1. What’s your budget? As you probably know, higher quality wood and better construction means a larger price tag, so you may need to be a little bit flexible with your budget. There are many factors which should go into your decision of how much to spend on a particular piece, especially if it will be the focal point of the room will it will be placed. By having a budget in mind, you can avoid spending your entire furniture budget on one or two items.
2. Where will it go?
You need to know what kind of space you are working with to ensure that you do not buy a piece which is either too large or too small for the space you have allotted for it. For instance, you will want to leave a good amount of room in a den for a sofa as well as a couple of chairs.
3. How often will it be used?
Furniture which will be used on a daily basis needs to be very durable. Anything which will be used may times per day (such as drawers) needs to be especially so. If the furniture will be seldom used; furniture for a guest room, for instance then design and of course size should take precedence.
4. How long will you have it?
Wood furniture for your living room or dining room are the types of pieces which ideally will stay in your family for a long time, perhaps even becoming heirlooms. If you want something which will last for generations, you’ll need to be prepared to spend a little more. However, you don’t need to break the bank for accent pieces. After all, you may want to change these from time to time. The same goes for children's furniture; you should shop for these items with design in mind – your child will likely grow out of these pieces long before durability will become a real issue.
5. What is your personal style?
You can determine this by looking at the other things you own; clothes, household items and the like. Think about the colors and patterns you favor and factor in your lifestyle as well; do you have pets or children, etc.
6. What sort of wood do you favor?
Wood furniture can be made from year round softwoods or seasonal hardwoods. Hardwoods are from deciduous trees (not evergreens) like oak, maple, teak, mahogany, cherry and walnut. These woods are the most expensive. Softwoods are those made from evergreens such as spruce, pine, cedar and redwood. This wood is used in less expensive pieces. Rubberwood is also used; this is a wood grown in tropical regions and is extremely durable and resistant to fungi and mold.
7. What’s the difference between solid and veneer?
Solid wood furniture is furniture where every exposed part of the furniture is made from solid pieces of wood. Veneer is where thin layers of more expensive wood are fastened to the surface of a piece of furniture. Solid wood is highly prized for durability, but veneer offers a high degree of versatility.
8. What finish do you want?
A finish can either completely transform the look of a piece of wood furniture or enhance its natural features. You can use a wax or oil finish to enhance the grain of a piece of wood, but if you’re after durability, then a lacquer finish is the right finish for the job. Lacquer can protect the wood from moisture and spills. A distressed look can be achieved by hammering the wood to give it the look of being far older.
9. How good is the workmanship?
Make sure that drawers fit nicely on their glides and slide easily. You should also ensure that the drawers are flush with the front of the piece. Take a look to make sure that hardware on doors is properly installed. The leaves of the table should match. A high quality piece of wood furniture should be made using dovetail joints – chair joints should be especially closely examined; they should fit snugly and be free of excess glue. The corners of tables should be reinforced and the legs should be firmly attached as well as even in length.
10. What safety issues arise with the purchase of your furniture?
Dresser and chest drawers should be equipped with stops that keep the drawer from falling out. Bookcases should have shelves which are deep enough that you won’t need to overload the shelves and create a risk of tipping. You can also accomplish this by bolting the top of the bookcase to the wall. An entertainment center should be of the right size to hold your television; if it I too big for the entertainment center, then there is a risk that the unit may fall forward. Toy boxes and other storage chests should feature safety latches to keep the lids from falling on a child’s head or fingers.
