Why Splurging on High Quality Furniture Will Save You Thousands of Dollars

September 24, 2024

As a full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury new builds, large-scale renovations, and complete interior furnishings, we collaborate with clients who prioritize quality and exceptional customer experience over the lowest price.

When designing spaces for our clients, we think of furniture as your staple pieces to establish your aesthetic—it’s not just a big-ticket item in your interior design budget, it’s the key to bringing the whole space together (marrying your home’s architectural details and hard finishes with the items you place inside each room). 

But, it’s not all about looks. While aesthetics are crucial, understanding the materials and fabrication techniques behind each piece are even more important. As a full service interior designer with years of experience, we’ve learned a key lesson: 

When it comes to furniture, you get what you pay for. And we’re of the opinion that our clients should only buy furniture once and that each piece should withstand the test of time!! 

The Real Difference Between High-Quality vs. Low Quality Furniture 

You wouldn’t swap out your diamonds every year, right? (Well, you would if you bought low quality ones that started to fall apart after just one season!) And you certainly wouldn’t choose your botox/filler injector based on who has the lowest price, because when you’re looking for a quality, you definitely don’t want to go cheap.

Why settle for furniture that can’t go the distance when it’s something you will use and see every single day? While I won’t dive into the data behind how your home environment can positively impact your mental health and well being, your furniture has to be built to last amongst kids, pets and husbands… all while still looking fabulous.  

Here’s why investing in high quality furniture when you work with an interior designer is worth every damn cent.

Note: you can certainly pay a high price for low quality furniture (we won’t name names) but when you work with our interior design team, you can rest assured knowing we only source from a thoroughly vetted list of high quality vendors that stand behind their products and  we know exactly what pieces to splurge on and what to save on, where quality matters and where it’s okay to go with a lower quality pieces.

What Interior Designers Look For When Sourcing High Quality Upholstered Furniture 

Sure, those budget-friendly pieces from Instagram ads might catch your eye with their stylish looks and wallet-friendly pricing. But, the difference in quality will be apparent in no time… assuming it shows up even looking like the pictures online.

Here’s what we look for that makes all the difference between high quality upholstered pieces and low quality upholstered pieces:

• Frame Construction: The best frames are like the bones of your house: CRITICAL. When sourcing high quality pieces for our clients, we look for kiln-dried hardwood frames that are built to last and provide a solid base. Budget buys? Not so much. They often use cardboard or plywood frames, which can sag, warp, and deteriorate quickly. 

• Cushion Construction: High quality furniture uses high-resilient polyurethane foam wrapped in dacron or down for long-lasting comfort while binge-watching your favorite reality tv show or enjoying an at home date night while the little ones are in bed. Budget furniture may use low-density foam that quickly loses its shape and will have you going to the chiropractor on a regular basis, spending countless dollars to get some temporary relief from back pain.

• Spring Support: High-end pieces have coil or zigzag springs for firm support, whereas budget pieces often skip metal springs altogether. 

• Fabric Quality: Quality fabrics have high thread counts and dense stitching, resisting wear and tear better than lower-grade materials which quickly fade, pill, and tear. 

What Interior Designers Look For When Sourcing High Quality Case Goods and Occasional Pieces 

Case goods and occasional pieces include storage pieces like bookcases, cabinets, and tables, which require practicality and aesthetic appeal. The craftsmanship of these pieces significantly impacts their durability.

Here’s what we look for that makes all the difference between a high quality case good and a low quality one:

• Joinery: The highest quality pieces have rock solid joinery, like dovetail joints that are in it for the long haul. Whereas budget pieces often use glue or are stapled together. Which do you think holds up better when displaying big marble vases with gorgeous florals or beautiful but heavy AF Assouline books on display stands?

• Hardware: High-quality hardware prevents sagging and ensures a smooth opening of doors and drawers.

• Finishing: A high quality finish resists scratches and wear, so your pieces look new for longer.

The Long Term Benefits of Investing in Quality Furniture

When you invest in high quality furniture you ensure your pieces will look and function like new for years to come. High-quality furniture stands up to daily use, moves, and the test of time. While the initial cost may be higher, the long-term benefits and durability make it a wise investment. Remember, when it comes to furniture, invest in quality, take care of it, and enjoy it forever. As famous interior designer Miles Redd said, “Buy the best and only cry once.” 

If you have to replace your sofa or dining table every few years, did you really save?

By choosing high quality over low quality options, you’re not just furnishing a space—you’re signing up for years of style and function. Yes, the initial price might be a bit more, but the lifetime of benefits and durability? Priceless. 

Remember, in the world of furniture, you get exactly what you pay for.Ready to elevate your space? Email us at [email protected]