Cheap or Expensive Furniture?

When it comes to almost anything in life, I'm a firm believer in getting what you pay for. From an early age, I would always see something I wanted, do a little research, find the best one possible, and then save up to buy it. I love taking care of my personal assets so they last the test of time. There are however, a few things I've learned along the way: one of which is when to buy expensive furniture to keep for a long time, and when to buy something to replace often. Let's have a look.

After interviewing several close friends and family members, we all seem to agree on the following areas to spend a few extra bucks:

• The item is regularly used (by yourself or visitors)
• The item is directly related to comfort
• When relaxation is the goal of the environment
• The item is exposed to the elements

Whenever items are used regularly, it gives us more time to either fall in love with it, or despise it for all eternity. No one should loathe a friend asking to sit by the pool or taking a business meeting out back by the lake. Increasing your price point by even just a few hundred dollars can be the difference between feeling embarrassed about your peeling, sun-bleached furniture withering away in the sun, or feeling proud that your backyard and its furniture are still in excellent condition, and will be for years to come.

Regular use follows the same feeling of either love or hate. Anyone who has owned a pair of running shoes that didn't quite get the job done, knows exactly what I'm talking about. Furniture follows this same path. No one wants to debate with themselves whether it would be a good idea to go out and sit on the patio furniture one evening, or pull up a few chairs for a night around the fire pit. These experiences should happen organically. When they don't, they can very easily lead to an increase in stress, negating the entire experience. This flows nicely into the next section of relaxation.

Whether we realize it or not, when we dedicate time to sit with others or even alone, it helps to take our minds off of the more stressful details of the day. Keeping this in mind while shopping for new furniture is essential, and will absolutely help to reprioritize the importance of certain aspects of the setting being created. This mentality can play a huge role in anything we buy. It may even help decide to buy additional items just to create the most relaxing environment possible. Let's look at the most obvious example; a pool. Millions of people every year decide to take the leap and have a pool installed. Above ground, below, and everything in between, all buyers have the same image in mind. Cool off and relax on a hot day, or have some fun with friends or family during a get together.What normally follows this? Coolers, patio sets, umbrellas, swinging chairs, benches, you name it. All of these items work together to create a positive and relaxing environment for yourself and everyone else. The only question left is how much to spend on each of these items.

The decision of price point is always personal to the buyer. The only thing I can say is, you will always get what you pay for. Higher quality items will always cost more, and much more often than not, last longer. Knowing this, buyers can be more strategic on where they spend their money. An example would be deciding to spend less money on an outdoor rug if you have a few dogs who like to chew, or some cats who love to sharpen their nails. This will most likely be replaced more often, and wouldn't be worth investing the extra money for quality and longevity. Another example would be if you and your family loved camping and the outdoors. Perhaps investing in a quality fire pit and some very comfortable and durable stools or chairs would help to increase the enjoyment of each experience and create lasting memories.

Both of the above examples are about items with direct contact to the elements, but one would be replaced often, and the other could last a lifetime. Be smart about where you invest money. When done properly, everything works well together, but only the things we truly need to be of high quality, are.