Are you looking to furnish your home with style? Toronto’s many contemporary furniture stores (including ours) offer various options catering to modern tastes.
However, shopping for contemporary furniture can be a little overwhelming, given the variety of choices available.
Whether you are searching for a sofa or chairs in Toronto, this guide will help you find the best stores and make informed decisions.
Let’s get started.
Note These Things When Shopping at a Contemporary Furniture Store
Shopping for contemporary furniture in Toronto can be fun but daunting. With so many styles, materials, and stores to choose from, it’s easy to feel at sixes and sevens. (Look it up!)
This guide aims to simplify your shopping experience, providing you with essential tips and insights to find the perfect pieces that suit your style and home.
1. Know Your Style
Before stepping into contemporary furniture stores in Toronto, it’s crucial to understand your style. Are you drawn to minimalist designs, or do you prefer bold, statement pieces? Not knowing what you want before shopping is never a good idea. For instance, do you want a modern or contemporary sofa for your Toronto home? Do you know the difference? Essentially, ‘modern’ refers to the period between 1900 and 1950; ‘contemporary’ is everything after and is broadly defined by bold, sweeping curves.
Contemporary furniture stores in Toronto, like Bijan Interiors, offer a wide range of styles, so having a clear idea of what you like will help narrow your choices. Browse online galleries and create a mood board to visualize your ideal aesthetic.
2. Set a Budget
Furniture shopping can quickly get expensive, especially when you’re looking at high-end contemporary pieces. Setting a budget beforehand helps you stay focused and prevents overspending.
Remember to account for additional costs like delivery and assembly. Knowing your financial limits will also help the store’s sales associates recommend pieces within your price range.
3. Measure Your Space
Buy once but measure twice. This is one of the best pieces of advice you will ever get when it comes to furniture.
One of the most important steps before buying furniture is to measure your space. This includes the room dimensions and doorways, staircases, and any other areas the furniture will need to pass through.
Bringing a floor plan with measurements to the store can be incredibly helpful. This ensures that your new contemporary chairs or sofa will fit perfectly in your Toronto-area home.
4. Research Store Reputations
Not all furniture stores are created equal. Spend some time researching the reputation of different contemporary furniture stores in Toronto. Read online reviews, ask for recommendations from friends and family, and check out the store’s social media pages.
A store with positive reviews and a solid reputation will likely provide quality products and excellent customer service. The staff’s behaviour is also a telling sign. Make sure the staff or salesperson listens to what you want and does not push you to buy something you don’t want.
5. Check Material Quality
Quality matters when it comes to furniture. When shopping, pay close attention to the materials the piece is made from. Solid wood frames, high-density foam cushions, and durable fabrics are indicators of well-made furniture.
Don’t hesitate to ask your sales associate about the materials and construction methods used in the pieces you’re interested in.
6. Consider Comfort and Functionality
While aesthetics are important, the comfort and functionality of your furniture should never be compromised. Sit on the sofas, recline in the chairs, and ensure the furniture you choose feels as good as it looks. Think about how you’ll use each piece—a stunning sofa isn’t much good if it’s uncomfortable to sit on for extended periods.
Don’t make the mistake of choosing style over comfort. This is an all too common mistake, especially for first-time buyers.
7. Look for Customization Options
Many contemporary furniture stores in Toronto offer customization options. This allows you to choose the fabric, colour, and sometimes even the dimensions of your furniture. Customization can be particularly useful if you have a specific vision or need pieces that fit perfectly into your space. Be sure to inquire about additional costs and lead times for custom orders.
8. Pay Attention to Delivery Services
Delivery can be a significant part of your furniture shopping experience. Check that the store offers delivery, how much it costs, and how they handle large or complex items.
Some stores may offer white-glove service, which includes delivery, assembly, and furniture placement in your home. Understanding these details upfront can save you a lot of hassle later.
9. Understand Their Return Policies
Even with the best planning, sometimes a piece of furniture just doesn’t work out. Before you buy, make sure you understand the store’s return policy. Some stores offer full refunds; others may only provide store credit or charge restocking fees. Knowing these details can prevent unpleasantly expensive surprises if you need to return an item.
10. Visit Multiple Stores
Don’t settle for the first store you visit. Exploring multiple contemporary furniture stores in Toronto will give you a better sense of the variety of pieces available and help you compare prices and quality. Each store has unique offerings, and visiting several can provide you with a broader perspective and more options.
11. Ask About Maintenance
Maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of furniture shopping. Different materials and finishes require different levels of care. Ask the employees for advice on maintaining your new furniture to keep it looking its best. This can include tips on cleaning, stain removal, and protecting surfaces from wear and tear.
Shopping at contemporary furniture stores in Toronto can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience if you keep these tips in mind. By knowing your style, setting a budget, measuring your space, and doing thorough research, you can find the perfect pieces that blend style, comfort, and functionality. Remember to consider details like material quality, customization options, and delivery services to ensure a smooth shopping experience. You can find high-quality, contemporary sofas and chairs for your Toronto home at Bijan Interiors. Get in touch with us to learn more.
