Whether you live in an apartment, condo, house, or college dorm, one thing is for sure: you’re going to have some furniture in your living space. Furniture is necessary for any home, and furniture can be both practical and attractive. In fact, many pieces of furniture double as a form of home decor, and they may be carved and painted to match a certain aesthetic (Mission, art deco, and more). Furniture stores across the United States will stock all manner of large and small scale furniture alike, from Amish furniture stores to upscale retailers that offer king sized beds or storage beds. Why small scale furniture? Some Americans live in small living spaces, so a king sized bed or massive table may be impractical. Fortunately, today’s furniture industry offers large and small scale furniture alike for any customer.
The Furniture Market
It may not come as a surprise to hear that furniture is one of the biggest expenses adult Americans will have in their lives. In particular, furniture ranks third among all major life expenses, behind cars and real estate. What is more, many surveyed furniture shoppers agree that they need quality in their purchases. A shoddy piece of furniture may be uncomfortable to use and may fall apart soon, and that is an expensive hassle to replace. Rather, over 90% of surveyed customers say that they need a newly bought piece of furniture to last at least five to 10 years, and couches and beds may be expected to last as much as 15 years.
Take note that Amish made furniture, including small scale furniture, may be a great investment. The Amish people do not use electricity or power tools, but their craftsmen have long been known to make high quality and very durable wooden goods, and they often accept commissions. They can make picnic benches, tables and chairs, bed frames, and even garden sheds and chicken coops. Their workers will need some time to assemble those goods, then ship them. Some retailers may have authentic Amish goods already in stock.
Furniture Shopping
If a customer cannot find a specific sort of furniture piece in local retailers, they can visit online catalogs and find what they need. A good digital catalog has a search engine, large and clear product images, shipping information, and most importantly, the product’s dimensions. But many Americans like to visit local furniture outlets to find large and small scale furniture alike. In a store, undecided customers may refer to sales associates and ask questions, and get recommendations based on their needs. This can help narrow down their options to something they would like, and many stores also allow customers to sit on or lay on furniture to test for comfort and quality. If possible, a customer may load a purchased item into their vehicle, and in other cases, they can have the furniture shipped right to their address, such as a large couch.
In the Home
Furniture not only serves a function, but it also completes any living space’s decor and taste. Many homeowners follow the directions of interior decor experts and update their furniture to match their evolving tastes and lifestyle, and this can make a home look fresh when guests visit. A single room may have its furniture updated, or the homeowner might even update the entire house to have a cohesive theme. Drapes, rugs, lighting fixtures, and more can add to that visual flair.
Some furniture for homeowners can be quite large, such as a king sized bed, but other pieces may be designed for smaller spaces, such as an apartment or college dorm. Storage beds are wood-framed beds with drawers in their body, so they can double as a dresser and save the room where a dresser would be. Meanwhile, a sleeper couch can unfold to form a bed for one or two people, and fold back up during the day. That’s helpful if there is no room for a guest bedroom. Finally, take note that altering furniture can change a room’s entire purpose. A renovated, cleaned basement can have a couch, coffee table, and a TV stand added for a home entertainment system, or an old bedroom can be converted into an arts and crafts room.
