Slowly does it…

Hello all,

It’s been a while since my last blog due to….well….life. I find it hard to fit these in sometimes but I love writing them to help other’s with their own ideas, designs, design mistakes and more.

So I wanted to write this one about furniture choices within your spaces. I get asked a lot about this from clients and messages.

When we have decorated a space and we’re looking for those bigger furniture items such as sofas, tables, storage units and beds we have a tendency to rush these decisions because we want it now. We want to finish the room and have it all done quickly. This is where designs can start to go wrong.

As the saying goes, it’s better to me moving slowly in the right direction than too fast in the wrong direction and this is so true.

I know this is down to time with most of us we just don’t have the time to shop around or keep looking for items, we set goals of having a room finished over a weekend or painted in a day but I can’t stress enough that choosing your bigger items of furniture should be considered and time taken in choosing what’s best for the space, not just for now and a “that will do!” But for long term, these items of furniture aren’t cheap and you want them to stand the test of time in your home.

Please, please, please always measure your space and the furniture. Check draws and doors will have enough room to open in the space before purchasing anything. Furniture always looks smaller in a large department store, then when you get it in your home it’s HUGE. This can result in costly mistakes.

If you have recently moved home or re-decorated live with what furniture you have for now, as frustrating as that sounds just have a little patience until you have found the perfect piece of furniture. In the long run you will not regret it. If that means sitting on some camping chairs at the dining table or on a tiny sofa for a little longer then so be it, trust me it will be worth it.

I personally like to see the items I’m considering in real life, especially bigger items I like to touch them, see the colours for myself and try them out. Sit on the sofa to see if it’s comfortable, open the draws and see the finish on the furniture but that’s not to say I don’t order online though. If you’re ordering online don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions or if they can send you more Photos or information about the item you’re considering purchasing, also ask for some samples of the fabrics so you can put them in your room at home to check the colour is perfect. (The colours you see on your phones and laptops are not the precise colour you will receive when your chair or sofa arrives). The sellers are there to help and you want to make sure you have everything you need and want because you will be spending quite a lot on these items.

Also think about your lifestyle and who lives with you, considering the finishes of items of furniture for instance, if you have children and pets you will need durable, easy to clean materials that don’t damage or stain easily.

Think how you move around each room, we call this the flow of a space, you don’t want to be navigating around large pieces of furniture in your rooms. Making your space flow makes the room feel more spacious.

This is just a few pointers to look at when deciding on furniture and its placement within your spaces. Consider larger furniture items to be an investment for years to come. Don’t rush into something just because you can have it now and it will be ok. Take some time before buying, keep searching for that perfect piece it will be so worth your time in the long run and you could always ask for some advice from a lovely interior designer like me too.

I hope this blog has been helpful if you’re searching for some new furniture, it is one of the dilemmas I come across a lot from clients and I always say “slowly does it.”

Thank you so much for reading,

Until next time, happy furniture searching.

Stacy x