A buyer's guide to wardrobes

Let Furniture123 take the stress out of buying furniture with our series of buyer's guides, produced in association with Real Homes magazine.


Our low-down on wardrobes will ensure yours are every bit as stylish as the clothes inside them. Read up on all the options below to discover which one’s right for you…

Fitted wardrobes
The major benefit of having fitted wardrobes is that, assuming you’ll stay in your property for a long time, you will never have to buy another wardrobe as long as you’re living there. Better still, you can also choose the exact configuration of rails, drawers and other options to suit your particular needs. Particularly beneficial to those who want a clutter-free life, fitted wardrobes are the ideal choice for maximising your storage space and are suitable for any kind of bedroom.

Walk-in wardrobes
The ultimate in luxury, a walk-in wardrobe is perfect if you have the space. Walk-ins allow you to hang your clothes with room to spare, and increased demand for them means they’re easier to come by than ever before. If you don’t have room in your bedroom, why not try converting a spare box room into a walk in wardrobe. Walk-in wardrobes have long been associated with style and sophistication, and can complement any kind of bedroom scheme. The ability to tailor the design to suit your needs is a valuable bonus. Many walk-in wardrobes are available with sliding doors to enhance your available floor space. And if you don’t have the space for one in your bedroom, you could always look into converting a box room into a made-to-measure walk-in wardrobe.

Freestanding
The main benefit of a freestanding wardrobe is that, should you choose to move, you could take it with you. Freestanding wardrobes are ideal for those who find the idea of a wall of fitted units claustrophobic, as they allow a more creative approach. If you happen to have alcoves, for instance, you could look for wardrobes that will fit neatly into this space. Don’t fall into the trap of buying inexpensive and poorly constructed fitted wardrobes – many freestanding options offer far better quality than the readily available MDF or chipboard. With many ranges, you can also choose your configuration of hanging space, drawers and shelves.

Armoires
Traditionally in French or Gustavian style, these are perfect for a vintage-style bedroom. Armoires are usually available with rails but more predominantly shelving, which makes them perfect for storing jumpers and other clothing that needs folding rather than hanging.

It's what's inside that counts
It’s all well and good having a super-stylish wardrobe, but it’ll be no use if your clothes are being squashed, creased and eventually ruined. Considering how best to store them could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Rails and shelves
When choosing a wardrobe, one of the most important things to consider is how many rails you will need and what height they should be to accommodate your clothes. If you have lots of shirts, make sure they can hang without being caught on the door hinges, likewise if you have more trousers or long dresses, ensure the garments won’t drag on the floor. Some wardrobes come with drawers, so you may not need a separate chest of drawers – perfect for small bedrooms.

Hangers
There’s little point investing in a great wardrobe if you don’t buy the correct hangers. Don’t just rely on the wire ones from the dry cleaners, as they’re only supposed to be a temporary measure. Instead, invest in some quality wooden hangers, choosing ones with clips for trousers and skirts. For added protection for delicate clothing that needs to be hung, opt for padded hangers, which will prevent any dents.

Folding space
Jumpers and woollen cardigans are better off being folded rather than hung. If you would prefer not to have them in drawers, invest in some fabric hanging units, which can be fastened around your wardrobe’s hanging rail using Velcro. This storage solution is flexible as it can be moved along the rail as desired, and folded when not in use.

Storage
To avoid your wardrobe becoming over-crowded and crumpling your clothes, choose storage boxes that can be used to store out-of-season clothing. Make sure clothes have been freshly laundered and folded carefully, with sheets of tissue paper in between the clothes to protect them. A great tip is to then add a piece of cedar wood – perfect for preventing moths.

TOP TIP! Give your wardrobe a clear out once every six months. Be ruthless and throw away everything that doesn’t fit or that you haven’t worn for the past six months. You can give them to charity or hold a clothes-swapping party with friends.

Click here to subscribe to Real Homes magazine and have expert advice delivered to your door every month!

Furniture123 - buying wardrobes made easy! Pin It Now!

A buyer's guide to sofas

Let Furniture123 take the stress out of buying furniture with our series of buyer's guides, produced in association with Real Homes magazine.



A sofa is an investment that should last for years. You and your family will spend a lot of time using it (second only to your bed). So don’t even think about shopping for this essential piece of living room furniture until you’ve read our handy guide.

Planning
A sofa is an important buy, so planning is essential. Make sure as well as measuring the area where you want the sofa to go, you also measure doorways and the width of corridors. If you have small doorframes or not a lot of room to manoeuvre, look for sofas that have removable legs or arms. Also bear in mind that once the sofa is in your room you may not like it in its chosen spot, so have a back up and make sure you measure that space too. A good idea is to make a template out of newspaper to ensure a perfect fit.

How many seats?
The size of sofa you need will depend on how many people are going to sit comfortably on it. It may be that you have a large family or regularly entertain, so think carefully about this when deciding whether to purchase a two seater sofa or a three seater sofa. Three-seaters are invariably more comfortable as sprawling out is always an option!

Corner sofas
Corner sofas are great if you have a small or awkwardly shaped room. They immediately free up more central space – but only if you have carefully measured up, ensuring that doors and windows can be opened comfortably. Corner sofas usually come as modular units, which slot together and give you added flexibility.

Loose covers
If you have small children (or are prone to spilling things yourself!), loose covers will be your saving grace. Most removable sofa covers can be washed at 40 degrees although they should never be tumbled dried as this could cause shrinkage. Many sofa stores stock loose covers in a range of colours – perfect if you want to update your living room on a budget. If you’re happy with your initial choice of style, fixed covers offer a more tailored look, but will need to be cleaned in situ.

Tailor made
It may be the case that you just can’t find the sofa you want. If so it may be worth considering having a bespoke sofa made. More stockists than ever now provide a service in which an expert will come to your home to discuss exactly what you want, and weigh up the options available for you depending on the style of your room.

Colour
It may seem obvious, but the colour of your sofa is hugely important, especially if you intend to buy a more expensive sofa. While that lime green sofa fits your living room scheme now, it may not in a few years time when you want something a tad more subdued. Neutral colours will never let you down on this front and, if you’re prone to changing your scheme, they can be easily updated with with cushions and throws.

Click here to subscribe to Real Homes magazine and have expert advice delivered to your door every month!

Furniture123 - buying living room furniture made easy! Pin It Now!

A buyer's guide to beds

Let Furniture123 take the stress out of buying furniture with our series of buyer's guides, produced in association with Real Homes magazine.



It’s the one piece of bedroom furniture we all take for granted, but choosing a new bed that’s good for your health is as important as choosing one for comfort. Use our essential guide as your first step to a perfect night's sleep.

Mattresses
Most modern mattresses fall into four varieties. The first is open sprung mattresses, where the coil springs are wired together to form a single unit. These mattresses are ideal if there isn’t a big weight difference between you and your partner. Pocket sprung mattresses on the other hand are where every spring has its own pocket, making the mattress better for restless sleepers or a couple where the weight difference is significant. Both Visco-elastic mattresses (better known as memory foam mattresses) and Talalay latex mattresses respond to your body’s temperature to get more comfort and are better for people with allergies as they do not harbour dust mites. If you and your partner have great differences in what you need from a mattress, a zip and link mattress (in which two different single mattresses can be attached to form a superking) may be the answer.

Size matters
Your bed should be the biggest your room can allow. Having a large bed means you are less likely to disturb your partner. The common size of a British double bed isn’t really big enough for two people to sleep in comfortably, which explains why people have more restless nights when with someone then when alone. Did you know that a standard 4ft 6" bed allows each adult the same equivalent of space a baby has in a bed? Ideally you should opt for a king-size bed which measures 5ft x 6ft 6". That way you can rest assured you will get a good night’s sleep.

Divans
While bedsteads have an aesthetic purpose and help to give your room a definite style, a divan bed base is usually stronger and more supportive but plainer, style-wise. Divans also have the added option of storage drawers, which can be incorporated into the base. The main benefit of divan beds is that they take up less room. If you’re worried about size, it’s worth remembering that a king-size divan will often fit into the space of a double bedstead. Divans are also more versatile, if you’re likely to change the style of your bedroom regularly, as many don’t have the striking appearance of bedsteads.

Bed frames
Bed frames are available in almost limitless styles and colours – metal beds and leather beds are particularly popular at the moment. Many are supplied flat-packed, and so can help with any of the problems associated with getting divans up stairs or through tricky doorways. Remember, if you're buying a bed frame, it's even more important to get the mattress right. The slatted base can reduce the life expectancy of a sprung mattress, so foam mattresses are ideal with this kind of bed. A bed with sprung slats will have a softer feel, and will prolong the life of your mattress.

The price is right
When it comes to cost you should spend as much as you can afford on a bed, including the base and mattress. When you consider that the average bed lasts 10 years, the cost (however much you spend) won’t seem at all bad when you work it our per sleep. A £500 bed used for over 10 years will cost you just 14p a night.

Five top tips for getting a good night’s sleep
Don’t count sheep. If for whatever reason you can’t sleep don’t just lie in the bed watching the alarm clock. Get up and have a milky hot drink and do something relaxing.

Make sure there is enough room for you and your partner. You are less likely to get a good night’s sleep if you are constantly touching each other.

Lavender has long been renowned for helping people to get to sleep. Add some drops of lavender oil to your bath before bedtime or keep a lavender scented pillow close by.

Our bodies love routine. Try and go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. That way your body will get used to when you should be asleep and awake and you will avoid a jet-lagged feeling.

Turn your mattress regularly to avoid severe hollows forming on the surface – these will result in an uncomfortable night’s sleep and will reduce the life of your mattress.

Click here to subscribe to Real Homes magazine and have expert advice delivered to your door every month!

Furniture123 - buying bedroom furniture made easy! Pin It Now!