Buying Furniture
Everyone enjoys a comfortably furnished home where everything is just the way they want
it and today, more than ever before, it is possible to have just what you want. Thanks to
new materials, construction and styles, consumers can find an almost unlimited range of
furniture in every style and price range.
As with any investment, however, it pays to keep some basic facts in mind before you begin
shopping for furniture.
Quick Checklist:
To get the most for your furniture dollar, be sure to:
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Plan carefully before you shop.
Set up a budget, and then stick to it.
Shop around for quality and price as well as for credit terms and service.
Read all the tag and label information provided by the seller and manufacturer.
Check the construction of case goods and upholstered furniture for durability.
Find out how the furniture is constructed. Is the wood bonded or veneered? If the
furniture has a finish, find out the kind of wood to which the finish has been applied.
In the case of upholstered furniture, find out what the frame is made of; determine
what the outer covering is composed of, what its properties are and how it should be
cared for.
Know your seller and check them out at BBB.org. Wise consumers know the seller’s
reputation and experience before they buy. Remember that trustworthy business
people will answer all questions fully and will not rush you into buying.
Ask your retailer important questions.
o Determine the store's cancelation and return policy.
o Be careful about your deposit amount and requirements if placing a custom
order. Do your best to follow the BBB 3-3-3 rule. Place 1/3 down, 1/3 upon
shipping, 1/3 upon delivery.
Payments should be made with a credit card to gain the most protection should
something go wrong with your order. Check with your financial institution for
complete details and keep in mind according to the NYS Department of Financial
Services, debit card purchases are deducted from your account immediately and may
not offer the same protections as a credit card.
The BBB does not recommend making deposits or payment with cash or check.
Find out what the warranty does and does not cover.
Get the specifics of any agreement in writing and read the fine print to make sure
your expectations are completely defined.
The purpose of the information below is to provide you, the consumer, with basic
information and guidelines so you can have the most enjoyment and the most value for
your furniture dollar. It is general in nature and is not a report on any particular company.
The BBB does not endorse, recommend, or disapprove of any company, product or service.
Plan Before You Buy
A good way to save time, money and the risk of disappointment is to keep some basic
points of furniture buying in mind both before and when you shop.
Know what you need
Consider your needs carefully. Whether you are furnishing a room, an entire home or simply
buying a single item of furniture, decide just what you need and how long you will need it.
For example, do you need "short term" furniture such as a baby crib that will soon be
outgrown, or do you need "long term" furniture such as a table or chest of drawers to be
used for many years? Keeping your needs in mind will help you save time and money when
you begin to shop.
Know how it will be used
Knowing how furniture will be used, and by whom, is important in deciding what style,
construction and material are best for you. For example, single persons and older couples
may select styles and fabrics that would not be a wise choice for a couple with young
children and a family pet. Your furniture use is an important factor in deciding what to buy.
Know how much space you have
The size of the rooms you are furnishing is an important element in selecting every item for
your home. It is a good idea to draw up a floor plan of your home and sketch in different
sizes and arrangements of furniture to see how you can make the best use of the space you
have. You may want to buy one of the room planning kits that are on the market and have
instructions for drawing scale model plans of rooms and items of furniture. (Some retailers
will assist you in drawing up a floor and furniture plan but there may be a charge for this
service. Find out in advance.) In planning your furniture size, keep in mind the width of
stairs, halls and doorways. Many newer houses and apartments have rooms smaller than
you may be used to and it is important to select furniture that can easily be moved in and
around rooms and hallways. In determining size, keep in mind that you may move.
Know how much you can spend
Wise shoppers set up a budget and stick to it. Know before you shop just how much you can
spend for everything you need and how much of that total you want to spend for each item.
You may want to spend more for a high quality table you'll use for many years and spend
less for a medium quality play pen that your child will soon outgrow.
Keeping your NEEDS, USE, SPACE and BUDGET in mind you can carry your planning further
by seeing how professional decorators select furniture to fit a variety of spaces and life
styles. Visit the model rooms in furniture or department stores as well as new "model"
homes and apartments that are furnished by professional decorators. These models not only
give you a good many ideas about different furniture styles, but also show how furniture is
selected for each room to make the best use of the available space. It is a good idea to
measure the furniture yourself.
In addition, look through different home and decorating magazines for ideas on how to
make the best use of space. Most of these magazines also carry advertisements by furniture
manufacturers that will give you an idea of the different styles and materials that are on the
market. Also, almost daily there are advertisements in local newspapers offering furniture.
You'll find everything from expensive upholstered items to well-designed, inexpensive
furniture in "do-it-yourself" assembly kits and unfinished furniture lines.
Know Your Seller
Wise consumers know the seller before they buy. Ask your neighbors and friends for
recommendations and, if possible, shop around before you buy. Remember that reputable
business people will answer all questions fully and will not rush you into buying. They want
their customers to be satisfied, and they want you to recommend them to others. If you
have any questions about the reliability of a company, check with your Better Business
Bureau.
Furniture Types and Terms
There are two basic types of furniture, upholstered furniture and case goods.
Upholstered furniture has fabric covered cushions or padded sections such as sofas. Case
goods refers to furniture that is not upholstered such as tables, chests, cabinets and
shelves.
Both upholstered furniture and case goods can be constructed of a variety of woods or
wood-composition materials. Furniture woods are either hardwood or softwood.
Hardwood is used to describe such woods as mahogany, walnut, maple, oak, cherry, birch,
teak and pecan.
Softwood describes such woods as pine, redwood and cedar. Softwood is less expensive
than hardwood and is often used in ready-to-finish and outdoor furniture. In general, it is
more subject to dents and deep scratches than hardwood.
Veneered, bonded woods
These terms refer to the various construction techniques and materials used in furniture
manufacturing.
Veneered Wood - The use of "veneering" is a time-honored technique in furniture
construction. It involves using thin layers of decorative woods "bonded" on the top and
bottom of "ply" construction. Veneering allows manufacturers to match fine grain wood
sections and to use inlays of various woods to create beautiful designs that cannot be found
in solid woods. Ply construction increases the strength and resistance to warping, and is
found in all price ranges including very expensive furniture.
Bonded Wood - Bonding is used to "build" large sections of wood from several smaller
pieces. There are four basic types of bonding:
Wide boards for table and cabinet tops may be cut into narrow sections and then "bonded"
or fitted back together in the width or shape that is needed. The bonding process can make
the finished section stronger and less liable to warp or split.
Blocks of wood may be glued together to create a single section of a piece of furniture which
is to be carved or "turned" to form a rounded shape.
Wood chips or particles may be mixed with a gluing agent and then processed to make
strong, warp-resistant panels used as backing for cabinets and chests of drawers. These
man-made panels are called "chipboard," "particleboard" or "fiberboard" and are durable
and long-wearing.
Several "layers" of solid wood or particleboard may be bonded one on the other in 3 to 7
layers to make a "ply" construction wood product used to reinforce various types of
furniture. Plywood panels are strong and rugged in everyday use.
Engraving and printing
It is possible for manufacturers to "print" or "engrave" surfaces with a wood grain pattern to
give the appearance of natural wood. These surfaces can be attractive and may be a good
choice for surfaces where an appearance of natural wood is wanted.
Finishes
Various materials such as paint, lacquer, oil and wax are used both to protect furniture
surfaces and provide uniform color to an entire piece of furniture. Various finishing materials
can be used to highlight a natural wood color or grain as well as to change the color of a
wood or make two different kinds of wood appear alike.
In addition to looking at the finish, make sure you know the kind of wood to which the finish
has been applied.
When you are shopping for furniture it is important to keep in mind that whether or not
wood is solid, bonded or veneered, it can be called "all wood" if there are no non-wood
materials, such as plastic or metal, used in the construction.
Upholstered furniture
Today's consumers have a wide choice of upholstered furniture ranging from firm back and
seat support to soft, fluffy pillows that give little support but do offer luxurious lounging. It
is a good idea to be familiar with the basic construction of upholstered pieces.
The Frame This is the basic unit of all upholstered furniture, and the quality of materials and
workmanship can determine why one piece of furniture is more expensive than a piece that
looks the same. Frames made of kiln-dried hardwood do not warp. Frames may also be
made of steel, laminated boards or strong rigid plastic. If you cannot see the frame or have
a question as to what it is made of, ask the salesperson. You may want to have it itemized
on your bill of sale.
The Supports Fabric webbing, straps, wood slats and springs can be used to provide the desired amount
of support, or firmness, in upholstered furniture. The springs can be coil, double cone coil or
zigzag and are connected with twine, wire or clips.
Cushioning materials can include cotton or polyester batting, springs, down and urethane
foam (also known as plyfoam or polyurethane). Urethane is widely used because it is
durable, light-weight and mothproof. While there are many grades of "foam" materials, the
best are high density foams with a high percentage of urethane.
Many different upholstery materials are available in natural and manmade fibers, leather
and vinyl. Find out what the fabric is made of, what its properties are and how it should be
cared for.
Remember, too, that there are many treatments available to protect fabrics from soil and
spill stains and make day-to-day upholstery cleaning easier. Upholstery materials are
available in a wide range of "grades" so keep both your use and budget requirements in
mind when you buy. Fabric grades reflect cost, not necessarily durability or quality. In
addition, consider the fact that the textile mill usually does not guarantee upholstery fabric
to the furniture manufacturer.
Keep the four parts of upholstered furniture in mind when you shop and be sure you know,
before you buy, that each piece of furniture is what you want. Ask the sales person about
the frame, the supports, the cushioning and the outer covering, and judge the over-all
quality of the furniture against the price and your particular needs.
Some additional reminders
Keep in mind that you will not be able to see the most important part of an upholstered
item: the frame, the strapping and the cushioning material. Squeeze the arms of sofas and
chairs to be sure there is enough padding so that you cannot feel the frame. If you can feel
the frame, chances are the padding won't stand up to daily use for very long. Examine
fabrics to be sure patterns are matched and seams are well stitched and strong enough to
resist splitting or tearing.
Be sure cushions fit snugly and give even support. If cushions are not "reversible" be sure
the fabric on the underside is a good quality, wear-resistant fabric. Remember, too, that
zippers are used on fabric covers to give a snug fit over the cushioning. They are not to be
used to remove the fabric for cleaning. Check to see if the covering material is treated with
protective finish that will help resist dirt and soiling.
Where to Shop
Today's consumers have a wide choice of places to buy furniture including department
stores, specialty furniture stores, buying direct from the manufacturer and even online.
Shop around with retailers that sell a range of styles or the one type of furniture you are
interested in.
Shop around for quality, price, credit terms and service. Before you buy, ask about the
seller's credit terms and delivery service. An added charge for delivery or higher credit
charge compared to others may mean that a "good buy" is not as good as it appeared.
When to Shop
If you plan your furniture shopping in advance you often can take advantage of seasonal
sales and various kinds of "clearances" as well as reduced prices for "discontinued lines",
"display" items and "as is" pieces. By taking plenty of time to look before you buy it is
possible to get, for example, summer furniture for next year at this year's end-of-season
sales. You may have to give up having a wide choice of styles, but a real savings might be
worth it.
Delivery may not be immediate, so take that into consideration. Sometimes furniture must
be ordered from the factory, and waits of 6-8 weeks are not uncommon.
Read the Label
When you shop for furniture be sure to read all of the tag and label information provided by
the seller and the manufacturer. Federal Trade Commission guidelines require
manufacturers to state whether materials such as vinyl or other synthetics are used to give
the appearance of leather, wood or marble. The name of a country, such as "Spanish" or
"Danish," cannot be used if the furniture was not made there unless a word such as "style"
or "design" is also used.
If a tag or label carries the name of only one wood, all of the exposed surfaces must be
made of that wood. If some of those surfaces are veneered the label must tell you so.
For example, "solid maple" means just that, while "maple veneer" alerts you to the use of
veneer, a layer of maple wood bonded to another material. Mixed wood construction must
be noted, for example, "maple veneer and walnut solids."
Warranties and Returns
Find out the exact terms of any warranties for the furniture you are considering. Also, find
out the store's return policy so that if you decide an item is not right for your home or you
find something wrong with the furniture after you buy it, you will always know your rights
and responsibilities. Be sure, too, to get all the specifics in writing.
Credit Buying
If you buy furniture on time, be sure you know the full terms and conditions of the seller's
credit service. Know how much the finance charge will be, how many and the exact amount
of each installment payment and the total time sales price, including sales tax. Remember
that all who give credit are required by federal law to state the annual percentage rate so
that you can compare one to the other.
If you have questions about the seller's reliability, get in touch with our Better Business
Bureau by calling 800.828.5000 or email at geninquires@upstatenybbb.org.
BBB of Upstate New York
100 Bryant Woods South
Amherst, NY 14228