A new piece of furniture is no small expense, which is why many renters and homeowners alike often opt for mass-produced, inexpensive options for the sake of having a place to sit, sleep or eat in their home. While furniture alone is an asset to any space, high-quality furniture is likely to give you the most bang for your buck, despite the higher cost of your initial investment. If you need some convincing to bite the bullet, let’s take a look at some of the compelling reasons to ditch the cheap housewares and shell out for better furniture from the start.
1. Comfort
Inexpensive furniture options often look a lot better than they feel. This is because many of these furniture designs prioritize the appearance of the piece over the materials, which is why you can generally purchase a couch that looks expensive but doesn’t feel it. You may be fine with a cheaply made piece for a while, but over time, it could start to affect your quality of life.
Dramatic as this may seem, it’s true. Your bones, muscles and joints benefit from well-made furniture, as an inexpensive bed frame that lacks adequate support can cause troublesome back problems or pressure point pain as opposed to a sturdy frame with a more ergonomic and firm mattress set atop.
2. Longevity
When you purchase cheaper furniture, you’ll likely have to replace it a lot sooner. Furniture that is made with inferior upholstery, wood types, paints or padding is less likely to outlast higher-quality counterparts. Cheap wares are subject to more damage from even normal wear and tear. Though you might save some money at the beginning, you could be costing yourself more in the long run when you have to make repairs or purchase entire replacements.
3. Durability
Expensive furniture earns its price tag through a number of factors, but perhaps the most important is the craftsmanship and components. Many pieces of high-quality furniture are designed with sturdiness in mind. This means you’re less likely to sit on a chair that creaks or wobbles, and you’re not likely to struggle to close a cabinet due to a poorly attached latch system.
Furniture durability is especially important when you have a family or often host friends in your home. The more traffic a piece of furniture sees, the more its construction is tested. A good frame, sturdy upholstery and strong finishing elements will better protect your investment from damage–even accidental dings and scrapes.
4. Appearance
There are a number of inexpensive furniture dupes on the market that, at first glance, look nearly indistinguishable from similar options that cost hundreds of dollars more. However, when you look closer, you can almost always tell a cheap piece from a high-quality one. Upon closer inspection, the stitches, fabrics, construction elements and accents are usually a dead giveaway.
Furniture isn’t made to be viewed only from afar, and you likely interact with nearly all pieces of furniture in your home on a daily basis. When it comes to furniture, appearance matters, and high-quality wares win out almost every time.
5. Value
You’ve likely seen dozens of advertisements for free couches in your lifetime. When a piece of furniture has more value in the beginning, unless something major has happened to its condition, it’s less likely to end up in the free section of the classifieds. Good quality furniture won’t retain its original value, but you can usually resell it for a larger fraction of what you paid, which is especially helpful when it’s time to replace it with something newer and better.
High-quality furniture is not only a good choice for your present-day lifestyle, but the investment spells returns for you down the road. When you’re not worried about your furniture falling apart, whether right away or in a year from now, you’re more likely to be able to relax, kick back and enjoy your housewares the way they’re meant to be enjoyed.