Top Tips for Millennials Buying Furniture

Spending hours researching furniture for your home? Unsure how to pick a piece for a particular room? We’re pretty sure you’ve got better things to do with your time. So, here are some top tips for Millennials buying furniture to help you make better and faster choices.

Furniture styles

If you’re a Millennial, you’ll want your furniture to be seriously trendy and up to the minute. But everything’s modern, right? Well, not exactly. In fact, the term ‘modern’ reflects early to mid-20th century design. Up-to-the-minute furniture design is known as ‘contemporary’. Throw into the mix a little minimalism or maximalism, and you start to get a feel for a piece.

• Minimalist furniture is simple and unfussy, functional and practical – look for Scandi in the product description. Neutral furniture is easier to mix and match to changing décor.

• If you’re into the maximalist look, then think colour, texture and accents - Victoriana is a phrase often linked to this style. Bold furniture can make a strong statement in a room.

• Ask yourself whether your furniture item is going to be a feature piece, or if it needs to blend into the background. How will it look in 5 or 10 years? Could you upcycle it?
  

The ‘finish’ of a product differs from a solid material. The surface layer might be made from wood, metal or fabric, or it might be painted or even tinted. Here are three things to check:

1. What’s underneath? A steel core or solid wood base will make it more long-lasting and less likely to be a piece of ‘fast furniture' which could break. High-density foam padding will give you extra comfort.

2. What are the legs made from?

• Rubberwood is often used for chair legs, and as a by-product from a rubber tree, it’s a sustainable material too. It’s real wood, pretty durable and you can easily change its appearance, as it takes stains and finishes well.

• Stainless steel is another popular material for chair legs and frames. Again, it’s pretty robust and often has a colour finish to enhance the look – for example, gold-tinted legs can give occasional chairs a luxurious look.

3. What’s the upholstery made from?

• Faux leather, also known as PU mimics leather, is usually vegan, while bonded leather is made from leftover pieces of real leather. Both are durable materials that are cheaper than real leather but have a similar smooth look.

• Fabric covers vary. Let’s start with linen - this is a great material for new build homes, as it keeps your body at the optimum temperature, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Need something warmer? Go for super-cosy jumbo cord.

Furniture care

Look after your furniture and you’ll enjoy it for years to come. This should be a big deciding factor in your selection process, so check out our care tips below:

• Faux or bonded leather – wipe clean with a non-abrasive cloth using warm water only, wrung out so it’s damp (no detergents). This upholstery’s great for sticky fingers or messy pets. Use a soft, dry cloth to tackle those dusty crevices where Lego tends to lurk.

• Fabric upholstery – found a stain? First double-check the care label and test a small area of fabric. Try brushing it, then sprinkle with baking soda, and dab away stubborn stains with ¾ warm water and ¼ white vinegar. Gently vacuum to suck up dust and dirt.

• Wooden legs – real wood loves a bit of beeswax, and this now comes in a spray polish.

• Metal legs – give them a polish once in a while to remove day-to-day dirt.

We hope these tips have helped your furniture research - good luck!