In order to end up with the armchair best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of armchairs are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in an armchair.
Research the market: Armchair essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the armchair market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Style: You may have preferred materials, such as a favorite type of wood, or are trying to match other pieces of furniture. Deciding on an overall decorating scheme may influence your decisions, such as only buying teak, or you may be interested in modern looking creations in acrylic or metal. Knowing what you like can help you achieve a more cohesive style in your home furnishings, even if your pieces don't necessarily “match.”
There is an armchair to suit every decorating taste. What do you envision in a chair? You may like something simple or more ornate. You might like modern, classical, or there could be a certain period you are particularly fond of. Handcrafted pieces or other carefully chosen features in an armchair can help you create the home ambience you are looking for. There are many possibilities to consider such as shaker, which is a simple style with quality workmanship, Victorian that can be ornate or whimsical, contemporary can make a bold decorating statement, and the charm of country, which can be carved and comforting.
Cost: The quality of the construction of an armchair and materials used will help determine how much you can expect to pay, but it also makes a difference in how well your furniture lasts. Real wood costs more, but its beauty and durability are difficult to beat. Try to take your long-term needs into consideration as well as your immediate furniture requirements.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself:
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in an armchair. For example, will you use the armchair only for reading the paper on Sundays or will it grace a corner of your formal dining room?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used an armchair before? |
| | If you have used an armchair, work out what you did or didn't like it. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What do I want to use an armchair for? |
| | Think about what purpose you want an armchair for and where you want to put it. Perhaps you want dining armchairs, or something for the living room or office. Armchairs can serve a variety of uses. |
| How much space do I have? |
| | A spacious loft and a small summer cottage will have quite different requirements in your choice of an armchair. Remember to consider the chair's environment in addition to identifying the style and features that you like in a chair. |
| How often will I use it? |
| | The amount of use you get out of your armchair will partly depend on its location, how comfortable you find it, and its intended purpose. The chair might be part of your living room furniture that you use daily, or you may want something for the dining room that you save primarily for special occasions. |
| Does it have to blend in with other furniture? |
| | Depending on your decorating aesthetic, sense of style, and the existing theme of your décor, you may or may not be concerned with finding an armchair that matches your other furniture. The needs and priorities of a growing family may differ from those of a retired couple. |
| How much can I spend? |
| | If you have young children and pets it may not be the right time to invest in expensive furniture. On the other hand, if you have inherited some antiques, have monetary gifts to spend or have been saving for this purpose, you may feel inclined to purchase an armchair that will last and fully complement your other furnishings. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of armchairs and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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