Buying new furniture is exciting, but it's also a decision rarely made, with consequences that last for years. Some mistakes are minor, while others cost time, money, and disappointment. At Jumek, over more than 30 years, we've seen the questions customers ask before making a purchase, and the questions they wish they had asked but didn't.
In this article, we'll look at the three most common mistakes people make when buying furniture and how you can avoid them.
Firstly, not checking measurements
It seems obvious, but this is the most frequently repeated mistake. Someone sees a beautiful table in a store or on a website, it seems to fit, and they order it. At home, they discover that the dining table only fits in the room if one chair is moved, and it partially blocks the way to the door.
Measuring a room doesn't just mean measuring wall-to-wall; you also need to consider opening doors and windows, walkways around furniture, and how a large item will even get into the room – will it fit through the doorway, stairwell, or hallway?
How to avoid this? Before making a purchase, measure the room and mark the furniture's footprint with tape. This test will give you an idea of how the piece of furniture will look in your living space – you might find that a chair is too big, or conversely, that a larger one would easily fit. Always check all dimensions on the product page: width, depth, and height.
Secondly, price matters more than material
A lower price always seems tempting, but furniture is an investment, not an impulse buy. The difference between wood-based panel, plywood, and solid wood isn't just in appearance – it becomes apparent years later when one piece is still sturdy but another has started to bend, show swelling, or simply fall apart.
This applies especially to high-use furniture – dining chairs, bed frames, chests of drawers, and tables. These must withstand daily wear and tear, not just a photoshoot.
“Cheap furniture is bought twice. Quality furniture – once.”
The advantage of solid wood furniture is also that it can be refinished – sanded and re-treated. This significantly extends its lifespan and reduces the need for new furniture, which is beneficial for both your wallet and the environment.
How to avoid this mistake? Always ask the salesperson for details about the material. Good furniture is made from solid wood or high-quality veneered wood. Also, pay attention to the quality of joints and construction – strong joints are more important than beautiful pictures.
Thirdly, style is chosen individually, not as part of a whole
Another common pitfall is the desire to buy one beautiful chair, a table from the next collection, and then a cabinet, all differing in style, tone, and era. The result is a room where everything is "okay," but nothing feels quite right.
Room harmony doesn't come from all furniture pieces being from the same series, but from materials, tones, and proportions speaking a common language. Warm oak might not suit cool greyish softwood, even if both are natural tones.
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Before buying, gather inspirational pictures of entire rooms, not just individual pieces of furniture.
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Notice which wood tones and finishes work well together.
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Consider what's already in the room – floors, window frames, wall color, materials.
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Choose one piece of furniture as an anchor and build the rest of the decor around it.
To avoid stylistic errors, we recommend first clarifying the overall direction of the room before looking at specific products. If in doubt, ask for advice – our team can help you find combinations that truly work in your space.
Furniture that lasts
Jumek is an Estonian family business that has been making solid wood furniture for over 30 years. We help you find solutions that suit your space, lifestyle, and budget.
