5 Tips For Buying Designer Furniture

It’s important to be prepared before you invest in a piece of gorgeous designer furniture. These pieces are often a fairly large purchase, and as they’ll usually take a place in the centre of your home, it’s important to choose wisely to get the most out of your decision. Use these 5 tips to help you find the perfect designer furniture piece for your home at the best possible price.

1. Test the measurements. There’s nothing more frustrating than finding a piece of furniture that you fall in love with, taking it home and finding that it doesn’t quite fit in your space. Avoid this problem by measuring your home thoroughly, then bringing a tape measure with you to the furniture store so that you know you’re getting the right size piece for your home. Don’t trust your eyes alone for this task – exact measurements are key.
2. Experiment with swatches. The pattern or colour of a piece may look fantastic in the store, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will blend in seamlessly with the room you had in mind for it. Ask the supplier or store for a fabric swatch that you can take home to check out how the print or colour looks in your home’s lighting and amongst the other materials in the space.
3. Take time to think. Online shopping is an easy way to fall into impulse buying. While impulse purchases may be fine when you’re shopping for a new pair of shoes, furniture should be forever, so it’s important that you choose a piece you truly love and want to see in your home for many years to come. Re-selling furniture often leaves you getting a much lower price than you paid for it, particularly when we’re talking about high-quality designer pieces, so take the time to consider your purchase before you take the plunge.
4. See the piece in person. Another difficulty with online shopping is how different an item can look on the screen than it does in your home. A real showroom like ours at PAD Furniture gives you the opportunity to see, touch and experience each piece up close and personal, so you can really tell whether it will suit your space or not.
5. Find space for pieces you love. If you’re looking for a living room sofa but fall in love with a particular dresser that just won’t work in your sitting room, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and play with your décor arrangements. Take time to think about where the piece could work – you’ll be bound to find the exact right spot for it somewhere in your home.

Caring For Your High-End Furniture

A beautiful piece of high quality furniture is a real investment. When cared for properly, these pieces are sure to stand the test of time, and can be passed down to your family members for generations to come. Proper maintenance is absolutely vital to uphold the value of your décor investments. When it comes to good quality wood furnishings, the energy you put into its care is even more important. Follow these tips to make sure you get the most from your furniture.

1. Keep the light out. While we all want plenty of natural light in our homes, too much sunlight can do gradual damage to your high-end wood furniture. To prevent fading from occurring over time, keep your wood furniture away from windows that let in direct sunlight, and don’t bring them outside into the hot sun.
2. Avoid placing plastics on the surface. While it’s always best to avoid putting any objects directly on the surface of your quality wood furniture without placing some kind of mat underneath, plastic is especially dangerous where these materials are concerned. Plastic and rubber both contain certain ingredients that can damage your furniture’s finish when they come into direct contact, so keep them separated as much as possible.
3. Clean up liquids straight away. This goes for water, too. Even water can leave unattractive white spots on the finish of your wood, so clean it up straight away if any spills occur. Try not to use the wiping action that seems to come naturally to so many people – a blotting movement will clean the liquid up without leaving stains.
4. Dust frequently. Dusting may not be much fun, but it will keep the finish of your beautiful wood furniture looking glossy and clean day in and day out. Rub in the direction of the grain using a soft, clean cloth. We recommend using a wood polish rather than a wax or silicone cleaner, as the polish will not lead to build-up and will allow you to re-finish your furniture at a later date if necessary.
5. Keep the temperature stable. Severe temperature changes can affect the longevity and look of your wood furniture, so try to keep the environment stable. This means placing your furniture away from heaters, radiators or air conditioning vents whenever possible.
6. Don’t drag. This is a tricky one if you have small children, but it’s an important lesson to teach the whole family. When you’re dealing with good quality wood furniture, dragging items on the surface when you move them will cause scratches and lasting damage. Pick up and put down items carefully on the surface to keep your piece looking as perfect as it was the day you bought it.

The 6 Hottest Décor Trends Of 2017

The world of interior design is always evolving; that’s part of what makes it so exciting. What was hot last year may be miles off-trend in 2017, so it’s important to keep up with what’s new and stylish if you want to keep your finger on the décor pulse.  We’ve nailed down 6 of our favourite chic trends in interior design for 2017, so you can incorporate some of these new ideas into your home this year.

1. Mix and match. It’s great to incorporate some classic antique pieces into your home furnishing, but too much of the same thing will leave your space looking stale. 2017 is all about borrowing pieces from different periods and mixing them with contemporary design to create a unique and thoroughly modern look for your home.
2. Bright green pops of colour. The 2017 Colour Of The Year from Pantone is a bold, bright green that immediately draws the eye and freshens up any room. You don’t have to take the trend literally and go full-Kermit when designing your space, but a nod to the trend with one bold green accent wall will automatically add new life to your décor.
3. Warm metallic. We’ve become so used to walking into a beautiful home and seeing shiny industrial metals, particularly in the kitchen area, that it’s easy to forget that other metallic exist, and can in fact be more stylish. 2017’s metals move away from the factory and into a warmer zone, with gold and bronze styles dominating the décor world.
4. Ceruse wood. Ceruse wood offers a unique finish that you won’t find in any other furniture design style. The ceruse style gives the wood a textured finish that highlights the natural underlying grain of the wood, adding a fascinating touch to your interior design. It’s always good to experiment with different furniture finishes to find the style that best suits your home, so incorporate this trend into your home this year for a new and interesting look.
5. Mismatched patterns. The fabrics you use in your home are just as important as the furniture underneath them. Mismatched patterns don’t have to look messy or twee – the designs dominating 2017 prove that playing with textures and prints can be chic.
6. Blue is the new black. But not just any blue – it’s got to be navy. Black can quickly darken and drag down your space, while navy brings a luxurious feel that’s easy to pair with other colours and styles. Try bringing navy into your home instead of black, and see how the look of your interior design is elevated.

Why Choose Designer Furniture for Your Home

When it comes to choosing exactly how to layout your home, knowing which concept to choose over another is a tricky task. While some home owners stay clear from high end or designer furniture, others see its value for the added impression it makes to the space. If you’re after the cherry on top and aren’t sure how to go about it, here’s our best reasons for choosing higher end items…

Diversity

Designer furniture usually offers an extensive range of styles, finishes and purposes to suit. Whether you’re after a metal look or glass touch, these pieces are able to offer a more versatile look to match a specific atmosphere or space. With so many materials and styles available on the market today—from timber or metal—there’s usually an option that will adhere to any requirements.

First impressions

No matter the context, decking out your home with fancy-looking items not only gives you a sense of pride in your space, it also allows you to impress those visiting. First impressions last so matching designer items with the overall theme of your rooms can give the added edge your home needs. Even if it’s only for your eyes to see, choosing these pieces over cheaper ones can give a high-end appeal.

Durability

Cheap furniture isn’t the kind you see handed down from one generation to another. Pieces that follow families from one house to another, through one decade to the next, are ones that have been crafted with quality in mind. Designer furniture is just that—long-lasting, quality-orientated and built to withstand time.

Individuality

Furniture that’s made in mass are usually not designer and don’t have that added feel of uniqueness. Most imitation and mass-manufactured ranges are quickly turned around in warehouses that then distribute them across a huge range of stockists. If you’re after a once-off or look of individuality, designer furniture is an alternative to the all-too-familiar.

Not sure how to choose one style over another? Get in touch with our friendly team to get started.

Simplicity is a sign of true greatness….

SCOPIA is the latest exceptional range to land on our shores from the connoisseurs of German furniture design at Huelsta. Versatile, colourful and uncomplicated, SCOPIA is the winner of the prestigious German Design Council Interior Innovation Award 2014 and effortlessly covers the gamut of configurations and design features to create your perfect living space.

The SCOPIA design is clear and uncomplicated. Endless options include both freestanding and suspended units, with open and closed fronts, in a huge array of sizes and finishes… You can truly be the master of your own design. The juxtaposition of the smooth wood finishes of the natural oak alongside the gloss lacquers creates an excitingly attractive contrast that is both timeless and individual.

One of the highlights of the system is the double-shell carcase, with each unit made up of two shells allowing two different colours, with rear panels and box drawers available in accent colours to complete the look. The corner joints of the inner and outer carcase are meticulously mitred and the protruding outer carcase features a facet contour with a fabulous look and feel.

With the finishing touches of an excellent sound system and an innovative lighting system, no other living room, dining room or hallway range offers as much scope to realise your interior design ideas.

See SCOPIA today at Pad Furniture.