West Elm declined to comment for this story. Just before college graduation, my roommate and I scored a deal: a third-floor apartment in a Baltimore rowhouse that came fully furnished. The next year, looking for a change of neighborhood, we moved into a two-story townhouse, but this rental was barren inside. Almost by default, we made a trek southbound on I to Ikea shortly after we moved in.
The Swedish global furniture behemoth opened its first store in the U. Since then it has expanded to 40 retail locations, and while Europe continues to be its biggest retail market, Ikea has grown in popularity in the U.
What that means in practice is that Ikea consistently looks to its library of approved construction materials when designing a new piece of furniture. So, for example: According to Elm, Ikea knows where to source wood, such as pine, birch, and beech, and knows when to use, or not use, solid wood—which is traditionally more expensive than engineered wood—in its furniture. That includes the choice of material, how well you construct it in order to be efficient for logistics.
Ikea furniture is at a price point most people can manage. At the end of that year, when I moved out, I paid my roommate for the other half of the couch, and have since moved four times in the last five years with that sofa.
The answers, well—they vary. The average sofa in the U. Most sofa manufacturers can estimate how long a sofa will last based solely on the price. What drives the cost of any sofa is the cost of the raw materials that make up its main components—wood for the frame, foam for the cushions, and the fabric the cushions are draped in—and the labor to build it.
The thicker the cushion, the more costly it is for the manufacturer to produce it. For small manufacturers, this is where the squeeze of furniture manufacturing becomes real. Dowels, screws and pegs are all good signs, as are dovetails. Corners should include a reinforcing lock and large pieces should include a crossbar for bracing. Furniture that includes fabric adds another layer you can inspect.
For chairs, sofas or loveseats check to see if the cushions are zippered and removable for cleaning. They should fit well, with matching patterns and weave. The seat should be a solid block of foam, rather than chips, and should be lined with a protective covering of cotton or muslin.
Seams should be even, strong and show no loose thread or signs of strain. There should also be tags with care and washing instructions. With furniture that include metal as part of its design, there are a few things to note. Metal legs, arms or other free-floating items should be welded into a solid joint rather than attached with screws and bolts. The welding itself should be even, show no signs of cracking or wear and ideally be ground down for minimal visual impact.
If buying more than one, each chair should be uniform in style, shape and height. Last Friday I went thrifting and took you along for the ride. It was a really fun day browsing my favorite shops- for some, it had been over a year since Who could find talking about furniture boring?!
Happily, over the years I have learned most of these tricks. I have struggled identifying genuine leather on thrifted pieces cue me intently sniffing furniture. Plus, we all know the hunt is half the fun!
I love these list posts! I feel like I was rambling there for a bit. Leather can be tricky and the sniff test is tricky these days while wearing masks. I just ordered 50 really gorgeous nero marble serving boards for the shop, asked the maker multiple times if it was genuine marble, to which they responded yes. I waited 5 months for them to arrive, only to realize they are in fact- NOT marble.
Team vintage, for sure! One of my main frustrations with looking at new furniture is the craftsmanship. There are beautiful pieces of furniture out there, but sadly not a lot that are made with exceptional craftsmanship.
My FIL turned me into quite the skilled searcher when it comes to quality. He owns a custom woodworking business, and has been my go-to when I have a question about something. Great tips Sarah! Maybe a follow-up post on that would be a good one. Have a happy Tuesday! That is definitely me! Crawling around inspecting pieces, carrying way too many things in my arms in an awkward way, and going back and forth to decide if I actually want something.
Weight is another big indication or imperfections. As for the brass or metal- carry a magnet in your purse! I learned that trick from my friend Kyla!
I know what a dovetail looks like, but not sure about the others. Not a silly question at all, Jonelle! Makes me so mad when you take your time to find something you like and it fits your space to fall apart after warranty. I have learned my lesson and you have pointed out a few key things about fabrics that I will use in the future. Cannot wait to read about your sweet grandmother.
I love that lots of your furniture is holding up perfectly- I think that makes it more special… having it for years, and the memories associated with that as a backdrop in your home. Bummer about your sofa unraveling.
Great advice! Knowing when to walk away takes discipline but is definitely important.
0コメント