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It can be an expression and extension of individual style and taste, and can also be a source of major investment within your home.
Furniture should be stylish, practical and made to last using top quality materials such as oak and other hard woods.
When using wood for furniture it is best to find pieces made combining the best traditional and modern woodworking methods.
This will ensure quality and durability.
Hand crafted items should be made using dovetail joints and wooden runners and should have solid wood sides, bases and backs to avoid being compared to run of the mill flat pack items.
Types of wood to consider if looking for solid items are oak, pine, mango and mahogany, ensuring there are no veneers, laminates or MDF sections hidden within the pieces.
Colours and shades of furniture will deepen over time and some solid woods can expand slightly when settled in the home.
Some woods will show knots and others have unique wood grain patterns making each piece of wooden furniture unique in its own way.
If painting pine furniture it can be very difficult to prevent the knots bleeding through over time, this can either add character or completely ruin the look of the chosen piece depending on how it is perceived.
When considering a substantial purchase of furniture for the home it is worth keeping the following in mind, Age, Home, Finances or AHF as an easy buying reminder: Age - Will the search be for brand new goods from a big furniture store or for second hand goods from an independent seller or even in an antique store for something with a little bit of history behind it.
Home - Consider what will actually suit the home or room the furniture will be going into.
Different styles of furniture will suit different styles of home.
Choices will vary depending on the characteristics present.
Cottages, modern apartments and holiday homes for example would each require their own unique blend of pieces.
Finances - Never forgetting the all important budget, it is advisable to not always let the heart rule the head.
Shopping around could prove advantageous if looking at branded or mass produced items just as saving would help be prepared if a much sought after antique becomes available.
Whatever style, age and price bracket is chosen, good quality, solid furniture is an asset that if chosen carefully can be passed on through generations of the family, although this tradition probably occurs less frequently with such a vast amount of imported reasonably priced furniture currently available.
Using the AHF furniture guide to make a well informed choice the first time around will help to avoid having to frequently replace broken or damaged poor quality furniture.
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