5 Pieces of Furniture You Should Never Buy, According to an Interior Designer

Skip these costly investments in favor of timeless pieces with staying power.

There are some furniture pieces worth investing in, and then there are others that just aren’t worth the splurge. But knowing the difference can be tricky. To help you prepare for your next furniture purchase, interior designer Erin Williamson shares the pieces she doesn’t recommend splurging on.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or redecorating one room, furnishing your home can be expensive. That means using your budget strategically and knowing when to splurge and when to skip (or find a budget-friendly option). There are several factors to consider when deciding whether a furniture piece is worth a hefty price tag, including how frequently it will be used, what materials it is made of, and where it’ll live in your home. Read on for a full checklist of shopping considerations and Williamson’s expert advice to help you make the most of your furniture budget.

Related: 26 Expert Tips to Help You Arrange Furniture in Every Room

1. Overly-Trendy Pieces

The term “fast fashion” doesn’t just apply to clothing, but to interior pieces, too. Williamson recommends not investing in overly-trendy pieces that don’t have staying power. “Don’t follow the herd—use your budget wisely to buy vintage, buy local, buy showroom samples, or invest in heirloom quality,” she says. Trendy furniture pieces are often reproductions of more expensive originals, and while you may think the knockoff is great value, Williamson explains that’s not the case. “It’s not, because it’s already dated when it’s reproduced for the masses and it’s almost certainly not of the original quality,” she says.

2. Breakfast Tables

“Any flat surface in a highly trafficked area is bound to take a beating, and the humble breakfast table stands at the heart of it all,” Williamson says. Considering where a piece of furniture is located and how much wear and tear it needs to be able to withstand on a regular basis is a key factor in determining whether it’s worth splurging on. “Subjected to everything from knife marks to wine spills and a fair amount of glitter glue in between, the breakfast table should be approached with an air of equanimity, because in all likelihood it will be destroyed,” she says. Instead of purchasing—and having to replace—a pricey table, Williamson recommends taking a more budget-friendly approach with this piece of furniture. “Your grandmother’s already worn antique, a thrifted solid wood gem, or a remnant stone piece on a pedestal base are all fine selections,” she says. “Don’t dismiss IKEA, either.”

Related: 9 Thrifting Tips to Ensure You Find the Best Secondhand Items

3. Expensive or High-End Baby Furniture

“It probably seems obvious, but cribs are not worth splurging on,” Williamson says. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of decorating a nursery and spend more than is necessary, Williamson advises against investing in an expensive crib given its relatively limited use. “It’s not a piece likely to be reused very often, and cribs are rarely beautiful objects,” Williamson explains. She also adds that given the current safety standards that all cribs have to meet, a lower priced model works just fine.

4. Recliners, Rocking Chairs, and Gliders

When it comes to seating, Williamson doesn’t recommend investing in expensive recliners, rocking chairs, and gliders. “These are purpose-built pieces of furniture that are big, bulky, and hopefully comfortable, but they aren’t meant to be a fashion statement—and unless you really have a generous amount of space, they won’t even get used,” she says. When her design firm does purchase these pieces for their clients, Williamson recommends focusing on comfort rather than a designer label. “We recommend that clients not get caught up in ‘designer’ versions and instead focus on functionality,” she says.

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5. Knockoff Pieces

Williamson also advises against splurging on imitation pieces. “It may seem odd to even suggest that knockoffs are an ‘investment,’ but they can be surprisingly expensive,” she says. “Beyond the morality of avoiding knockoffs because they deprive original makers of their due, the supply chain for these items is often hazy at best.” The reason why the original has a high price tag often lies in the craftsmanship and quality of the materials used, which cannot be replicated in a knockoff. “While it’s true that I have seen some very nice Eames lounge knockoffs produced in the ’60s, it’s unlikely that any contemporary reproduction is going to come close to the original in quality,” Williamson says. “The original is just too expensive to make.”

Factors to Consider Before Buying Furniture

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether a furniture piece is worth investing in or not. Before you commit to making a purchase that’s a considerable financial investment, go through the following checklist. Answering these questions will help you determine whether the piece of furniture is worth the investment or if a more budget-friendly or second-hand alternative is a better choice.

• What room is it for and will it sustain a lot of daily wear and tear?
• Is it made from high-quality, durable materials that will last for years to come?
• Is it something that will be used frequently or only seasonally?
• Is it an overly trendy piece that will go out of style or does it have staying power?
• Can you see yourself loving the piece five years from now and incorporating it into your home even if your design taste has changed?
• Does it move easily? If you there is a possibility you will be moving in the foreseeable future, is it a piece that can come with you?
• Can it easily be cleaned if it gets dirty?
• Is it versatile enough to work in multiple rooms and styles of homes down the road?

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