Home Furniture

The size and shape of your home will influence your furniture choices. Chairs or sofas, coffee tables or ottomans, freestanding or built-in bookshelves, wall units and cabinetry, dining tables and chairs, bedroom furniture, and even outdoor furniture, all must fit the space and complement your style and décor. Quality and comfort are also particularly important when shopping for furniture that’s used every day.

Furnish your home with the best 

Furniture is a vital part of any home or space. A significant part of any area, the furniture you choose will create or enhance the overall aesthetic and design aims. In terms of functionality, the choices you make will define the way your spaces are experienced.

How do I choose the best furniture?

The best way to find furniture that works for your space is to start by creating a design board and saving interiors that inspire you. This will quickly give you an idea of the styles of decor you prefer and those you would like to recreate in your home. When you have decided on an interior style, every choice you make will be based on that decision - and furniture is central to those design decisions.

When you have a clear idea of the style you are aiming to create, the next questions to consider are how the spaces are going to be used and by whom. For example, will a lounge are be used for entertaining multiple guests frequently? Will young children or pets use the area? If the answer is yes to the first question, it’s worth considering versatile seating that can be used both for relaxing and entertaining. If children and pets are part of the picture, colour and material choices will be at the top of the list. Perhaps lighter colours are not appropriate and materials likely to stain are best avoided.

For furniture in other areas of the home, the same questions apply. How often will the spare room be used by guests? If not frequently, perhaps less budget is allocated to the bedroom furniture in this room. How will the home office be used? Will it double as a space for other uses? If yes, the choice of desk or tables and other home office furniture will need to consider versatility and flexibility. For example, a desk that incorporates drawers for storage of other household items may be a priority, while versatile storage and shelving may be worth considering.

What is the best way to choose furniture that will last?

Generally, it’s always best practice to choose the highest quality furniture your budget allows. In this way, you are investing in pieces that will last and reducing the likelihood of the furniture requiring replacement.

In terms of designer furniture, selecting pieces that are timeless in design means they won’t go out of fashion over the years and will always work with current trends. Selecting furniture that is on-trend often leads to the desire to replace it as the style goes out of fashion.

How do I know what size furniture will work best for my home?

Knowing the exact dimensions of the space you are looking to furnish is the first step. Then, draw a rough floor plan that includes the measurements from wall to wall. Take some time to draw in the furniture, considering its placement and the functional aims of the room. If you are using an interior designer or decorator, they will design your interior spaces in consultation with you.

When your floor plan is finalised with furniture in place, you will have a clear idea of the size and number of pieces required to furnish the room.

The golden rule of furniture choice and placement is about ensuring there is ample space left in the room. Too much furniture or furniture that is too large for the room will leave it feeling cluttered and small. Too little furniture will leave a room feeling vacuous and unfinished.

Modern furniture

The contemporary furniture is vast and offers unparalleled choice in terms of design, materiality and bespoke options. Narrowing down a particular style and being clear about the size and types of home furniture you need is the best way to start looking at furniture options with clarity. Colour will also be an important factor when choosing furniture to ensure the pieces work well within the overall decor.

Choosing kids’ furniture

Making well-considered choices for children's furniture can ensure the pieces you purchase last for years rather than becoming redundant after a short period of time. For example, choosing a cot for a young child that can later be converted into a single bed will allow that piece of furniture to last much longer. Choosing neutral colours is another consideration for kids’ furniture. Adding accents with soft furnishings such as cushions, curtains, bedspreads, throws and artwork allows for the furniture to work well for much longer.

Outdoor furniture

Designing functional outdoor spaces is one of the easiest ways to extend a home without extending the building’s footprint. Many contemporary outdoor pieces are tailored to this vision, with the overarching trend leaning towards bringing indoor comfort outdoors. Like any other room in the house though, choosing the best furniture for an alfresco area will depend on the size, intended use and type of space available. An exposed area where outdoor furniture is likely to be in the path of high winds or exposed to very high or very low temperatures will be suited to certain materials and styles of furniture, while more sheltered areas will offer themselves to other options.