Originally coined in 1960s Philadelphia, the term Black Friday referred to the heavy and disruptive traffic that occurred on the day following Thanksgiving. The name spread nationwide in the 1970s, and some people speculate that it has grown to include the financial meaning of “in the black” (or turning a profit). In honor of Black Friday 2012, today we offer an abbreviated shopping guide for all the sale seekers and furniture buyers out there.
Antiqued Mahogany Classical Italian 3-piece Set
Have a Plan and Be Prepared:
For most shoppers, furniture is among the most difficult items to buy. Depending on individual lifestyles and circumstances, household furniture can become family heirlooms as easily as yesterday’s news. The process becomes a consideration of expense, comfort, quality, and style. Ask yourself questions like these before you start: Is there a specific type or piece you want? What is your maximum budget? Where will the intended furniture go, and what are the measurements of that space? Do you have a favorite style or design scheme (colors, shapes, upholstery, etc.)? What will be the piece’s most important feature?
The best advice is to be prepared. Ask the aforementioned questions and take notes to help you decide which listed items are most important. Consider your lifestyle and how it affects your furniture. Will pets or children influence your choices? The internet is also a great resource for initial research and even shopping. Online retailers like MBW Furniture will give you great ideas about the current furniture market and its trends. The market has so many options and so much to offer. It is easy for furniture shoppers to go home dissatisfied because of overwhelm or lack of preplanning.
Softwood versus Hardwood:
Wood has been a popular choice for furniture for centuries. The names hardwood and softwood seem to imply a scale of toughness or hardness, but this is not the case. Hardwoods are not automatically harder than softwoods. It is entirely possible to have hard softwood and soft hardwood. What is the difference? Hardwood structure is much more complex than that of softwood.
The major difference between the two types of wood is the presence of pores called vessels, which vary in size, shape, and structure. Hardwood trees produce seeds with a type of covering or structure like fruit and acorns; softwood trees’ seeds fall to the ground with no protective covering. That is the biggest difference. The softwood family includes conifers, or cone-bearing trees like pine. Softwood is the world’s main source for timber. Humanity relies heavily on softwood for construction, furniture, millwork, and pulp for papermaking.
Manufacturers and artisans use hardwoods for furniture, cabinet making, décor, accessories, furnishings, construction, tools, fuel, boats, musical instruments, flooring, etc. Due to wood complexity and material availability, solid hardwood joinery is usually more expensive than softwood. In any case, different types of wood materials lend themselves to various tasks and processes. For instance, the hardwood walnut is great for heavy, solid furniture and popular for veneering; the softwood cedar is ideal for unfinished furniture and also holds paint quite well.
All in all, hardwoods like cherry, oak, walnut, mahogany, teak, maple, and ash are strong, durable, long lasting, and resistant to dents. Hardwood furniture tends to be more expensive because of its rarity of natural look. For this reason, family heirlooms and antiques are often made of hardwood. Softwoods are a great choice for personal modification. Sanding, painting, and staining are ways to make the furniture fit into your specific design space. Remember to make a plan and decide as much as possible before the shopping begins. Happy Holidays!