Sticker Shock? Here’s Why Quality Furniture Is Worth the Investment

If you haven't furnished a room in a while, you will probably experience some sticker shock due to post pandemic inflation. We get it. Things do cost more these days and it's sometimes tempting to buy the lowest priced version of things to save money. But here is why you shouldn't do that:

My philosophy is buy once and buy quality. It really is true that you get what you pay for- up to a point. Of course there are some very high end companies that are charging more just for the designer name and cache. Think of a Birkin bag. There is no leather in the world that would make the bag worth six figures. But putting aside brands with that sort of business model, let's focus on quality furnishings and why they cost what they do.

Manufacturing

Hand-made items that are using fair labor practices, especially made in the USA will be more costly than something made in a sweatshop overseas. These items will be made with care, using quality goods, and have better quality control. If an item is very cheaply made, they are cutting corners on raw materials, using mass production methods-often resulting in a sub-par product.

Fabrics and Materials

One of the ways furniture makers save money is by using cheap Chinese-made fabrics and spraying them with toxic chemicals that will increase "performance." I don't know about you, but I don't want to sacrifice my health so that I can eat on the sofa and not worry about stains. There definitely are incredibly effective performance fabric these days, but the best ones are solution dyed and non toxic. And they are more expensive to make, so will cost more in the short term. But the longevity and stain resistance is worth it, ensuring you won't have to replace or re-upholster your pieces in a few years. Look for Oeko Tex or Yard Dyed on labels to know you are getting a safer product.

Wood Furniture and Case Goods

Many furniture companies use cheap veneers with toxic MDF instead of solid wood to be able to offer trendy items at low prices. Most of these are also made abroad where there are few manufacturing standards for healthy materials. Even American made goods can contain harmful MDF-which off gasses for years into your indoor air. Look for Prop 65 warnings on furniture and keep in mind the level of VOCs that you might bring into your home.

Sofas and Chairs

You may wonder why a sofa price can vary from $1,500 to $10,000 plus. Aside from fabric quality, another factor is the frame itself. Using kiln dried wood gives strength to the frame. For support, a cheaper sofa will use webbing on the foundation vs the 8 way hand tied springs used on a quality sofa. We even had a client who purchased a Restoration Hardware leather sofa, that sagged after a year or so. When RH came out to look at it, they opened it up and there was cardboard on the foundation for support. Cardboard! Imagine paying RH prices and finding out that's how they made your sofa!

Flooring

Companies like Lumber Liquidators advertise wood and laminate flooring for $1.99 or so a square foot. These are made with inferior materials, toxic glues and plastic, and are another product that can off gas harmful chemicals for years. A good quality engineered wood floor will have dozens of finishes on it to create durability, strength and beauty. Look for Greenguard Gold ratings for the most healthy options.

Flooring is something you may only be installing once during your ownership of that home.

Yes, costs have increased considerably in recent years. But with careful consideration, you can furnish your spaces with quality items that will last for decades. With intentional design-you will adore those rooms for the long term and the only tweaks you will need to do are seasonal swaps like pillows and throws, or refresh with a new paint color every decade or so.

Love your home with quality furnishings and you won't regret it, or spend money twice!