Furniture Shopping 101

Few things surpass the feeling of elation you get when you get a good deal for a low price, not to mention the bragging rights that such smart shopping brings. With our reasonable prices and honest staff, Monk's Furniture Warehouse is dedicated to helping you make wise buys more often.

Here are some smart shopping guidelines for purchasing indoor, outdoor, and leather furniture.

• Take it for a test drive (or sit rather): High quality furniture is usually more amply sized: there is more seating space and the arms and legs are larger. Lift it. High quality furniture contains more raw material including cushions, springs, and a solid frame, which makes it more difficult to lift. The better the chair - the heavier.
  
  
• Evaluate the finish: High quality furniture should not hide flaws with even, rich and deep paint or stain finish. If the furniture has a translucent finish, it should be even and the grain should show through. Opaque finishes should also be consistently even and free from bubbles or visible brush strokes. Wicker and rattan pieces should have tight, uniform weaving free from clogged paint. Wicker should also be smooth without splinters or ends sticking out.
  
  
• Perform a Cushion Check: The hallmarks of a quality cushion include neat, well-defined corners or curves, unobtrusive seams and securely attached details and buttons. The cushion should not have a squashed appearance because that indicates it has insufficient stuffing; it should be plump and well shaped. A down-filled cushion should never leak feathers if properly sewn and lined.
  
  
• Look beneath the surface: In order to sufficiently inspect a piece of furniture, you will have to lift the cushions or turn the piece over to see how it's constructed. Key factors to look out for include loose screws, padding that's not sewn correctly, insufficient support, and springs that are obvious or unprotected. Although it's important to look for high quality craftsmanship beneath the surface, the raw part of the furniture will not look perfect. Nonetheless, you should still be able to get a clue about the care that went into making the piece.
  
  
• Key in on the details: The signs of fine quality include a smooth sanding and finishing, mechanisms to conceal hardware, and less apparent welding. Nuts, screws, and bolts should be should be protected from rust and colored to match the piece. Welting should be stitched straight and the joining should not be prominent.
  
  
• Study the styling: Imitations of successful designs are abundant, but excellent design shows. Thoroughly study the piece's styling to be sure the manufacturer didn't cut any corners with the design.
  
  
• Consider the conditions: Like a true interior decorator, you should think about how the piece will be used and where it will be placed. For instance, if you plan on placing a sofa in front of a picture window, expect the fabric to fade a little and chose a sofa with less pattern and color so that this fading won't be as apparent. Select a table with a hardy finish if you plan on placing it in the kitchen where your kids do their homework. Wicker and rattan don't fair well in the elements, so they should not be placed outside, although a covered porch is fine.

Leather Tips

• Grade: Grade is the most important feature of leather's quality. It indicates durability and price. The outer surface of the hide supplies top-grain leather. Weaker leathers taken from the lower surfaces are split grains.
  
  The way manufacturers prepare leather determines leather grade. Aniline (or "pure" or "full" aniline) leather is soaked in aniline dye and is free from other finishes or pigments. Semi-aniline (or "protected" aniline) leathers have a small amount of pigment or coating, which gives them slightly better protection against fading and stains. Pigmented leathers are fully treated with surface color. They are made from lesser-grade hides and are stiffer than anilines. Finishes and pigments provide added protection against stains, scratches, and sun fading.
  
  
• Finish: The amount of work a manufacturer puts into leathers determines the grade. It is rare to find nearly perfect, mark-free hides and, therefore, they are highly prized. Most anilines will have visible markings, such as wrinkles and scars, that contribute to their natural beauty. They develop a lustrous patina with age and use like a well-worn purse or leather jacket.
  
  
• Texture: The softest and most supple leathers come from the highest quality hides. In industry-speak, they have a more luxurious "hand" or feel. Pigmented leathers have a stiffer hand, as do "corrected grain" leathers, which have been buffed to remove obvious surface imperfections. Distinct textures are formed by other techniques: You can recognize Nubucks and suede, their less durable cousins, by their plush softness. Sauvage leather appears marbled. Pull-up leather looks distressed because it has been treated with oil or wax; when it's stretched, the oil or wax separates and produces a lighter burst of color. High heat or pressure is used to pattern embossed leather.
  
  
• Care and maintenance: Here are tips for keeping your leather investment in top shop more many years to come:
  • Place furniture away from heat because heat will eventually dry the leather out.
  • Shield leather from direct sunlight, which causes it to fade.
  • Remove dust from leather regularly with a vacuum.
  • Let spills air dry and blot them away immediately with a dry cloth.
  • To improve leather's resistance to staining and to keep it soft and supple, regularly use the recommended cleaners or creams.