Big Box Stores vs. Local Shops
The divide between big box stores and local shops has never been bigger in the furniture industry and elsewhere. What are the options you have as a consumer in selecting between big box stores and local shops? Here are some of the advantages of both:
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Big Box Stores:
- Large selection: By their nature, big box stores are designed to house large quantities of furniture at any given time, with typically much greater selections than those offered by smaller, local shops. In terms of sheer variety, big box stores will always come out ahead.
- Discounted prices Because big box stores are able to purchase furniture in bulk, manufacturers typically offer a discounted rate for furniture purchased by big box stores when compared to local shops.
Local Shops:
- Greater intimacy with furniture/shop owner: One of the things lost in the shift towards big box stores is a certain intimacy with your local shop owner and his/her wares. Local shops have the advantage of knowing what is valued in your community, and not just what national trends may be.
- Support of unique, local businesses: Unique businesses are on the decline--national chains and big box stores must, by definition, cater to a wider audience than smaller, local shops. The local shops have the advantage of being unique--and by shopping with them, you can be unique as well!
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Interior Trends 2009
Every year has its trends in fashion and style--and furniture is no exception. If you're looking to revamp an old room or section of the house, there's nothing better than having an idea of what's in vogue before your idea becomes vague. What are the interior trends of 2009? Here are some of the trends that make 2009 unique in terms of furniture:
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- Bright, bold colors: Bright and optimistic is the color of the day in 2009. Gone are the simple two tones or subdued browns of yester-year (though brown, silver, and gold are still well in vogue), the most daring shades of pink, orange, and yellow are the rulers of 2009.
- Going sustainable: There's no excuse not to live sustainable--in fact, in 2009, it's out of touch not to do so. There are a number of sustainable furniture options, including options for sustainable linens, appliances, and entire rooms. Do the responsible thing--and be fashionable doing so.
- Mix it up: Mixing styles, designs, and periods is the trend of 2009. By mixing and matching various styles and period trends together, you can ensure that your home has a unique stamp that's all yours and no one else's--the more mixed up and stupendous your furniture salmagundi is, the better.
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Most Popular Furniture Styles
Furniture styles change with a frequency unrivaled by anything except clothes. Owning what's in vogue is essential for the best dressed pad around--if you're out of the loop style wise, you're just plain out of the loop. Your local furniture dealer can easily direct you to the best furniture options available. Here are some of the most popular furniture styles around:
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- Modern contemporary: Modern contemporary furniture is associated with clean lines and sleek finishes (lots of burnished aluminums and jet blacks here) that gives a highly sophisticated appearance to any room or apartment. Your local Florida furniture dealer likely has an excess of modern contemporary styles to select from.
- Victorian: Victorian furniture, like the period it's named for, is known for excess--excessively ornate designs bordered by an excess of fabric and cushioning mark this style as separate from others.
- Mission style: This one is pretty basic--straight lines and no pretensions of higher class. Just simple, utilitarian furniture that doesn't need to call attention to itself--the lack of attention it calls is statement enough.
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Prep Time: What to Know before you Shop
There are a number of things to do before furniture shopping. Here are some of the commonly neglected tasks that can make your furniture selections a blessing rather than a curse:
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- Know what works for you: Don't force yourself to adhere to a fashion or style that doesn't suit your needs--nothing's worse than a mismatched furniture set, or one with parts that don't exactly mesh together. Assess what works for your home and preferences and go from there. Remember--you're the boss!
- Make sure it fits with the remainder of your wares: Unless you're going for a mismatched look, having furniture that stands out like a sore thumb is one quick way to ensure that your whole decorating scheme is derailed before it even gets off the ground.
- Don't go for broke--expensive doesn't always equal good: Like most things, expensive furniture is not necessarily the best. There are any number of lower priced, quality options that can typically help out those on a budget. You may also be paying for an expensive name brand rather than a piece of furniture that truly suits you and your home--so beware to check your own compulsions to opt for expensive rather than best.
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