Unless you want to replace your furniture every few years, it’s not worth buying cheap couches, chairs, and tables.

Durable furniture might be more expensive, but it will last longer, look nicer, and work better. But before you go out and buy this durable furniture, you should check every piece for flaws or damages.

Why?

Because high-quality furniture is an investment, and you want to make sure it will last.

Take a look at this quick furniture buying guide.

How to Examine Durable Furniture

When you examine a piece of furniture in the store, you really have to get down and look at it. Things like finish and cushions may be strategically placed to hide small flaws.

The parts of furniture you’ll need to check will depend on the type of furniture you’re dealing with. In general, this is a pretty good list of things to go over.

(Leather furniture has its own rules, and we’ll get into them shortly.)

Check the Styling

You should be able to recognize excellent design fairly easily. For example, a high-quality couch will look and feel better than a similar knockoff.

If you are even unsure of the quality, give the furniture a quick once-over. You’ll be able to tell if the manufacturer cut some corners.

Get Up Close with the Details

This is another way to tell if you’re getting durable furniture. Even the smallest details will be perfected.

In other words, the finish will look and feel nicer, and the actual welding will be hard to spot. Things like screws, nuts, and bolts will match the finish so they are hardly noticeable. Even bigger components like joints will be hidden.

Don’t Take It for Surface Value

Before you buy the furniture, get inside and have a good look around. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to take the furniture apart, but you should look under cushions, recliners, and other parts that can be lifted.

This will give you an idea of how well the internal structure, the skeleton of the furniture, is made.

If you see anything that seems out of place, like loose screws, bad support, padding that’s sewn poorly, and unprotected springs, you should pass up on that furniture and find something else. It probably won’t last as long as it should.

Now, this raw part of the furniture doesn’t have to be perfect, but upon looking at it, you should be confident it can hold up to your needs.

Examine the Cushions

If a cushion looks too thin, it probably doesn’t have enough stuffing and will squash easily. A cushion filled with down that leaks is a bad cushion. When they are sewn and lined correctly, leaking won’t be a problem.

You want to look for a fluffy cushion that’s not too soft (again, that could mean it has insufficient stuffing) with hidden seams and well-defined corners. Things like bows or buttons should be attached securely so they won’t pop off.

Study the Finish

Remember to make sure the finish isn’t hiding any small flaws, especially if the finish is rich or dark. Even if you don’t catch any flaws, there are a few other things to look for when it comes to finishing.

There are multiple different types of finish, so you have to know what they’re all supposed to look like. But here are the two most important things to watch out for:

Translucent finish: should be even and show the wood grain underneath.

Opaque finish: Should be even, no bubbles or brush strokes.

Other furniture, like those made from rattan or wicker, should not be splintery or have any ends poking out of place. If they have been painted over, the paint should be even. Paint piled or clogged in a certain place is a sign of poor attention to detail.

How to Examine Leather Furniture

When you’re looking at leather furniture, there are a lot of other components you have to be aware of. Leather durable furniture can be a great investment, but you first have to make sure you’re getting a piece worth that investment.

Here’s what you need to know when you’re shopping for leather.

Check the Leather Grade

There are two different types of leather, top-grain, and split-grain. The best leather is top-grain leather, so it will be more expensive and more durable.

Checking the grade is an easy way to find out if you’re getting quality leather. Anything made of split-grain is less desirable and won’t last as long as top-grain.

Evaluate the Finish

Leather comes with its own varieties of finish that are different than typical wood finishes. Here are a few of the most common top-grain finishes.

Full aniline: aniline is a type of dye. A leather piece that is finished with aniline means the leather has been soaked in aniline. Other than that, no other finish has been applied.

Semi-aniline: leather with this finish has also been treated with a small amount of coating, so they can stand up better to stains and fading.

Pigmented leathers: these pigments give the leather even more protection against things like sun, fading, stains, and scratches.

The leather is graded by what kind of finish it has and how much the manufacturers had to do with the leathers to prepare them for the market. Leathers that are completely mark-free are very rare. But usually marks like wrinkles just add to the beauty and character of leather furniture.

Feel the Texture

High-quality leathers are soft, so the softer the texture the better leather you are getting. Although leathers that have been pigmented will have a stiffer feel.

If the leather feels rough and crisp, that’s probably a good sign the piece was made with cheap leather.

Where Can I Buy Durable Furniture Online?

Think places like Overstock, Ikea, Ballard Designs, Wayfair, and Pottery Barn. It really depends on the style of furniture you want. Each store offers its own twist on sofas, coffee tables, bookshelves, and beds.

You may also want to check out Modern Digs (https://www.moderndigsfurniture.com/modern-living-rooms.html).

Choosing Durable Furniture

Furniture is an investment, so you want to make sure the furniture you buy will last. Think about each piece before you buy it. What will it be used for? Will the kids sit on it while doing homework?

Will it be put in front of a window? All of these components will help you decide the right furniture for you.

If you thought these buying tips were helpful, you should use them to find the perfect furniture for your children’s bedrooms.