 | Scott Francis is the owner of Lytton’s Furniture located at 61st North and Hydraulic. He has been in the furniture industry for over 20 years, starting with Razook’s Furniture back in 1984 and also working in the Army National Guard for 13 years. For 15 years of Scott’s furniture career he acted as the Operations Manager for one of the largest furniture stores in Kansas. His expertise is in floor display design, warehouse design, delivery routing, consignment furniture, and implementation of computer systems’ functionality. Scott had a dream to run a business based on customer service, industry knowledge, and superior efficiencies. Lytton’s Furniture opened its doors in 2008 and continues to focus on Scott’s dream. Scott can be contacted at 316-425-7078. |
Home Furnishings
2009-12-01 08:24:00
Tips on new home furnishings
Question: We just purchased a new home; can you provide some tips on new furnishings?
Answer: If there’s a bright side to a down economy, it’s that those who are looking for a new home are in a “buyer’s market” right now. Good or bad, home prices are at record levels and investing in real estate is still a good strategy for creating long-term wealth.
But buying a home is only part of the cost of home ownership. In fact, the average homeowner spends nearly $9,000 to furnish their new home, nearly double what others spend. More than three-fourths of this is spent on furniture and changes to the property, such as paint and carpeting. The rest is spent on new appliances.
Of course, in a down economy, getting the most for your money – whether you’re buying your first home or moving from one home to another – is an important strategy as well.
Following are some helpful tips to help you budget smartly:
Decide what you actually need.
It’s easy to go nuts when furnishing a new home. But buying furniture that fits your lifestyle is essential. Otherwise, that baby crib you picked up at a clearance sale wasn’t really such a deal, since it’s going to just take up space for a few years in your home. Take an inventory of the items you use most and invest in those items – a good sofa, a comfortable bed, a dining room set and a big screen television. Then fill in later as your budget allows and you see what you actually need.
Think Quality and Value.
Furniture needs to hold up to the rigors of daily use. Leather is a durable, long lasting fabric choice, but it’s not a good choice if you have pets that could scratch the leather. Choose furnishings for their ability to last a long time, rather than choosing the cheapest pieces that will fall apart or fabrics that will wear quickly.
Start slowly.
You don’t need to fill your new home to the rafters with furniture. Sometimes less is more. Add the basics, and then live in the home for a while. It will tell you what you need, whether it’s end tables because you don’t have a place to set your drink or more seating to accommodate family and friends in a grouping that promotes conversation.
Set a budget and stick with it.
This is a good time to buy furniture. Prices are down and retailers want to deal. But don’t stray from the budget you set. Find a retailer that can show you the features and benefits of their products, and is willing to help you with your design, and willing to work within your budget.
Choose a theme. One of the best ways to get the most for your money is to buy a singular style for all the rooms in your home. That way you can mix and match pieces to create fresh, new looks. Modern furniture is particularly good for this, since the furniture has a unified theme, but the individual pieces can all look very different.
