Buying Furniture
that Lasts
by Nikki Willhite
www.allthingsfrugal.com
Save Money Buying Wisely!
When you buy a new sofa or chair, how long do you expect it to
last? Will you keep it until it is hopelessly outdated, or will you have to
replace it before then? (Bearing in mind that hopelessly outdated may come
sometime after your death...)
There are several factors to consider when buying furniture. In
this article, I am going to talk about the fabrics that cover our furniture.
One of the classes I was required to take when I was pursuing my
degree in Interior Design was a class in textiles. We did a lot of
experimentation with fabrics in that class. We studied the different types of
fibers that make up fabric, and did chemical tests on them to measure things
like their durability. We learned that a fabric is only as strong as the weakest
fiber in it.
When you buy upholstered furniture, take a good look at the
fabric. The longest lasting fabrics will be one strong fiber, closely woven.
Also, an additional advantage of a tight weave is that the fiber will be more
fire resistant.
Many upholstered items come with colorful threads, woven
together often in plaid or abstract designs. Use your fingernail and pick around
them and see if some are loosely woven or break easily. If they do, chances are
that the fabric will be unraveling or torn within a short amount of time.
Perhaps you remember going to your grandmother's home, and
sitting on a sofa that felt like the short side of Velcro. It wasn't attractive,
but it was impossible to hurt it! It lasted forever.
Fashion and style have prevailed over durability in today's
market. If you want durability you are going to have to select carefully.
Yesterday's sofas were made to last a lifetime. Now you are lucky if you can get
15 years out of them.
Most of us cannot afford expensive sofas. We don't know a lot
about the "inner works". However, we can take control when it comes to the
upholstery. You may have to look a little harder, but it won't necessarily cost
any more money.