I recently saw a television commercial for a high-end furniture store which mentioned, \u201cinvestment furniture\u201d – meaning, fine furniture in which you invest, with the intention of passing it along to your heirs. The concept struck me as superflous.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not that I\u2019m against the concept of inheriting furniture. In fact, I think it\u2019s lovely. I have a few pieces from my parents\u2019 home and I treasure them. But my parents purchased the furniture they needed – as they needed it – and never once were concerned with it lasting beyond its intended purpose. If furniture was given to us children as we set up our own households, it certainly wasn\u2019t because of its \u201cinvestment value\u201d but because of practicality.<\/p>\n
On a realistic note, by the time most parents are downsizing and ready to give away their furnishings, their children have already furnished their homes according to their own life- and aesthetic style. Their parents\u2019 furniture is just that – someone else\u2019s decor that has little or nothing to do with their needs or preferences.<\/p>\n
My ultimate question of the \u201cinvestment furniture\u201d mindset is: “If we don\u2019t want our parents\u2019 furniture, why on earth would we think our children would want ours?”<\/em><\/strong> The world, lifestyles and tastes are changing more rapidly than ever; why would we spend more money than necessary on furniture that will last for generations when future generations won\u2019t want it anyway?<\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say, however, that you should buy cheap, disposable furniture. Cheap furniture will breakdown and need to be replaced. Good quality, durable pieces will provide many years of use and beauty for your initial financial outlay.<\/p>\n Overstuffed furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n Wood furniture<\/strong><\/p>\n Furniture Warranty<\/strong><\/p>\n Take the furniture\u2019s warranty into consideration as an indicator of its quality. A \u201cbetter\u201d warranty would be a Five-Year Limited Warranty<\/em>, warranting the product against defective materials or workmanship for five years, based on reasonable use. Most upholstery manufacturers warranty their cushioning materials for a maximum of five years. A warranty that offers less coverage would indicate lesser quality, and one that offers more would be outstanding.<\/p>\nCharacteristics of Quality Furniture<\/h3>\n
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