Let's Talk Fast Furniture!

Sustainability -

Sustainability is the capacity to endure in a balanced way, ensuring that resources are utilized responsibly and equitably to maintain ecological and human well-being over time.

In other words, sustainability is the practice of meeting your needs WITHOUT DISRUPTING the needs of future generations. This involves a balance of economic, social and environmental needs to promote good health and prosperity to not only yourself and those around you, but also the world in which we all reside. 



Now you may be wondering, how on earth does sustainability have anything to do with furniture. I'll tell you...

Fast Furniture

Over the last 20-30 years there has been a significant increase in the world of fast furniture, fast fashion, and fast industries in general.

We as people want everything NOW. As fast as humanly possible. If you can't pick it up today or have it delivered tomorrow you start looking elsewhere.

Most people these days know about fast fashion and have watched some short form video on Instagram or another platform showing the impact it is having on our culture, environment and wallets (we will get into your wallet later...no not like that...to help you SAVE money in the long run).

However, it has come to my attention that not as many people know or understand the significance of the fast furniture that is hitting our markets today.

Large retailers such as Costco, Ikea, Target, etc are known for selling "quality" furniture for a cheap price that is "trending". I don't see anything wrong with shopping at these retailers and often do myself for specific staple items (mainly food, I take care of my own furniture needs).

The problem with purchasing furniture from big box stores is they are made with only the sale in mind, but are missing every other mark.

Yes they look like nice, quality, luxury pieces that you can really invest in to keep forever. But that is very very far from the truth.

Imagine just how much of this trendy furniture from these three companies alone ends up in the landfill.

It is reasonable to assume that a large portion of the 12 MILLION TONS of furniture waste that entered the landfill in 2018 can be attributed to these large corporations producing ENDLESS low quality furniture.

 We just don't make or value things the way we did in the "good ol' days".

Well, that is partially true.

There are still companies out there doing the right thing. You may have to wait longer for your dream sofa to become a reality and fork over a little more cash to start off. But in the long run you may actually save a significant amount of money and time.

How is this possible?

Most small scale furniture design and construction companies have YOU, their consumer in mind. They will tailor a couch, chair, bed, future family heirloom, to YOUR NEEDS. Not the needs of large corporations trying to streamline efforts and cut corners to make a quick buck.

This means actually making your vision come true. When you invest in a piece that you LOVE, you get a unique, quality piece filled with meaning that can be passed down to future generations.

During the initial design process, we will gather all of the information needed for your designer / builder to envision your dream.

Imagine instead of putting together an Ikea couch you get to pick out your own fabric and work on your design! Instead of serious time.

Seams will blow out due to seam allowances being too small, improper stitch lengths, etc. Cushions disintegrate, losing all luster, and cannot be revived. Fabric is quickly discolored. Holes will appear on the corners due to lack of padding on high wear zones.  You may notice metal springs poking up through the deck, loose sagging material, or even feel the wooden structures throughout.

Who wants to feel the wooden supports of your couch through your couch cushions when you sit down? This is a huge quality issue.

THERE IS HOPE! You CAN reupholster and REUSE these fast furniture items. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do! If you like the size and overall shape of what you have, new fabric, cushions and structural support WORK ABSOLUTE WONDERS! Don't believe me? Check out this couch I did recently.

We redid the seat cushion and back rest by replacing the old extra soft cushions (mostly low quality polyfill fluff and wildly damaged foam). This made the overall firmness of the couch go from drab to fab.

We removed the arm covers, added padding.

We cut down and refinished the wood legs in a natural finish.

We added new structural support in the form of a proper deck (there were just metal springs poking through a light piece of fabric),  jute webbing instead of cardboard throughout, burlap throughout. This will all greatly improve the longevity of this piece, making it an heirloom piece.

And of course this stunning fabric.

Don't feel ashamed if all you can afford is a lower quality piece for now. But I encourage you to look at second hand shops first to see if you can find some good ol' bones to love. If you find something you like but are unsure of how it will be recovered or how you'll even find the right fabric, try checking out the Greenhousefabrics.com website to get a little inspiration or ask a creator near you if you can borrow a fabric sample book.  

I'm so proud of you for trying to save the world one couch at a time. If you have any questions or need any help on your own projects please don't hesitate to reach out to me.