Why We Only Source High Quality Furnishings For Our Interior Design Projects
As a full service interior design that specializes in creating thoughtful homes, we work with clients who value quality, durability, longevity and great materials over finding the lowest price available.
When designing spaces for our clients, we think of furniture as the foundation of your living space —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 10 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 we want our clients to have furniture that withstands the test of time.
The Real Difference Between High-Quality vs. Low Quality Furniture
You wouldn’t swap out your designer heels or boots every year, right? (Well, I guess you would if you bought low quality ones that started to fall apart after just one season!) And you certainly wouldn’t choose a doctor based on who has the lowest price, because when you’re looking for a doctor, 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? Your furniture has to be tough enough to take a beating from the kids, the dogs and the family, yet still look clean, put-together, and ready for company to come over.
Here’s why investing in high quality furniture when you work with an interior designer is key to getting (and keeping!) that elevated look you want.
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 carefully vetted list of high quality vendors that stand behind their products. We’ve put in the time to research and test tons of brands, so we know who is offering top quality, and which pieces are worth the extra splurge.
What Interior Designers Look For When Sourcing High Quality Upholstered Furniture
Sure, those budget-friendly pieces from West Elm or Living Spaces might catch your eye with their stylish looks and wallet-friendly pricing. But, give it a little time and it will be sagging and pilled and you’ll be fluffing the pillows every time you turn around.
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 and is the perfect backdrop for relaxing with a good book, socializing with your friends, or enjoying a movie on a Saturday night. Or the even better quality pieces have springs in the cushions, as well as the frame. Budget furniture may use low-density foam that quickly loses its shape and feels lumpy and bumpy, instead of soft and supportive.
Spring Support: High-end pieces have coils ( 8-way hand tied springs are the gold standard) or zigzag springs for firm support, whereas budget pieces often skip metal springs altogether. These springs provide better support, and offer much better durability, because they’ll never get squashed out of shape.
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. Our favorite most durable fabrics are Sunbrella, Crypton, and other stain-resistant brands.
I could talk for forever about the different levels of quality for a high-end upholstery piece, but just know that we’ve sat in and purchased a lot of sofas over the years, and have done a lot of hard-hitting research to find the best options for you.
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 against the stacks of books and drawings from the kids art class?
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, hosting family and friends and a lifetime of memories. 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.