Why quality furniture takes (so long!) 8+ weeks!
This might surprise you, but often quality furniture can take 8 weeks or more to create and deliver. Some pieces can even take as much as 6 months! Shocking- I know, but let me explain. The main difference is in the quality of each element that goes into the manufacturing of all pieces used to make each furniture.
For instance the construction of a sofa seat consists of many parts, but one of the main elements in a quality seat made with tempered springs, on an eight way tie, with both foam and down as the seat cushion. This eight way tieing is done by hand, which can take some time to accomplish. There are some lower quality furniture Manufacturers who will do a 5 way tie- this is not as high of a quality furniture pieces as the eight way, though it will take a little less time.
If you are looking for a quality leather sofa, be sure you are looking at top grain leather. Genuine leather is a misleading label and often is the lowest quality of leather. Top grain leather is often dyed and usually by hand, so this also takes some time.
The frame of a quality furniture piece will be made with kiln dried wood. Why? Because if you build a piece of furniture that has been made with almost any other treated wood, it will most likely bow and change shape over time as moisture escapes the wood over time. when wood is kiln dried it is highly unlikely it will warp or change shape since all the moisture has been removed from the wood. This process can take several days or even weeks depending on the type of wood.
Drawers and corners of furniture that are made with a detail called dovetailing are only found in quality pieces of furniture. Often lower quality manufacturers will simply nail and glue the corners of their furniture together because it takes less time and costs them less to manufacturer. The only problem is, the furniture pieces don’t last as long.
There are several other elements that make a quality piece of furniture, but these are some of the easiest elements to be able to see when you are shopping for furniture. That being said, be aware that all of these quality elements are usually hand made, and take time. Because these elements take time and skilled personnel to make them, they will take a longer period of time to make.
Designer Tip: Don’t be mislead by labels! Simply because it has a higher price tag doesn’t mean the furniture is a quality piece. For instance Restoration Hardware, though is very good at advertising and has some amazing photographers, be aware that not all of their furniture is made with these quality manufacturing elements. that’s not to say that all of their furniture is crap either, but just keep an eye out for details like the ones I listed above to determine what is worth your time and money, and which is not.
Avoid Common Furniture Mistakes
Here is a list of common mistakes I see clients (before they hire me) make:
- window drapes are too short
- window drapes are mounted too low on the wall
- too short or too tall nightstands
- too short lamps
- Artwork is mounted too high on the wall
- artwork is too small or too large
- too many accessories
- under utilization of storage options
- ceiling lighting is too small
- too trendy
the list goes on, but these are some of the most common mistakes I see clients making. If you would like to better understand how to avoid these mistakes, check out my e-book "Everything You Need to Know About Interior Design" on Amazon and you will get every little "secret" I have on making your home mistake-free! Click HERE for my e-book.
The Best Size Furniture in Your Home
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The most common sizes of furniture are the following:
Sofa (3 seater): 78-90” W x 34-38” D x 30”H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Love Seat (2 seater): 56-68” W x 34-38” D x 30”H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Chaise Lounge Chair: 72-90” W x 30-36” D x 30” H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Club Chair: 30-36” W x 30-36” D x 30” H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Dining Chair (with arms): 22-24” W x 16-24” D x 30” H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Dining Chair (without arms): 18-22” W x 16-24” D x 30” H (with an 18” Seat Height)
Coffee Table (square): 24-48” W x 24-48” D x 18” H
Coffee Table (rectangle): 24-48” W x 16-28” D x 18” H
Cocktail Table (Round Coffee Table): 18-32” D x 18” H
Ottoman: 22-46” W x 22-46” D x 18” H
End Table: 14-24” W x 14-24” D x 24-30” H
Rectangular Dining Table: 36-48” W x 36-48” D x 30” H
Round Dining Table: 36-60” D x 30” H
Drop Leaf Table: 36-72”W x 31-63” (with leaves) x 30” H
Console Table: 48-72” W x 15-20” D x 30”H
Desk: 28-48” W x 24-30” D x 30”H
Buffet: 48-72” W x 16-26” D x 24-30” H
Armoire: 36-60” W x 30-30”D x 48-60”H
Dresser: 30-74” W x 20-24” D x 30”H
Nightstand: 14-24” W x 14-24” D x 24-30”H
What to expect when purchasing furniture
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Furniture can range a lot in pricing but it all comes down to quality. In most cases you get what you pay for with furniture, but there is that rare occasion when you can find quality furniture for a discounted price (usually around major holidays).
Below is a list of general mid-range prices to consider when purchasing furniture:
36”x 84” Sofa: $2300-$4000
30” x 60” Lounge Chair: $925-$1050
30”x 60” Coffee Table: $500-$800
Bed Frame: $600-$1700
24” x 30” Side Table/ Nightstand: $200-$400
24” x 48” Writing Table: $750
24” x 72” Dresser: $1700
