How Much Does “Cheap” Furniture Really Cost?
I often hear people say, “I don’t want to spend a lot on furniture.” And really, it’s no surprise — furniture can be a really big investment! From pets to kids to whatever else puts that attractive furniture at risk of not staying attractive, the hesitation to buy nice things is understandable. After all, if that furniture won’t hold up to the abuse, what’s the point of buying it in the first place, right?
Wrong.
Rather than waiting for the some day of having a home you love, I encourage you to go for it now. Let’s talk about why.
Cheap Furniture Fits With a Throwaway Culture
At one time, products were built to last a lifetime. That’s hardly the case today.
Since the introduction of mass production in the early 20th century, consumers can get what they want quickly, conveniently, and usually, affordably. While this certainly has its advantages, there are times it can be a disadvantage — like when it comes to home furnishings.
In general, the quality of the goods we buy has decreased, furniture included. These mass-produced products have short lifespans because they are built with the intent of quantity over quality. The result? We are driven to buy new things more often.
Unfortunately, when we succumb to this throwaway mentality in regards to our furniture, we lose true artisans and quality craftsmanship. Furthermore, we end up spending more money replacing subpar pieces than we would have had we just invested in a quality piece from the beginning!
In the end, investing in quality furniture is one of the best ways to help maintain the integrity, beauty, and comfort of your home.
Planned Obsolescence Furniture
Even though it’s nothing new, “planned obsolescence” isn’t a term we hear very often. So just what does it mean, anyway?
Simply put, planned obsolescence is a business tactic that involves deliberately manufacturing products with short lifespans so that they will become useless to the point of needing to be replaced by the consumer. If you’ve updated items such as your wardrobe, phone, TV, washing machine, or car because yours seemed inadequate compared to a newer trend or model, you have experienced planned obsolescence.
Planned obsolescence even exists in the furniture industry. In years past, furniture was made with real wood — a solid material that would give the product longevity. If it broke in any way, it was usually repaired, not replaced. Today, however, mass-produced home furnishings are typically comprised of wood-like materials, such as compressed sawdust, wood veneer, or imitation wood laminate. But, unlike their real wood counterparts, they aren’t so easily repaired.
Quality furniture results in a more sustainable future
As mentioned earlier, it’s worth considering sustainable furniture for your home. Landfill spaces are rapidly filling up and purchasing furniture pieces that are hard to dispose of isn't helping. The more furniture pieces are disposed of, the higher the environmental footprint.
Quality furniture that can be repaired, refinished, reupholstered or resold over time helps to keep waste out of our landfills, which reduces our environmental footprint.
“Planned obsolescence is the production of products that will fail or become less desirable over time, encouraging the consumer to throw their old product away and buy something new. ”
The Cost of Bad Design
Several years ago, I shared a blog entitled The Cost of Bad Design, which included a quote by Dr. Ralph Speth, former CEO of Jaguar. To this day, it still resonates with me. It goes like this: "If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design."
He couldn’t be more right.
Lots of Furniture is Not Made to Last
As with most products, when it comes to furniture, you get what you pay for. Many value engineered products, including furniture, just aren’t designed to last! From poor construction to inferior fabrics and sub-par cushions, inexpensive furniture pieces are not designed for the wear and tear of frequent use over a long period of time.
Opportunity Costs
According to Forbes, opportunity cost is the “value of what you lose when you choose from two or more alternatives.” In other words, what you must forgo in order to get something. This concept can apply to several aspects of our world right down to the everyday decisions in our personal life, including what we spend our money on.
But opportunity cost isn’t generally something buyers think of when making a purchase. They don’t always consider the potential losses because they are primarily focused on the potential gain.
Take furniture, for example. Should you invest more or less? If more, you’ll have gained the value of acquiring pieces that will stand the test of time. If less, you run the risk of subpar materials, as well as fewer size, style and color options. So, before making the purchase, be sure to ask yourself, “What am I giving up by spending less on furniture?”
Remember, the key word in “opportunity cost” is opportunity. The opportunity to have a beautifully-designed home that includes quality pieces carefully curated to fit your preferred style. In essence, the opportunity to have the home of your dreams.
Invisible Costs:
Time is our most valuable asset. How much of your time are you willing to spend shopping for furniture? Think about all that is involved with the traditional furniture buying experience:
Time to shop, perhaps at multiple locations or sourcing from online vendors.
Time to arrange delivery or self-transport
Time away from work for delivery window or self-transport
Assembly required (more time and tools)
What to do with all of the packaging?
End of life costs such as arranging for disposal by hauling away, donating, selling or consignment.
If you had to replace your sofa every 5-7 years, would you consider that valuable time spent? Or, would you prefer having a quality piece that has the potential of becoming an heirloom someday? Not that it has to, of course, but it just goes to show you that taking time to design your home with purpose can allow you to spend your time in better ways.
“If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.”
4 Steps to Making a Furniture Purchase You Won’t Regret
Buy Well
Buy Wisely
Consider your R.O.I.
Work with a Furniture Expert
Buy Well
Instead, I encourage our clients to “buy well”. I work with them to find the best options within their established budget when making purchasing decisions.
Buying well also includes supporting companies with good customer service, which is something that’s more important than you may realize! In fact, according to Gladly’s 2018 Customer Service Expectations Survey, “68% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for products and services from a brand known to offer good customer service experiences.”
Buy Wisely
Know where to spend and where to save. Just like your wardrobe, I recommend investing in “staple” pieces that can be versatile and saving on items that can be changed out over time.
For your home, those foundational pieces will be your larger purchases, including upholstered seating, a dining set, and your primary bedroom furniture. You can always add on or swap out occasional pieces, art and decorative items as your taste and style evolves.
And don’t forget, what’s inside matters, too. Good design is just as much about what you see as what you don’t see. If it’s longevity you seek, choose sustainable, domestic products made by companies employing long-time artisans. Seek out manufacturers using quality materials such as hardwoods and performance textiles.
Mastering the art of where to spend and where to save is key to being able to enjoying your investment in quality furniture for years to come. Rather than overspending, you can put your money where it matters most. When done this way, your initial investment will result in so much gain down the road.
Consider Your Return on Investment
Well cared for pieces with timeless design can last a lifetime. Due to their quality construction, it can make financial sense to have them repaired, reupholstered, or refinished. Iconic pieces, like an authentic Eames Lounge Chair or Milo Baughman piece, only appreciate over time. Heirloom pieces can bless generations yet to come.
Work with a Furniture Expert
An experienced interior designer is an expert in furniture. This includes the space planning skills, product knowledge and vendor relationships necessary to transform a home with furniture.
Interior Designers know the ins and outs of the construction methods, materials and details that make quality furnishings. Quality furnishings are one of the final layers of a well designed home.
In a larger renovation or new construction project, I help clients begin with the end in mind. The end of the project isn’t an empty space. So furniture should not be an afterthought. I guide our clients in creating a realistic budget for construction AND quality furniture before the project begins. This can help you to not feel as overwhelmed when it comes to all of the decisions that are part of a comprehensive new build or renovation project.
See our recent post called 5 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Furniture Project .
Why wait for SOME DAY?
Some day… is a myth. You choose your life every day and how to spend your time. You choose what you surround yourself and your family with. You choose the best way to invest in your home.
Are you ready for your home to have gorgeous furniture that will last for years to come? If so, I would love to guide you through the process of finding pieces that won’t compromise on quality or style!
Start the process by scheduling a quick discovery call today!
