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When picking furniture for your home, it can be all too easy to get sucked into that vortex of gorgeous pics on Instagram. If you cave and buy it, said furniture might even look amazing in your home, too.
The problem? Once you sit, eat, or sleep on these furnishings, it becomes all too clear that they’re really uncomfortable, and sometimes wildly impractical—so much so that you wonder how they ever caught on.
Sadly, many of these fatal flaws are impossible to anticipate from pretty online photos, or even from heading to a store to sit, lounge, or try them out for size for a few minutes.
It takes time for your back to start aching, or for the drawbacks of certain furnishings to surface. And by then, you’ve probably chucked the receipt and are stuck with this flashy-looking, pain-in-the-butt piece for good.
Don’t want this tragic furniture fail to happen to you? Take note of these 10 pieces that look amazing but present undeniable problems on further acquaintance. Buyer beware!
1. Backless metal stools
Photo by Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.
Industrial chic and modern farmhouse trends are responsible for our aching backs, reports Ana Cummings of the eponymous design firm.
“Who on earth would want to perch for any length of time on a cold metal seat?” she says. “I mean, stadiums offer better options.”
Ditto for armless sofas and chairs, as well as backless farmhouse benches without a cushion to sit on. With no back rest nor any padding under your bum, your dinner parties may look great, but don’t expect guests to linger at the table.
2. Ottomans as seats
Ottomans are so cute, and are often billed as a space-saving way to add seating. That’s fine if you’re 4 years old. Grownups, however, prefer adult-sized seating, with a back and armrests, that do not require a massive effort simply to sit down and get up from. At most, you can expect an ottoman to serve as a fine footrest. Alternatively, put a tray on top, so it’s clear that this is where a gin and tonic goes—and nothing else.
3. Pedestal tables
Photo by Peg Berens Interior Design LLC
The pedestal table abounds, and the Eero Saarinen tulip version is part of the reason. Still, the bigger your round topper gets, the more likely it is to wobble on the base. Add to this kids who hang on the edge, or adults who press down forcefully with their elbows (to make a point at dinner), and you’ve got a mess on your hands.
4. Leather couches
Leather may appear luxe, but in hot weather, it leaves your skin sticky, and when the temperatures dip, it’s as cold as ice. Particularly stiff leather surfaces can also be slippery; you might actually slide onto the floor, if you’re not careful.
Some impatient homeowners have even resorted to treating their sofa with a vinegar and oil solution to de-slick the cushions. If this is you, it may be time to rethink your seating.
5. Wicker furniture
Photo by Mahoney Architects & Interiors
Rattan and wicker squeaks and creaks when you sit on it—and it’s never been a cozy, soft seat, whether inside the house or out on the porch.
“The ’70s called and said: We’ve got sturdier options now, so don’t try and roll back the clock with this trend,” says Darla DeMorrow of HeartWork Organizing.
6. Platform beds
A platform bed literally sits on a wooden board, without the need for a boxspring, making it so low you’ll bang your shins each time you pass.
This type of bed should exist only in design magazines. It’s far from practical—and some find it less than comfy.
“Most people like their bed to be at roughly the same height as a chair,” says DeMorrow.
If you’re not keen to start and end the day with a deep squat to the floor, keep shopping the bed aisle.
7. Mirrored end tables
Don’t be fooled by the movie star glam here. Mirrored furniture is just too precious for everyday use.
“The corners are notoriously fragile, and once broken, nearly impossible to have fixed,” says DeMorrow.
8. Pallet coffee tables
These DIY designs are all over Instagram, with thousands of homemade tables and seats on display. The disadvantage here is that these items are made from kiln-dried wood, which is prone to crack and split.
“I know this was super trendy,” says Sara Chiarilli, an interior designer with Artful Conceptions, “but let’s get some good-quality furniture now, and not things put together by your neighbor who’s trying to be the next HGTV star.”
9. Bubble sofas
Bubble-shaped sofas like vintage Roche Bobois pieces are right up there on the no-buy list. These funky bumps may look cute, but make you feel off-kilter every time you sit down.
“Bubble sofas are not the easiest pieces to gracefully sit down on and get out of,” says Karen Gray-Plaisted of Design Solutions KGP. “A boxier couch will stand the test of time a lot longer.”
The post 9 Popular Furniture Styles That Are So Impractical and Uncomfortable, It’s a Wonder They Caught On appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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