Which Furniture?

We hope you will be thrilled with your new furniture – but that can only happen if it fits into your home and your designated space! Follow our tips to make sure you have measured up correctly.

Measuring your home

Make a note of your new furniture’s largest dimensions and check that it will fit comfortably through any doorways, hallways and up any stairs, without damaging paintwork or windows.

Does your new piece come fully assembled? (See below.)

If you have had any major building work done since your last large piece of furniture was delivered, be especially careful as what fitted then, may not now.

Remember that our delivery team cannot take out any windows or doors to enable delivery and if they can’t get the piece into your house, they will have to take it away again.

Will it work in your chosen space?

You need to ensure that the piece will sit happily in your room, without appearing too bulky (or too small) or obstructing movement around the room. One good way to do this is to tape together sheets of newspaper and cut the paper to the exact size of your piece. Check how its size appears to work with your existing furniture, and ensure that you will be able to move around it easily.

Remember, for some furniture, you need to allow extra space (on top of stated dimensions): eg. dining tables need at least 60-70cm extra all around, so that the chairs can be pulled out.

With large storage pieces, such as wardrobes and chests of drawers, ensure that there will be nothing obstructing the doors or drawers when they are opened.

Delivery – assembled or ready to assemble?

Some larger items are transported ready to assemble, making it easier to get them into the specific room. Depending on the product, a ready to assemble item may be self-assembly or assembled for you by our delivery team. This is made clear to you when you order.

Please remember, for large wardrobes, our delivery crew will require space approximately 3 times the size of the piece in order to assemble it safely. Also, they cannot remove or move your existing furniture for you.

We offer a vast range of options, from timeless pieces to striking contemporary designs. What you choose is very much a personal decision but here are some points you might want to consider.

Materials

How will the chosen piece work with the other items in your room? For example, if you have opted for a wooden piece of furniture, do you have other wooden items in the room to consider? The days of rigidly sticking to one wood type throughout a room are now gone, but it is important to check that the look is harmonious. As a rule of thumb, pale woods, such as beech, ash and light oak, work well together, while dark woods such as stained oak and walnut are a good marriage. If you prefer a strong coordinated look, opt for items in the same range.

Space considerations

A small room doesn’t necessarily require small pieces: sometimes one big piece, instead of several smaller ones, can make the room appear larger and less cluttered, but you need to be able to navigate around it with ease. Remember that lighter materials, such as clear glass or white lacquer, are good choices for a small space as they appear less bulky than their darker counterparts.

Think about what you need

When you are furnishing a room, make sure that you choose pieces that work for all your requirements. Most living rooms require a coffee table or an occasional table, so you have somewhere to place a cup or a book, for example, and every room will demand storage solutions of some sort – be it a bookcase, a wardrobe or a chest or drawers – to keep clutter at bay.

Dining furniture

Your dining table will probably be one of the biggest pieces in your home so think carefully about your needs.

If you entertain often, make sure you have a big enough table (and enough chairs) to accommodate your guests. If space is limited, you might want to consider an extending table.

Rectangular tables are the best option for larger numbers and are good for making a feature of a room. Circular tables allow diners to talk to each other with ease, but bear in mind that they are not economical if space is tight. Square tables are perfect for small rooms and for creating a sense of intimacy.

If your table will be used for other activities such as homework or crafts, this may affect your choice of material.

Some of our pieces are crafted from solid wood while others are made using real wood veneer. Many of our pieces of furniture combine the two techniques.

Solid wood

Solid wood displays a natural beauty. Different types of wood will have different grain patterns, burrs or knots – these are all part of the inherent charm of solid wood.

Solid wood furniture tends to be much heavier than veneered pieces – bear this in mind if you need to move your furniture around regularly.

If you are opting for matching pieces for your room, it is advisable to order them in one batch, so that the shades of the different pieces are as close as possible.

Wood veneer

Veneer is glued on to an inner board. This produces a very stable panel – more so than solid timber which can move with changes in temperature and humidity in the home. This stability also allows for veneered panels to be made into thinner panels, making the furniture lighter than a solid wood piece.

Wood and wood veneer

Wooden surfaces need to be protected from hot items, such as mugs or serving dishes, with coasters and placemats. Any spills need to be wiped up immediately.

If you are using a wooden table or desk for writing, make sure you have a pad underneath the paper as pens and pencils can leave impressions in the wood.

Keep wooden furniture away from strong sunlight and take care not to place it in front of, or next to, a radiator. The heat might cause shrinkage and loosen joints and veneers.

Dragging furniture can weaken the joints – always lift it instead.

Glass

Glass can simply be cleaned with glass cleaner or soapy water. To avoid streaks, you can buff the surface with kitchen roll or a soft cloth.

You can order online, in one of our participating stores or by phone. We will give you an estimated delivery date, which our carrier will confirm by phone. You can see our full collection of living, dining and bedroom furniture our 6 dedicated Home stores and a selection of what is on offer in many more stores around the country.

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