Finding the right home goods and furniture pieces for your home is important — after all, you want your home to be a comfortable refuge away from a busy world. The COVID-19 pandemic has also re-emphasized our need for a cozy and comfy home away from the “madding crowds”.  

After spending countless hours in our houses, most of us have started considering how we might improve the look and feel of our homes. It is tempting to grab the next piece of home décor or furniture you see while flipping through your favorite lifestyle magazine – but adding some character and style to your home isn’t as simple as it may seem — balancing form and function while also getting a good price can be a narrow needle to thread.

Still, having the right home furniture and décor can make all the difference between a comfortable, charming abode and a cramped eyesore. With that in mind, carefully considering all the features of individual pieces of furniture and furniture sets, as well as home décor pieces is extremely important — and we’re going to help you do just that with our handy buying guide:

Important Considerations

• Functionality
• Size
• Materials
• Style

Functionality

The first thing you need to consider while picking out furniture pieces and home goods, in general, is their functionality. When you’re deciding what stays and what goes, it’s the primary thing you’re thinking about. In every instance, ask yourself whether you truly need something to complete activities you do in a specific room. Sure, you need a compact night table and a comfy bed in your bedroom. But is having an armchair there adding to your décor, or just taking up space? Would it fit better elsewhere, and could you use that space for something else? Somthing that actually adds storage instead of just taking up room?

On the other hand, a high-quality office chair is a must if you’re going have a home office. If it’s not durable, ergonomic, and comfortable, you just won’t be able to work effectively; another example of the importance of functionality in every household item.

Size

Thinking about the functional practicalities of your home goods, their shape and size must also come into play. In fact, the size and fit of each piece is their most important practical aspect along with their function.

For instance, when choosing bookshelves, you might need a wider display cabinet that’s not as tall, with a low ceiling. On the other hand, the size of your bedroom will heavily influence what metal bed frame you’ll be getting.

Functionality and the fit of every item play off each other. Say you’re buying a dining room table — how many guests do you expect on average? How many can you fit at one table in the dining room? This will affect the size and shape (and cost) of the table you buy.

Naturally, the most obvious limitation you’ll be dealing with is the physical limitations of the room. Before you buy and place any furniture, make sure you have at least a rough floor plan. That way, you won’t suddenly realize you can’t fit something after you’ve already bought it.

Materials

Furthermore, the materials from which your furniture pieces were made are also an important consideration. These manufacturing materials will help you determine the durability and longevity of all kinds of home goods — and decide whether they fit into your overall decorative style.

The best furniture is made from materials that intended for its various uses. For instance, a bathroom mirror cabinet, ideally, is made from a material that’s resistant to water damage and corrosion — something that can easily happen in a bathroom if materials aren’t suitable for higher humidity. Considering that, stainless, corrosion-resistant steel is a perfect choice for a contemporary-style home.

There are plenty of other examples — for example, while a leather chair whose cover is made out of artificial leather may seem like a less luxurious choice, its surface is actually far easier to clean than genuine leather. Plus, it’s more animal-friendly.

Of course, this brings us to another important aspect of home goods’ materials: their aesthetics. Wood brings warmth, and lacquer brings an air of modernity into any interior. These, and other materials, carefully combined and integrated with existing pieces, fabrics, and floors, create a unified look for the entire room.

Style

At the end of the day, the theme and overall look of your house is an important consideration to make when picking every individual furniture piece for every room. Remember, the style of your interior is a reflection and representation of your personal taste — but you should definitely try to make the design of each room come together into a coherent whole.

For instance, while a country-style acacia wood shoe storage in your hallway might blend well with a cream-white suede chair in your living room, a stark black massage recliner might fit better with a different home interior style. And it’s okay to try to blend variou styles in rooms — as long as they don’t clash and make the entire house seem tacky. Even a modern home can contain antique pieces — but only if you do it right.

And don’t feel trapped by current trends; try to find a common theme and style you like and stick with it while buying individual pieces – at Aosom.com!