The latest furniture mixes functionality and design-savvy aesthetics. Here’s how to make clever choices when updating indoor and outdoor furniture.
1. Style first: When browsing for furniture, start by choosing the right style for your home. “Combine your personal taste with the interior. Proportion is the next key element to a successful space, while colour and tone are the swinging vote,” says Jonathan Purves, senior designer and manager at Roche Bobois.
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Roche Bobois
Roche Bobois
2. Add statement furniture: “Splurge on a designer hand-crafted sofa, armchair or dining chairs,” suggests Purves. Who doesn’t love relaxing in style?
Porada
Moooi Nest Sofa in Flower Bits Fabric by Marcel Wanders at Edge Interiors
3. But don’t forget: Matching certain elements creates a sense of coherence. “Items that are usually overlooked are designer bookcases and TV units. Also, never underestimate the impact of statement side tables,” says Purves.
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Roche Bobois
4. Mix and match: Functionality of pieces is a big deciding factor. “Focus spending on products with the most comfort and appeal, ones that you know you’ll have for years to come,” says Purves.
Essential Home
5. Accessory choices: “Think about what will work and what will work well. Consider everything – colours, textures and proportions – for that desired effect,” suggests Alon Sachs, co-founder of Mobelli Furniture + Living.
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6. The trend factor: When updating your home from one season to the next, add “budget items” to compliment big ticket products. A splash of paint can also update a room in an instant.
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7. Mark of quality: According to Purves, stitching is a good way to assess the quality of furniture, as are surface finishings like timber stains, laquers and sealants. “Of course, the product’s tability (how the weight is distributed) is vital to the product’s stability,” he adds.
Essential Home
8. Outdoor furniture: “Buy quality designs that are ergonomic and comfortable. Outdoor furniture should be hassle-free,” suggests Sachs.
Aire Libre
Mobelli Furniture + Living
9. Outdoor fabrics: “Choose tough materials like acrylic for outdoor soft coverings. Upholstered materials need to withstand rain, dirt, mould and mildew,” says Sachs. “With fabrics, UV resistance is very important,” adds Bianca Ungerer of Marlanteak.
KETTAL at Marlanteak
10. Outdoor materials: “Choose the right quality outdoor materials, such as high-pressure cast aluminium with a double powder coating, 316 marine-quality stainless steel and A-grade plantation teak with nearly no knots. Woven yarn or synthetic weave should always include a combination of a core material for strength and stability and an outer material with a good UV resistance,” explains Ungerer.
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