BY JANINE LEGAL
Sleepers, sectionals and sofas, accent chairs and dining chairs. An upholstered headboard — maybe a corner chaise? Finding the right furniture for a new home can be overwhelming but there are ways to help make it easier to identify and choose the perfect must-have pieces.
B
asic things to consider include the amount
“Start with main pieces for the bedroom and for the living room,” she suggests. “It doesn’t mean you need to shop for them all together in the same style. Consumers aren’t buying pieces to be so matchy-matchy anymore. Fall in love with the main piece first.” Purchasing furniture isn’t just about providing seating; it’s about contributing to the esthetic and purpose of each room — creating a space that feels like home, ideally one that reflects the homeowner’s personality and taste rather than just the current design trends. Smithson points out that there are a number of ways to approach purchasing pieces. Dining chairs, for example, don’t need to be the chairs you see displayed with a particular table. You may want an upholstered dining chair to go with a rustic wood table.
of space you’re working with and what the budget allows, as well as a long list of the more fun things to think about, like comfort, style, durability, textures, colours and functionality. Fortunately, there are experts in the field who know a thing or two about how to start. For almost 25 years, Jessica Smithson worked in product design and manufacturing but was ready for a different focus. She joined Dufresne in 2018 and is currently their senior category manager for seating and home accents. “It was time to get closer to the customer, to get that closeness to what the consumer wants,” she says. Smithson says that finding solutions for the home brings her great job satisfac- tion — and she shares a little advice with those looking to furnish their new home.
FALL 2025 PARADE of HOMES 29
Powered by FlippingBook