How To Choose Your Furniture
Furniture is a huge element to any interior, be it your home, office or a commercial space. All furniture has a function for example a chair to sit on, a table to eat at or a wardrobe to store your clothes. You then have the design and style of the piece of furniture to consider when choosing furniture along with a few other factors. With all this to bare in mind, choosing the right furniture isn't always an easy feat.
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You won’t find another set like these Queen Anne style bedsides. I transformed them with blue mineral paint and this fantastic retro design wallpaper from Lust Home.
You can shop this exact pair here
You can shop this exact pair here
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If you go to a furniture store you’re often met with an old fashioned sales person with little to no design background that tries to sells you a matchy matchy set of furniture. The sales person doesn’t care if it suits your home, they have never even seen your home, they just want to hit their sales target for the month. The choice on offer is always extremely limited and you can be sure plenty of other people have the same sets of furniture in their home!
If you go to a furniture store you’re often met with an old fashioned sales person with little to no design background that tries to sells you a matchy matchy set of furniture. The sales person doesn’t care if it suits your home, they have never even seen your home, they just want to hit their sales target for the month. The choice on offer is always extremely limited and you can be sure plenty of other people have the same sets of furniture in their home!
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Since the covid pandemic a lot of us have changed our way of living and as a result spend much more of our time working and socialising from the comfort of our own home. Many people have been investing in their homes to create the most functional and beautiful spaces to work, relax and unwind. We want to create spaces that reflect our personalities, have an atmosphere and look gorgeous.
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This hand painted vintage set of drawers painted by myself is bursting with personality. So much so I kept it for myself as it goes so well in our living room
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The matchy matchy set from the furniture store isn’t cutting it for most of us anymore, so I am here to give you some advice on how to choose your furniture and curate a space with personality.
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Create a Pinterest board or folder on your phone of furniture that you like. Save and pin as much as you can and go back to see what kind of furniture styles you are drawn to. Do you lean towards painted pieces, mid century modern, raw wood or very bold and blingy statement pieces?
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I personally love painted vintage furniture and dark painted pieces
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Make a list of the furniture pieces you need and prioritise which you need to buy/source/upcycle first. Measure the space for each and add this to your list so if you are out shopping and you see something, you will know there and then whether it will fit or not! I always carry a small tape measure in my bag so if something catches my eye I am prepared.
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Consider the use of the piece of furniture and choose furniture that will stand up to this, for example you are looking to buy a dining table. A dining table is a high traffic area, therefore you should consider tables with a durable finish and find out the care instructions before making your purchase to see whether it is a piece of furniture that is maintainable for you. If you are painting a table ensure you use a paint that is durable enough to take a lot of use. If you sit at the table often choose chairs that are comfortable and if you have children or pets, choose darker coloured fabrics which are robust and forgiving to wear and tear.
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All my furniture transformations are done with only high quality paints and materials, this rocking chair has been transformed using Farrow and Ball ‘All White’, sometimes the most simple makeovers are the most effective
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Think about the scale and size of the furniture. If you are looking to make a statement with your furniture you can certainly do this by choosing an oversized piece of the room can take it. A common mistake I often see people making is choosing small pieces of furniture so that it doesn’t over crowd a room or make it feel smaller. If you have a small room to furnish, choosing furniture that fits the space well and has multi functions will serve you better whilst looking more balanced and considered.
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This French dresser I painted for a client of mine is absolutely huge, however the scale of the piece works perfectly in her large hallway and makes an incredible statement as you enter her home
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This French dresser I painted for a client of mine is absolutely huge, however the scale of the piece works perfectly in her large hallway and makes an incredible statement as you enter her home
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Working with a furniture artist like myself is a sure way to choose furniture that is great for your space. I offer a sourcing service where I will help you find the perfect piece of vintage and pre loved furniture whilst helping you consider the factors I’ve already mentioned. Together we will consider the material, finish, scale, size and design of the piece.
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Every piece is carefully designed and hand painted by myself to make the best of your furniture
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Every piece is carefully designed and hand painted by myself to make the best of your furniture
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You are able to commission me to refinish and transform your existing furniture or a piece I have sourced for you, into something that works perfectly for your home. I use high quality paints and materials and work with eco friendly products as much as possible, whilst choosing the most durable products for your furniture makeover. If you have a family heirloom that doesn’t suit your style, together we can make it work for you and your space.
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This client chose a grey shabby chic finish for her vintage chest of drawers to compliment the rest of her bedroom
You are able to commission me to refinish and transform your existing furniture or a piece I have sourced for you, into something that works perfectly for your home. I use high quality paints and materials and work with eco friendly products as much as possible, whilst choosing the most durable products for your furniture makeover. If you have a family heirloom that doesn’t suit your style, together we can make it work for you and your space.
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This client chose a grey shabby chic finish for her vintage chest of drawers to compliment the rest of her bedroom
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I offer a FREE courier service to the majority of mainland UK meaning we can work together to create you the perfect furniture even if we live miles apart! Unlike the sales person in the furniture shop I want you to absolutely love your furniture and help you create a home that you are so in love with. Get in touch today for more information or a quote and let’s transform your furniture and home.
As always, thanks for reading,
Stacey x
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PS. Don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter and receive your copy of my eBook
‘Curating Your Home’
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29 comments
My husband and I have discussed purchasing new furniture to enhance our living space since we would both be working from home. You made a good suggestion to measure your space and keep a measuring tape on hand so that, should anything catch your eye, you can decide whether your home has room for it. For him to keep it in mind when looking for a furniture store that can accommodate our preferences, I’ll make sure to let my husband know about this. Thank you for sharing! http://www.geelongfurniturebydesign.com.au/portfolio-item/chairs/
It was nice that you highlighted the importance of choosing furniture pieces that fit your space well to create balance. This is a good tip for me because I am planning to shop for wicker furniture pieces for my newly renovated living room next weekend. Since I want to make the space brighter and more modern-looking, I will keep your tips in mind. https://www.nomadfurnishingimports.com/products/Furniture-c23787545
Since we would both be working from home, my husband and I have been considering buying new furniture to improve our living area. It’s a good idea that you recommended measuring your area and keeping a measuring tape available so that, if anything catches your eye, you can determine whether your home has room for it. I’ll be sure to let my husband know about this so he can keep it in mind when looking for a furniture store that can meet our preferences. I appreciate you sharing!
https://www.salvagewarehouses.com/furniture
I can see how picking an enormous piece of furniture that the space can support would be a great way to make a statement with your furnishings. I carefully picked and planned my home’s modern French aesthetic when it was being built last year. I’m considering replacing my hand-me-down furniture, including my sofa, with items that would complement the design of my home now that I have enough money saved. I appreciate the advice and will be sure to consider it all. I just need to find a furniture store that has pieces I will love. https://www.furniturenmore.com.au/outdoor