Buying quality furniture made easy with our guide to terms and types 

We all dream of having an unlimited budget for furnishing our rooms or renovating our home. But whether you have a blank cheque for all your interior design dreams or you’re working with a tight budget, your furniture is worth investing in. Buying quality furniture that will last through years of daily use is undoubtedly better in the long run than cheap furniture that will need to be replaced in short order.  

At Corcoran’s you can trust that all the furniture you purchase from us offers high quality construction and materials, as well as superb craftsmanship, but if you want to know how to recognise top quality pieces for yourself, read on for our guide to buying quality furniture — and which pieces are most important to invest in for long-lasting, enduring appeal in your home. 

Signs of craftsmanship: terms to know when buying quality furniture

When you’re shopping for high-quality furniture at Corcoran’s, there are a range of options when it comes to materials and more. While our sales team is always available to answer questions and tell you more about the products, whether you’re browsing online or in-store, there are some terms that are worth knowing in order to spot quality when it comes to furniture. 

Aniline leather is a term that often arises when you’re shopping for leather suites and sofas, and many people don’t know the definition of this leather type. Aniline leather is the highest quality type of leather used in furniture — only the best leather can create aniline upholstery. 

This leather is natural looking and beautifully textured, with soluble aniline dyes that let the natural look of the leather shine through as well as feeling soft and warm to the touch.

The Bologna range offers incredible quality with aniline leather upholstery. 

Joinery is another area in which there are many types with which you may not be familiar, and when you’re buying quality furniture, the way the joints are put together can make a huge difference in the longevity of a piece. 

While the best joinery for an individual piece of furniture is dependent on its design and type, there are a few in particular to keep in mind when you’re looking for durable, high-quality pieces. Box and dovetail joints use complementary cutout elements to join two boards in a beautiful, durable way, while mortise and tenon joints and, similarly, doweled joints, are widely-used and sturdy joints that offer simpler, flush-set joinery. 

Finally, when you’re looking at the fill of your furniture such as sofas or mattresses, there are a few terms it’s useful to know to ensure you’re buying quality furniture. High-density foam filling and serpentine springs promise cushions that won’t dip or sag for supportive seating. 

Similarly, when you’re searching for a mattress that will offer supportive sleeping, a pocket sprung design means that each spring is in its own fabric pouch, creating an even level of firmness across your whole sleep space. 

Shop the Adelaide mattress, a 1000-pocket sprung mattress that offers fantastic value for money. 

One thing to keep in mind is that while these terms are solid guidelines in buying quality furniture, you should look at construction and design overall rather than relying completely on key terms and buzzwords. 

And similarly, just because an item utilises a term that isn’t considered by some to be a hallmark of top quality furniture, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t still an expertly crafted piece of furniture. For example, you will sometimes find furniture and home decor blogs cautioning against veneers for wood furniture, but in actuality veneered wood is often used across premium furniture lines, so it doesn’t make sense to simply rule it out. 

Investment pieces: the furniture types that are most worth the price

What’s expensive or inexpensive is all relative to your budget, so this section isn’t about the exact amounts you should spend on a couch, a cushion, or a coffee table. Instead, we take a look at some different furniture types where it’s most worth looking at them as an investment in the long-term cosiness of your home, as well as a few elements where it may not be worth spending the extra money. 

Naturally, when you’re buying quality furniture and considering where to focus your budget, a major consideration is how much you’ll use each piece. A good mattress is absolutely worth the money, given that we spend up to a third of our lives in bed. 

Similarly, a sturdy dining room table and a supportive sofa are key pieces that you and your family will utilise every day, so they’re well worth investing in. This is particularly true if you’re choosing pieces that are made-to-order or customisable, in order to be sure you get exactly the features you want. 

The lovely Mariella range can be customised to suit your home decor style. 

Another major place where you should consider investing in buying quality furniture and furnishings is when you’re choosing elements of your home that are fixed rather than moveable, as these pieces cannot be changed out as easily and can also affect the overall value of your home. 

For example, flooring, tiles, and bathroom fixtures require a more rigorous installation process than simply setting them in place, and they’ll stay in your home even if you move away, so it’s an area where you might want to spend a bit more to ensure your selections are made to last. 

Karndean LVT brings the ultimate in quality for your luxury vinyl tile flooring. 

Now that you know which furniture and home furnishing types are worth the splurge, where should you save when it comes to interior design and decor? Here it’s more about style than furniture type. Ultra-trendy pieces may not be as much of a long-term investment as classic options, so bear this in mind when you’re budgeting. 

Likewise, if you’re choosing pieces that don’t fit your usual colour, pattern, or style preferences, you may not want to blow the budget on them. Invest in staple pieces in colours and styles that suit your overall decor decor aesthetics, and opt for accent pieces to fit the trends instead. 

That being said, just because something is trendy doesn’t mean you can’t love it enough to make it an investment-worthy pick. From velvet sofas to wall art, there are plenty of pieces that can offer a large range of options for all budgets and preferences. 

Buying quality furniture online or in-store at Corcoran’s

Whatever your budget, style preferences, and renovation or home decor needs, Corcoran’s has magnificent options for buying quality furniture, furnishings, flooring, and more. Shop online now or visit us in store to find everything you need with top-class materials and expert craftsmanship. 

If you have any questions about our ranges and why they’re worth the investment, simply get in touch! Our sales team will be delighted to provide answers and help you find the perfect pieces to suit your home.