Unfortunately, I’ve learnt the value of high-quality furniture the hard way. As a larger-set gent, my ass has been responsible for the destruction of several shoddily-crafted chairs (as well as one particularly unlucky table) during the course of my life.

For those of you whose behind is yet to be the entity responsible for wreaking havoc on a ware’s construction, we’re sure you would’ve endured some other scenario involving terribly crafted pieces. And if you’ve been fortunate enough to dodge even that situation, well, bully for you. Regardless, we’re sure you know the value of buying furniture that’ll stand the test of time – be it for its embarrassment-saving factor, or strictly an aesthetic appeal.

But where does one start? What should you splurge on vs. what should you save on? We turned to the sage wisdom of Freedom buyer, Myelz Moss, for answers.

STYLE

Before delving into the must-know tips for the most common pieces, we need to talk about the style of those pieces.

WHAT TO SPLURGE ON?

Moss suggests that you opt for something more classic than contemporary, as those pieces can look dated within a matter of years.

“Don’t instantly gravitate to what you see now,” he says. “Think about what it’s going to look like in the long run.”

WHAT TO SAVE ON?

Chasing a modern aesthetic? There is a heap of ways to achieve that still when selecting a safer option.

You need to find the balance between an evergreen aesthetic and how you make it interesting, which you can do by introducing more affordable statement pieces that can be updated every few years.

If you’re still not convinced you’ll achieve a modern look with that advice, then Moss argues that a lot of classic wares are inherently contemporary.

For me, there are some classic forms that actually are quite contemporary depending on how you use it. Let’s take upholstery as an example – there’s a more traditional style that doesn’t matter what fabric you upholster it in, what leather it’s in or what kind of space you put it in, it’s always going to lend itself to a more forgiving, timeless approach. That’s the same as using a very basic square track arm on a sofa – it’s more of a timeless look depending on the material you put on it, as well as the colour you choose.

COUCH/SOFA

WHAT TO SPLURGE ON?

Listen up, folks. Sofas, regardless of their quality, are still going to cost you a small fortune. That’s why it’s worth dropping a few extra dollars on something that won’t fall to pieces in a few years.

Knowing that it’s something worth spending big on, what’s your best bet in terms of an investment? As in, what piece will last forever? The undeniable answer is leather. And remember what Moss mentioned before – choose a style that won’t look dated in a few years.

If you’re looking for a long term investment, pull-up leather (a premium leather that’s been treated with a wax or oil finish to ensure its natural markings are visible) on a sofa is your best bet. It’ll have a natural patina over time – the wear and tear that you give it, the scratches and buffs, will just make it nicer over time. Because it has wax in it, it’s a lot more forgiving with scratches.

With leather, you can also never go wrong with a corrected grain. But be wary of retailers that put corrected grain leather on the areas of the couch you see, but the back panels and stuff they’ll put PU and vinyl – make sure it’s 100% leather everywhere on the sofa.

The cheapest way to make a sofa is to put leather on the areas where people will see it, and use other materials for the areas you don’t see. Avoid that like the plague. Anything with vinyl, for instance, when heated up will begin to flake.

WHAT TO SAVE ON?

Given that your sofa’s probably put one hell of a hole in your wallet, you’ll want to pinch pennies on the accessories front. This is also where those who worship at the altar of contemporary interiors can introduce a modern vibe to their lounge rooms. You can create an en vogue aesthetic with cushions, throws and rugs – all of which won’t set you back massively, but will greatly aid in you achieving the look you’re chasing.

SURFACES

WHAT TO SPLURGE ON?

Of all the surfaces a home can have, the most important to splurge on is your dining table. Before purchasing one, however, you need to be across the different construction compositions. Surprisingly, solid timber pieces (as in, pieces that are made of just one piece of wood) should be avoided. Australia’s climate is simply too harsh for them to last for years on end.

“Solid timbers, because of our climate we go from high humidity to cranking the AC, the more you do that the more the timber expands and contracts – which will mean warping and cracking.”

As I’m sure you’ll agree, the last thing you want for a surface is to have it look like it’s been sitting out in the rain for yonks. Moss’ workaround for this is knowing what’s-what when it comes to a surface’s engineering.

It’s important to know the difference between MDF and a particle board,” he says. “If you always want a good, consistent, flat tabletop or surface, an MDF with a good quality veneer over it is your best bet… The use of an engineered board – like an MDF – will mean that you won’t see any warping or cracking.

WHAT TO SAVE ON?

When it comes to saving dollars while still updating your space’s look, you’ll want to pinch pennies on the other assorted surfaces you might want to get around. I’m talking buffets, sideboards and side tables/occasional tables. If they’re going to wreak havoc on your bank account’s balance, then update the room with table top decorations, vases and vessels.

CHAIRS

WHAT TO SPLURGE ON?

Ah, yes, chairs. The bane of my existence. So what do you need to know when investing in ’em?

“If you’re going to have timber legs, you want to make sure they’re strong enough to hold a lot of weight.”

Besides that, you’re pretty much good to go. But if you need something more on the affordable side, then here’s the 411.

WHAT TO SAVE ON?

“Make sure that, if it is self-assembly, that it has good quality hardware – things like thick bolts.”

“If it’s a plastic material, try bending the back of the chair before you buy it. If it bends, it’s a cheap one. If it doesn’t move, then it’ll last for a while.”

“If you’re going to sit at your dinner table for a while, you want to make sure they’re comfortable.”

BED & MATTRESS

WHAT TO SPLURGE ON?

If you haven’t invested a decent amount of cash into your bed set up, then you’re really not living your best life. We spend so much time in them that it’s ridiculous not to, guys.

Moss’ musings when it comes to purchasing a mattress is simple: “Invest money in it.”

Another thing to keep in mind is edge support. “You sit on the edge of your bed a lot to do things like tying your shoes, putting on pants,” he says. If it lacks on this front, you run the risk of your mattress collapsing.

On the bed base/frame front, a lot of the mechanics from Moss’ advice about chairs applies here too because most options in the market require self-assembly. Besides that, he warns us to avoid posture slats – they’re the ones that bow upwards which were hella trendy not too long ago. They no joke void your mattress’ warranty, so you’ll be doing yourself a favour by keeping ’em at arm’s length.

Besides your mattress and bed frame, you should – nay, NEED – to invest in good sheets. Like, a 100% linen situation that everyone’s talking about RN.

WHAT TO SAVE ON?

Things like pillows, throws and quilt covers don’t require as much of an investment. Mixing these up as new seasonal trends come and go will ensure your fave space remains fresh.

And speaking of freshening up your space, I imagine that’s what brought you here to begin with. If you’re keen to put your new knowledge to work, then suss out the offensively chic options at Freedom by heading HERE.