How to choose furniture for a new interior: secrets and nuances in 2022

Creating a new interior for your beloved home is always a joyful and exciting event. This is the time to implement all the ideas that have long been “collecting dust on the shelf” and correct all the mistakes made during the last renovation.

And if a global change of furniture is planned, then the renovation turns into an exciting quest with trips to furniture showrooms, home textiles and accessories stores.

There are two ways to buy furniture that matches your interior:

If the apartment has just been renovated well, then you need to focus on the color scheme and texture of the surfaces of the room for which it is intended.
If the renovation is carried out in a specific interior style, especially if it is not “classic”, then the furnishings, as well as all accessories, must correspond to it. Otherwise, obvious dissonance will form, and the interior space of the house will not be perceived as a single whole.

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When should you order furniture?

If you “unexpectedly” bought an empty apartment being renovated, you have no choice - you will have to look for furnishings for ready-made premises.

But if you ordered a comprehensive renovation, then it makes sense to outline the largest furnishings before it begins. After all, for comfortable use of equipment, it is very important where and at what height the sockets and switches are located, how many electrical appliances there will be in the room - the number of sockets depends on this. If the dimensions of the furniture are already known, developing an electrical wiring design becomes easier.

The designer of the hired company will help with the main items, because he is in charge of not only the “beauty”, but also the “ergonomics” of the premises.

Manufacturers of headsets adhere to basic sizes in their work and try to use popular colors. Therefore, it is easier to “dance” away from the furniture. There are hundreds of options that match it in color and texture of wallpaper or flooring. But choosing a sofa to match the wallpaper is very difficult.

Item 6: upholstery

The quality of the upholstery determines how long the upholstered furniture will retain its presentable appearance. Therefore, choose furniture with fairly thick upholstery, which should be evenly stretched over the frame. Check the tension by running your hand over the surface of the furniture: it should not bulge. Upholstery that is too thin will quickly stretch and stop holding its shape.

In addition, choose the type of upholstery, focusing on the room where the furniture will be placed. In the hallway it is better to put a banquette with thick upholstery that will not wear off quickly (matting, thick leather), in the kitchen - a “corner” and chairs with upholstery that can be washed and cleaned frequently, and in the bedroom you can safely buy furniture with delicate upholstery (for example , bedside sofa made of velvet).

Selection Criteria

It's always easier to start a business when there are clear guidelines. This also applies to the furnishings of the apartment. What you can rely on:

functionality;
layout plan for each room;
color spectrum;
real budget;
matching the interior style.

Availability of niches, capacity

A modern apartment looks spacious if it is not cluttered with various objects and things. Particular attention should be paid to various niches (for bedding in the bed, sofa). Cabinets must be spacious. Today it is important to use furniture with hidden niches and doors. A visual feeling of an almost empty room will be created, which is important, for example, for a style such as minimalism. It will be easier to clean the room, and niches and cabinet compartments will protect things from dust.

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In case of concluding a contract for a comprehensive renovation with payment upon delivery, the full cost of the interior project will be returned at the final stage of the renovation. In case of full prepayment, you will immediately receive a 10% discount on repair work and a full deduction of the design cost.

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Functionality

You need to approach things not according to the principle of “we buy everything we like, what we’ve dreamed of for a long time.” We use common sense and look at what we can’t do without, what tasks each piece of furniture should solve.

Take time out to think. After this it should become clear:

What furniture is absolutely necessary for each room.
How many places to store things, books, shoes, clothes should there be in the house.
How many beds are needed and where will they be located?
Should you provide multifunctional furniture that can perform several functions, or is it better to stick with familiar models? This issue should be especially carefully considered in the case of a small apartment.

Then you need to make a list of everything you need, review it several times, discussing it with all family members.

Retro styles

Styles that were popular in the 20th century can be combined with the concept of retro. These styles include Victorian, vintage, pop art, steampunk, shabby chic, art deco, art nouveau, and modern.

Each style has its own furnishings. For example, the Victorian style recreates the style of a traveler of the colonial era; this interior is characterized by massive brown leather sofas, old globes and maps. Vintage style includes old items purchased at flea markets and antique stores - all together they create a unique antique charm. Steampunk is easily recognizable by the use of metal, bronze, copper and even rusty surfaces; the decor in the form of gears, pipes and bolts is the industrial style of the early 20th century. Pop art takes us back to the era of Andy Warhol; this style is characterized by posters and colored plastic. Shabby chic recreates the atmosphere of a porcelain doll's house with ruffles, ruffles and pink tones. Art Deco is easily recognized by its golden geometric patterns, symmetry and the charm of Broadway in the 1920s. The Art Nouveau style is characterized by natural, streamlined lines and floral carvings on furniture.

Layout plan

Even if made by hand, but taking into account the actual dimensions of the rooms and furniture, it will greatly simplify the development of a design project.

Such a plan can be drawn up in different ways:

Stand in the middle of each room and imagine what, where and how it should be, is it convenient for all family members. To do this, use a tape measure - it’s easier to determine the size of cabinets, beds or sofas.
You can draw a scale diagram of each room, taking into account the location of all openings. Draw the furnishings to the same scale and cut them out along the outline with scissors. And then just move it around the room, choosing the optimal position.
You can mark the height of cabinets, sofas, and armchairs directly on the wall by drawing their outlines.
To work “in plan” you can use masking tape. They “circle” the space occupied by furniture on the floor. This makes it easier to determine the dimensions of tables, chairs, and carpets. Remember that the room should be easy to move around, so leave passages of sufficient width.
There are computer programs online that help you select and arrange furniture. They give a clear idea of how the model will look in the interior.
Engage a professional who will create a detailed home furnishing design. It's expensive, but effective.

Requirements and options for quality models

There are several main points that require special attention from the buyer. It is better to decide on visual parameters in advance, since there is a possibility that the buyer will come to the store with one opinion, and after consulting with the seller, this opinion will change. And changing the initial position in a design issue does not always play a positive role. This question is always subjective, so it is advisable to work through this issue with an experienced designer. You can discuss the dimensions of the furniture with a specialist, since it is unacceptable to rely on images from the official website of the store - in reality, the furniture may not fit.

Perhaps the basic concepts in the process of choosing quality furniture are the assembly features, the quality of the material and the product itself. Chipboard can be used as the main material, which significantly reduces the cost of furniture. But such furniture will not be durable. It is imperative to study the material used in furniture. Next, you need to set requirements for the quality of the product. It is in the buyer's interests to check the completeness of the package, as well as conduct a visual inspection. Good furniture simply cannot have manufacturing defects, loose connecting elements, creaking, or non-functioning fittings. The presence of one of the listed signs allows you to demand a refund of the money spent.

Separately, it should be said about assembly - you can install furniture yourself or order this service from specialists. Self-assembly means that the owner of the furniture will be able to independently understand the instructions, and then there will be no one to blame for errors in assembly. When ordering furniture assembly services, you need to make sure that the work was completed to a high standard.

For example, we can look at several types of high-quality interior items:

If the item has protruding parts, for example, a cabinet or table top, then there should be a shock-proof edging;
Installed glass on a sideboard or cabinet must be installed on mortise hinges. The clamping loops are somewhat outdated;
All supports must be adjustable. In practice, a cabinet with conventional supports stands with a deviation, so it is important that its position can be adjusted;
Drawers must have steel runners.

A characteristic feature of reliable furniture is the availability of warranty service. Here it is not the term itself that plays a big role, but the details of compensation for losses if something happens to the item through no fault of the buyer.

Adjustable feet are more secure

Impact-resistant edging protects the coating

Choose mortise hinges

Use steel skids

Color spectrum

There are two ways to resolve doubts about color:

Select furniture from the same color range as the decoration of the room.

This is a reliable way to avoid obvious mistakes. If, for example, the wallpaper in the room is beige, you can choose upholstery in a pleasant brown color. Same with other colors.

Yes, the interior may seem a little boring, but it will never irritate and will retain its relevance for a long time. And bright accents can be added using textiles, paintings, vases or other accessories.

Buy furniture whose color contrasts with the tone of the room.

In this case, the furniture itself will become a bright accent. But here it is important not to overdo it - too many bright spots tire and irritate.

Among the successful contrasting pairs it is worth noting the following:

silver - lilac;
White black;
blue yellow;
dark brown – green.

Using a furniture selection application, you can choose the color of the walls and “try on” different colors of furniture upholstery to match it.

Item 3: filler

You yourself will not be able to see what filler the manufacturer chose for a particular piece of furniture. You need to ask the seller. In this case, it is better to conduct an interrogation with passion: what is the filler made of, what is its density, is there a spring block?

The ideal filler is polyurethane with a density of at least 25 kg/m3, holofiber, polystyrene, latex, peritec. The sofa on which you intend to sleep should also have a spring block that imitates a mattress.

Soft foam rubber is not suitable as a filler at all. In just a couple of weeks, such furniture will sag beyond repair.

Budget

If the budget size is known in advance, the choice will become much easier. All options that lead to overspending of the indicated amount will be eliminated at the initial stage.

A small budget dictates the refusal of furniture sets from expensive brands and designer items. But it doesn’t stop you from finding nice options among them, and then looking for something similar among inexpensive models.

Important!

Sometimes it’s easier (and cheaper) to make the necessary furniture to order than to buy ready-made modules (which may not fit) in stores. Pay attention to wood shops in your city, call and find out prices.

An unlimited budget will allow you to buy furniture made from solid wood or exotic materials like rattan or bamboo for your apartment.

Therefore, by realistically assessing your finances, you will save yourself from unnecessary disappointments when visiting furniture stores.

Detail 1: price

An average-sized corner and straight folding sofa costs about 40-50 thousand rubles, an armchair - about 10 thousand, a banquette - 12-15 thousand for a designer model, about two to five thousand for a version with a metal frame and a small seating area.
This price is optimal for the price-quality ratio. Cheap upholstered furniture, even with an ideal appearance, will betray itself with low-quality fittings and a questionable level of assembly. Such furniture will quickly break, even if you use it carefully and carefully.

Plastic

Modern plastics are practical materials that vary in type and manufacturing technology. The plastic coating is applied to the MDF board and then used in the manufacture of furniture. There is a huge selection of plastics, different in composition: Fenix, TSS CLEAF, acrylic, HPL.

Phoenix

Fenix is a new generation of plastic, it is double-sided, matte, pleasant to the touch. Phoenix is almost impossible to damage. An ordinary scratch is smoothed out with a warm iron, and it disappears right before your eyes. Fenix is also called “nanoplastic”.

Main application: for facades, hanging shelves and racks, countertops, kitchen apron. A tabletop made of nanoplastic can withstand significant thermal loads.

Expert opinion

Korzhavin Daniil Dmitrievich

Designer of stylish home furniture

Fingerprints remain on the dark surface, which are difficult to erase later. No traces are visible on light-colored parts.

The disadvantages of Phoenix include the expensive cost of the material and the presence of mostly calm, neutral shades in the palette.

Acrylic

Acrylic plastic is a unique natural material made from plant extracts. Features of acrylic:
The color range is limited.
The coating can be glossy or matte.
The gloss shows everything as if in a mirror reflection.
Fingerprints are not visible on matte surfaces.

The flexibility of acrylic plastic makes it possible to make radius facades and other curved parts for furniture from it. Acrylic panels are also installed on the kitchen apron.

HPL

HPL plastic is the most common material that has stood the test of time and has proven itself to be practical and durable. It is produced by pressing several layers of heat-resistant paper impregnated with special solutions. After applying the MDF board, the strength of the plastic coating increases.

The advantage of HPL plastic is the variety of colors and textures:

glossy and matte;
smooth and textured;
plain;

with a metallic or chameleon tint;
fantasy;
with drawings and patterns.

Plastic is used in the production of furniture in the form of decorative parts of the body, facades, countertops, and shelves. The cost is cheaper than other types of plastics.

TSS CLEAF

TSS CLEAF panels are created using Italian technology. A multi-layer coating of tarred paper is applied to the MDF base. Under the influence of the press, a textured convex texture is achieved, reminiscent of a wooden surface.

The multi-layered and tarred outer coating gives it special strength. The panels are difficult to scratch and cause other damage. The color range of TSS CLEAF is wood and fancy shades from white to black. The plate is inserted into sliding doors, used for facades, countertops, and decorative panels.

Veneer

Veneer is a thin cut of wood less than 1 mm thick. Veneer is glued onto MDF and used as a façade or decorative material. The material is environmentally friendly, does not differ in appearance from wood, although it is cheaper in cost.

Veneered countertops for dining and office tables are cheaper than solid wood. They are strengthened by several layers of varnish. Inlaid expensive countertop options are also made from veneer.

No. 7. Wall VS rack

A modern living room cannot do without a wall or a rack, because you need somewhere to store things that have accumulated and are necessary in this room. Previously, the clear option for the living room was the wall : then these were bulky pieces of furniture that greatly cluttered the space. Today, living room walls have become more miniature and sophisticated, but the market has also expanded with shelving . They perform the same functions, are very roomy, but thanks to open shelves and a special design, they do not take up space and do not make the room visually smaller. And if the walls fit well into a classic interior, then the racks have become a distinctive addition to the minimalist interior and living rooms, where they try in every way to save space.

Another great option is modular furniture . This is a set of all kinds of shelves, cabinets and bedside tables, made in the same style, which can be combined as you like, in any order. At the same time, you have the opportunity to create an original and maximally functional interior, adapted exclusively to your family.

The color of the wall or shelving should be coordinated with the overall color scheme of the room, and if the living room does not have a large area, then try to use as many open shelves and transparent glass elements , as well as mirror surfaces.

Plywood

Plywood is thin layers of wood glued together into one sheet. According to the type of surface treatment, it is divided into smooth, or polished and untreated. Plywood is sanded on one side, on both sides, or left unsanded. Unpolished is used in interior decoration. Polished types are needed for the manufacture of cabinet and upholstered furniture.

Depending on the appearance, plywood is divided into grades:

The highest grade sheet has an even pattern without knots, microcracks or darkening.
In first-grade plywood, minor darkening and isolated small knots are allowed.

For the second grade, it is possible to have no more than five knots with a diameter of up to one and a half cm per 1 sq.m.
Third-grade plywood, in addition to knots and darkening, has scratches, dents and minor chips along the edges of the sheet.

High-quality furniture is made from premium and first grade plywood, sanded on both sides. When painting with enamel, it is preferable to choose sheets without cracks or dents with an ideal wood pattern. It is recommended to apply paint or varnish to dry material. Before painting, it is advisable to treat the surface with a primer, which will fill the pores in the wood.

Plywood has the following positive qualities:

environmental friendliness;
Read also: Dimensions of 1.5-bed bedding and one-and-a-half beds
ease of processing;
variety of sizes;
low price, light weight;
possibility of painting and cladding;
bending strength;
ease of maintenance and restoration.

You can use plywood to create cabinet furniture elements: shelving, bookcases, drawer bodies, wall shelves. Plywood is not suitable for large and solid products. Its ability to bend due to changes in humidity and temperature limits its applications in furniture production.

The material also has its disadvantages. Like natural wood, plywood absorbs and retains moisture. Over time it bends and changes shape. Without additional surface treatment it has a short service life.

MDF

MDF is wood waste, crushed to the smallest particles. Under pressure and high temperatures, wood dust is soldered into a homogeneous mass without the influence of additives. MDF forms a dense board due to the natural components contained in the raw materials.

Due to its homogeneity, the slab bends under the influence of temperatures, is easily milled, sanded, and cut into different shapes. The material is moisture resistant, does not succumb to fungus, and tolerates treatment with varnishes and paints well.

MDF has different thicknesses and is used for the manufacture of cabinets, facades, and countertops. The material can be polished or laminated, suitable for painting with enamel. MDF serves as the basis for applying plastics and PVC films.

The positive qualities of the slab include:

high density and durability;
resistance to moisture and temperature changes;
wide possibilities for processing and using the material;
affordability.

The disadvantages include higher weight than laminated chipboard.

Materials – safety, comfort, durability

Not only its durability, but also the comfort of use and safety depend on the choice of material for making furniture. No matter how beautiful natural leather is considered, it is uncomfortable to sleep on such upholstery. Velor is quite difficult to clean, it attracts all the dust. There are many other options you can consider, but the principle remains the same.

Furniture safety is one of the most important criteria. It is worth checking the manufacturer's certificates. The least harmful are natural materials and those close to them - wood, stone, glass, steel.

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In the photo: Living room interior in an Art Deco style apartment

Most budget furniture is made from chipboard, fiberboard, and MDF. The safety of such furniture is difficult to assess; they even contain formaldehyde, which is hazardous to health.

No less attention should be paid to the mattress fillings. Polyurethane is found in almost every product, but after a few years it becomes like dust or flour, can become a dangerous substance for the respiratory system and lead to serious allergic reactions.

High-quality and durable furniture is often very heavy, and this is also not the best criterion for a modern interior. Furniture often has to be moved for cleaning. And it’s easier to change the interior by rearranging objects if the furniture is light.

Zoning

Some furniture can perform zoning functions, which is very important for any room. For example, a hall can be divided into relaxation and work areas, with the correct arrangement of cabinets, beds and sofas. At the same time, for zoning it is not necessary to buy additional partitions or other products for similar purposes.

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In the photo: Living room interior in an Art Deco style apartment

The benefits of zoning include:

dividing one room into several functional zones - even if the apartment has one large room, it can be visually made into two or three;
the space remains as light and free as possible - when using compact structures made of transparent or light materials, natural light continues to flow into the room;
You can transform your existing interior on a budget - just use existing furniture; with enough imagination, it will cope perfectly with the tasks.

No. 8. Choosing a coffee table

A coffee table is an important attribute of the living room, which serves not only to place all sorts of small things on it, such as newspapers, magazines, CDs and remote controls, but also becomes necessary when drinking tea, for example. The average height of this piece of furniture is 50 cm, and the size can be completely different, as well as the material used.

For living rooms in a classic style, you can choose a wooden carved table , perhaps even with forged elements.
But for rooms in a modern style , and without extra square meters, it is better to choose another option. So, an oval or round glass table will be just as functional, but at the same time it will seem to dissolve in space. Another good option is a table in the form of a cube , the surface of which is used for its intended purpose, and the volume becomes another storage space. If such a cube is made of translucent plastic, then it is ideal for even the smallest living room.
When space allows , you can choose any coffee table, especially since stores always have many interesting options, often very unusual, that can become a real highlight of any room.

Fiberboard

Fibreboard - fibreboards are similar in manufacturing technology to MDF. Fiberboard with a thickness of 4-6 mm is needed in furniture production for the back walls of cabinets and the bottom of drawers. Plates 8 mm thick are inserted into sliding doors.

The material can also be sanded, laminated or untreated. Fiberboard does not tolerate high humidity and is not recommended for installation in bathrooms.