to them. That means that they not only have to look good and feel good, they also have to work. It sounds simple, but you would be surprised how few people shop for a recliner, but give the mechanism in them little thought.

The first thing you should do, then, is to find out about the reclining mechanism and its warranty. This is one instance where I will absolutely tell you that name brands have an advantage. The two leading motion furniture manufacturers, La-Z-Boy and Lane, have great warranty coverage on their reclining mechanisms, which makes the extra money well worth it in my view.

Secondly, I would make sure that the recliner reaches the positions that you and or your spouse want. When you are in the store, sit in the chair, recline the chair, and make sure it feels right.

Finally, make sure the recliner will fit through doorways. Additionally, find out if the recliner comes apart. The back will come off of some, but not off of others.

When looking for a recliner, take some time to consider the mechanics and you will be a much happier customer.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy

Is Discount Bedroom Furniture Worth the Money?

As a salesperson, it was always amazing to me how often I got the question: "where is your cheapest dresser?" No care about look, quality, or anything other than price. There is certainly a place in this world for that $60 dresser we used to sell, but if you are looking at discount bedroom furniture, there are some things to consider.

WHAT IS IT FOR?

Consider what the furniture is for. That plywood dresser and nightstand are probably okay for a rarely used guest room or as a storage unit in the garage. On the other hand, it is probably not going to last when your 13 year old decides to stand on it to hang a poster on his ceiling.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU?

Often times, discount bedroom furniture is ready to assemble (RTA) furniture. That means it will likely come in a series of flat boxes. From them, you will pull many pieces of wood, screws, and pages of instructions. If you just spend a couple of hundred more, you can get something that is already assembled and that is going to likely last longer. Remember, it is not always price, but value for that price.

HOW LONG DO YOU WANT IT?

If the dresser from that discount bedroom furniture set costs $70, how long do you think it will last? I would actually say that just by spending another $50 to $100 on a piece of bedroom furniture you will get a lot more than twice the wear out of it.

So when it comes time to make a purchase of bedroom furniture, consider price but not exclusively. A cheap piece has its place, but make sure you are getting it for the right purposes and your expectations are correct. You don't have to buy the most expensive set to get your money's worth, but buying discount bedroom furniture is something you should really think about since it always seemed basically disposable to me.

What is a Contemporary Bedroom Furniture Set?

An interesting thing about the furniture industry is that many of the terms are either vague or at least varied in their meaning. Contemporary is definitely one of those words that is a matter of personal ideal. When I used to sell, and even to some extend when I was managing a store, I found that nearly every customer had a different idea of what contemporary was. Though it is somewhat vague, contemporary bedroom furniture does have a few fairly common characteristics.

Have you ever seen those videos from the 1950’s where they show off “modern” homes? For the most part, contemporary bedroom furniture, ironically, is most any set that looks like it belongs in one of those 50’s modern homes. Then again, it is also anything that looks like it belongs in a Manhattan loft.

By and large, contemporary bedroom furniture is simple with clean lines. You will likely see a lot of chrome in it or on it in terms of the hardware. Often times, the base color is dark like a cherry or mahogany stain Go to any bedroom furniture site and click on their contemporary bedroom furniture and the range of looks you will see will vary greatly. There may be leather covered beds, metal dressers, or even shellacked looks. You can, though, usually count on the clean lines and finished looks.

Remember, though, when you buy anything that is contemporary or trendy, you run the risk of it going out of style. Then again, contemporary bedroom furniture has not changed much in the last ten years so maybe you will be okay.

So feel free to click around, find some online contemporary bedroom sets that you like before you go to your local store. That way you know what look you like and can ask for something more specific than contemporary bedroom furniture.

A couple of things of which to be aware when looking at contemporary bedroom furniture:

- Shellacked or glazed looking sets often show fingerprints very easily. Check the floor model in the store where you are to see. If it is showing fingerprints in the store, it will in your home.

- Contemporary bedroom furniture is often very big. Make sure you measure well because the set is going to look smaller in the showroom than it will in your home.

- Because contemporary bedrooms are usually covered with dark stains, dark veneers, or even shellac, it can be difficult to tell visually what the set is made of. Make sure you ask and find out so that you can get the best possible quality.

Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy

What to Look for in Kids' Bedroom Furniture

Kids’ bedroom furniture is a hot market for furniture retailers. For you, that means that there is more out there to choose from, higher quality, and a continual flow of new designs. What, though, should you be looking for in kids’ bedroom furniture? There are a few things to consider with two of the more popular types of kids’ bedroom furniture.

Bunk Beds:

When it comes to buying bunk beds, there are a couple of things to realize. First of all, many furniture retail stores do not sell “Bunkie boards” with their bunk beds. The Bunkie board is the board that lies under the mattress to act as a foundation. Essentially, it is MDF wrapped in cloth, but it is completely necessary. So when looking at and purchasing bunk beds, ask about the Bunkie.

Next, look for bunk beds that are going to be easy for a child to get into and out of. Is the ladder sturdy and easy for your child to use? Is there another way up and down? You should even have your child try out the floor model to be sure.

Captain’s Beds:

In case you don’t know already, captain’s beds are the beds that sit on top of a drawer set. These are becoming incredibly popular because they offer extra storage for children that have way too many clothes, toys, and what not. Additionally, they do not look too childish so that your son or daughter will outgrow the look too soon.

Many captain’s beds take Bunkie boards as well because a regular box spring will sit the mattress up too high. Be sure to ask. Also, since many have the option of a bookcase headboard, always ask your sale associate what comes with the bed at the price you see. In many stores, including the one where I used to work, many of the parts, extra drawers, various headboards, etc. are sold separately. Many also have certain groupings sold at set prices. Make sure you are always clear on what you are getting with a captain’s bed.

Overall Kids’ Bedroom Furniture

There are also a few things to keep in mind when buying kids’ bedroom furniture no matter what the exact type:

- Find something that will grow with your child; he may not like that racecar bed by the time he is 13, which means you will be buying another set then.

- Watch for safety: captains beds should have a way to open from underneath, toy chests should not lock, and look for good rails on top bunks.

- Don’t skimp on the mattress because he or she is “just a kid.” Your little one is growing as he or she sleeps and a good mattress can ensure proper spine alignment and back support.

- Bring along your child to make he or she part of the process. They will be much more accepting of the set that way.

Finally, keep in mind that everything we discussed about your bedroom furniture goes for kids’ bedroom furniture as well. Also, always remember to ask about assembly requirements and options since a lot of kids’ bedroom furniture is ready to assemble (RTA) to some degree.

Oh and one more thing…make sure you measure!

MDF and Particle Board Furniture Answers

Since bedroom furniture is largely made of wood, this seems like a pretty good place to talk about wood furniture that is not made of solid wood. I am talking, of course, about the infamous Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and particle board furniture. They both do have a place in furniture, and in some ways get a bad rap. Consider some of the pros, cons, and uses of both.


MDF:

What it is: Medium Density Fibreboard is wood fibers that have been glued together with heat and pressure to make hardboard.

Advantages: MDF is stiff, has no knots or holes to deal with, it is hard, and it is fairly strong. Additionally, it is easy to work with, taking paint, laminates, veneers, and varnishes really well. It is also less expensive than a hard or solid wood piece. Solid wood, of course, is always better, but when it comes to hitting a price point while still maintaining some quality and look, MDF is not a bad way to go. Just always make sure you ask your sales associate what is under a veneer.

Disadvantages: MDF’s biggest drawback is that it is not solid wood. Aside from that, though, it does tend to split sometimes when you put screws into it. Additionally, you should always use caution when sanding or cutting MDF (if you are going to do that to your new furniture, but just be aware of the issue). The glues that are used in it can be dangerous when released into the air.


Particle Board:

What it is: There are some who confuse or interchange the names MDF and Particle Board. There is, though, a real difference. Particle board is made similarly to MDF, but is made of more coarse pieces than MDF is. With particle board, you can actually see the pieces usually.

Advantages: Basically it is cheap. Usually, particle board is used for floor underlayment and on roofs more than for furniture construction.

Disadvantages: For furniture, it is generally not strong enough and is subject to chipping and flaking. Occasionally you will see it used in Ready to Assemble (RTA) furniture. Make sure when reviewing what your furniture is made of, you get that distinction between particle and MDF.

MDF and Particle Board are certainly not the only materials you will find being used for furniture construction, but they are the most common aside from solid wood. As always, when you purchase furniture, make sure you find out about the construction. MDF is not always all bad, just always make sure you are getting what you pay for at all times.

See you tomorrow,
The Furniture Guy

Shopping for Bedroom Furniture II

After talking with several people about it, I found that a lot of people out there either have misconceptions about or do not understand the nature of wood at all when it comes to furniture. So this morning, I want to talk a little bit about bedroom furniture construction.

First of all, the wood:
Contrary to what you may think, there is nothing wrong with a veneer as long as it is the right veneer. A veneer is really just a very thin slice of something (in this case, wood). On furniture, there are a number of veneer types including lamenant and yes, photo veneers (where paper with a picture of wood grain is stuck onto either wood or particle board). Nearly every piece of wooden furniture you see will have a veneer on it. For the best quality, you will likely want to look for something that is solid wood with a wood veneer on it. This will give you durability and a good looking grain.

Though a breakdown of different types of wood is to come in the next few days, just keep in mind that a hard wood will be harder to scratch and chip than a soft wood. A soft wood, though, will still give you durability, you just might want to think about a distressed look so that the inevitable nicks and scrapes that come with a soft wood will blend in.

Secondly, the look:
Decide early on a couple of looks you want to limit yourself to. Do you like a contemporary look? Victorian or traditional bedroom furniture? Do you like something rustic? What you decide will not only help determine how much you can expect to spend, but also make your shopping process easier by limiting the sets you look at. The more refined the look, the more you will likely pay. That is, a traditional set of bedroom furniture will almost always cost more than a rustic set.

Finally, the way it is put together:
Modern technology has made furniture construction as good as ever for the cost. Glues are as strong as nails and nails are secured with adhesives and machine driving. I would suggest drawers that have two tracks of metal on plastic. Personally, and when I was selling bedroom furniture, I found that wood on wood tended to stick more. I also found that one track drawers came off track easier. These are little things that are largely personal preference, but it is something to be aware of.

As for dovetailing, when all furniture was hand made, this was important. However, with the glues and tacking technology available in factories today, I never found dovetail drawers to last significantly longer than those without it, however; if you like the idea of dovetailing for either the look or just your own construction beliefs, go for it. I just would not recommend making it a deal breaker on an otherwise good piece of wooden bedroom furniture.

KEEP IN MIND: If you have wood on wood drawers that are sticking, soap 'em up. Try rubbing bar soap on the track and the drawer to reduce the friction without causing the wood any damage.

KEEP IN MIND: Most consumers of furniture buy based on two things: look and price. While you certainly should consider both, don't be afraid to shop around to get those with the right level of quality.

Shopping For Bedroom Furniture Part I

Because it is so intimate and personal, buying bedroom furniture can be quite an adventure. Your bedroom is, for many, the room to which you can escape. It is a place that will likely really reflect your sense of style and comfort. There are, though, some issues about which you must be aware when buying bedroom furniture. If you go in with the right mindset and a solid understanding of bedroom furniture, then you can certainly have a positive and even enjoyable experience.

First of all, as was mentioned in yesterday's post, make sure you measure. Bedroom furniture is quite possibly not only the largest furniture, but also the least flexible. Because most of it is wood and thus not flexible, there is no room to be off on measurements. Headboards and dressers are particularly troublesome pieces when it comes to fitting through doorways and up stairs.

Secondly, decide what pieces you want in your bedroom. In many furniture stores, you will see displays that show a bed, two night stands, a dresser, mirror, and chest of drawers. You may even find a lingerie chest, armoire, and accent table included in the display as well. Few if any bedrooms (besides the display one) are big enough to accommodate all those pieces. Measure carefully and decide what you really need in your room.

Third, go into the store with some idea of what style you are looking for. Decide if you want a retro, a contemporary, a traditional, a Victorian, or some completely different style in your room. Since many furniture stores carry hundreds of bedroom set options and styles when you take special ordering into account, having an idea of what you are after will allow the sale person to assist you as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Get these three things in order, and you are ready to enter the furniture store. There are, though, still plenty of decisions to be made and ideas to consider when you make that initial visit to the store. Don't worry, we will be there to help you with that part too as we continue to look at bedroom furniture this week.

See you tomorrow,
The Furniture Guy

Measure Your Furniture....And Your Room

Believe it or not, making your furniture shopping and buying experience a good one starts before you ever set foot in a store. It even starts before you have decided what piece or pieces of furniture you need, what color you want, or even what style you like. One of the best things you can do to make sure you have a good furniture experience is measure. Measure to save yourself disappointment, time, and money.

Now most people, when planning to furnish a room, do measure, but the problem is that they don't measure everything they need to. Sure, you might measure the room dimensions to see where everything is going to go, but you are likely to forget that the furniture has to get in and out of the room. Look to see how many doorways and hallways the pieces have to go through, what types of turns they have to make, and where furniture will have to go up or down stairs.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to measure your doorways, stairwells, and hallways all three. Remember that your furniture not only has to fit in the room, and through the doorways, but it also has to turn corners and fit under the overhang of any stairwells in the path to the final room. Also, bear in mind that there is no such thing, despite what you may think, as a standard doorway. Sure, carpenters and builders shoot for certain sizes, but over time your home may settle, boards may warp, and builders may even take liberties in design. Saying to your salesperson that the furniture will fit because “I have a standard door” is an invitation for problems. Also, nobody consults furniture manufacturers (many of whom are located overseas) on door sizes or hallway widths.

Though your salesperson should be able to help you figure out what will fit, you must bring the right information. Measure the width and height of each doorway as well as the distance to any immediate walls through that doorway. Additionally, if your furniture (including mattresses) needs to go upstairs, measure the distance from the steps to the ceiling above the stairs. If you have a hallway from which you have to make a turn, measure the height in the turn, the width from the corner to the wall, and widths on both sides of the turn. If you keep in mind that there is no such thing as over measuring for furniture, you should be fine.

These measurements will certainly take time, but it is time well spent. With most furniture retailers, your best case scenario is that when it does not fit you will lose your delivery fee. The worst case scenario is that they will say "tough," not take the furniture back, or at least charge you a restocking fee. In other words, save yourself, the salesperson, the store a lot of time, trouble, and money by making sure you have thoroughly measured before going in and even beginning to shop.

KEEP IN MIND: In my experience in the furniture industry, stairwells cause more problems than anything else. Make sure you measure stairs thoroughly.

KEEP IN MIND: The most commonly returned pieces due to “will not fit,” are large headboards (especially king sized), mattresses (the foundation doesn’t bend, remember), large sofas, and dining room sets.

The Furniture Guy

Why Furniture Guy?

Furniture seems to be an endless source of stress for many of you. In particular, the furniture buying experience seems to be a source of high stress, but it should not be. Furniture should be a feel good purchase. It should be about reflecting your taste and your desire for comfort for yourself and for others. Why, then, is it such a dreadful experience for many? In my experience in the industry, it is because consumers are uneducated or mis-educated about furniture, about retail furniture stores, and about what to expect when you walk into a furniture store.

Hopefully, in this space, you will find the information you need to make furniture a source of enjoyment, rather than dread, for you. We will be happy to answer any questions you send in as promptly as possible. Additionally, with our staff's combined experience in the furniture industry (sales, management, and maintenance), we will try to educate you thoroughly about furniture from the bedroom to the living room, from leather to plastic, and from ready to assemble (RTA) furniture to the top of the line brands. We hope we are of some help.

Sincerely,
The Furniture Guy Staff