What I'm Thinking About Interior Design Now Vol.10

Most people who buy furniture at interior design shops do so because they have moved to a new place to live.

Some people have started living alone, some have gotten married and are living together, some have had children and moved to a larger apartment, and some have taken this opportunity to buy an apartment or a house.
Recently, there are some older people whose children have moved out and are now purchasing smaller furniture because the furniture they currently own is too big for them.

There is a different time for buying furniture for each person, but unless you are a real furniture lover, I think the times I mentioned earlier are the best times to buy.
However, it's natural that the size and necessary items of furniture will change when you start living alone and when you buy a home you plan to live in for decades, and I think many people are worried about when and what quality of furniture to buy. Based on my experience working in an interior design shop, here are my thoughts on when it's best to buy furniture that will last a long time.

Aren't there many people who choose and purchase furniture for the first time when they live alone or get married?
First of all, when you think of things you need when living alone, the first things that come to mind are a bed and a living room table, right? There are probably built-in cupboards, or you can just leave the dishes there after washing them and use them, and the microwave is on top of the refrigerator, and if you have a closet with plastic storage shelves you can store your clothes in.
The only piece of furniture I had when I was living alone as a student was a Yanagi Sori elephant stool, which I worked hard to buy, and I don't use any other pieces at the moment.
After I started working at an interior design shop and moved out on my own, I bought chairs and other things, but I think I'm in the minority.
In this day and age, I think it's okay to just buy furniture unless you really love it.

Next, when you get married and live together as a couple, there used to be a market for wedding furniture, and paulownia chests were apparently essential for weddings. When I started working, this custom was almost nonexistent, but I have been present at the delivery of wedding furniture on several occasions.
The delivery was also tailored to the wedding, so we covered the truck with a red and white curtain and first went to the bride's parents' house to load the furniture and then delivered it.
At this time, it is absolutely forbidden to back up the truck, as this is said to be reminiscent of returning home.
Even if the term wedding furniture no longer exists, there are still a lot of things that go with a wedding.
You'll also need a TV stand, sofa, dining set, and bed.
However, since many people initially live in rented accommodation, it can be difficult to choose the right size.
You can't fit a large sofa, there may not be enough space for two beds, and the size of the dining table is limited.
At this time, I think it would be a good idea to splurge and buy good quality dining chairs, personal chairs, floor lamps, lighting, and rugs.
These are items that can be reused even if the location changes in the future. For dining chairs, if you choose classic chairs (Seven Chair, Y Chair, Eames, etc.) or branded products, there is a high possibility that you will be able to accommodate in the future if you want to increase the number of chairs with the same design.
If you move to a larger space, you can place a personal chair next to the sofa or in your bedroom.
Even if you change the room you use, you can probably find a place to use floor lamps and desk lamps. You can also use rugs.
Also tableware and art.

And when you own your own home, it's time to buy all the furniture you want. It's time to let out all the furniture-buying desire you've been building up.
Buy what you like.
However, before you build your new home, please check the size of the furniture you have in mind. Especially if you are living in a detached house and have the freedom to design it, please think about how you would like to use the furniture before the blueprint is complete.
Although we often want to have all four members of our family sit together on the sofa, the living room space is often limited and we can't fit the ideal sofa.
I think that deciding on a floor plan based on furniture is the best way to realize your ideal living style.

(text: Doi)

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