Hi

1. Make a diagram of the room or location where the furniture will be used. On your diagram note the location of windows, doors, shelves, fireplace, air-ducts, TV, etc. Don't forget to measure the hallways, doors, stairs and any other entrance that the piece must be taken through. I've seen more than one person miss this step and have to return a piece that was to big to get into the room.

2. Know where and how you will use this piece of furniture...make sure the piece you're looking at will meet those requirements.

3. You're now ready to start shopping.

Let's get physical...sit in it, sit on it, lay on it, stand on it, etc.

Better furniture is usually more ample sized...it's more substantial...it contains more raw material, more springs, stronger frame with more members. Generally speaking, a better piece will be heavier than the poorer quality piece.

4. Neat, well-defined corners and curves, securely attached buttons, strong unobtrusive seams, properly and evenly distributed filler material are the marks of a quality piece.

5. Turn it over...how well is it constructed? Are there loose or missing screws or bolts? Is the padding sewn correctly? Is the padding and fabric protected from the framework and hardware?

Keep sharing and reading
thanks

Hi

I think checking the quality of the wood/material is a vital part of the selection process, you do not want to be stuck with a bad furniture article for years to come.

Thanks