How to choose furniture for your condo

MANILA, Philippines – During the launching of Hülsta and Rolf Benz’s flagship store at the third floor of Fully Booked’s Bonifacio High Street branch in Taguig City, guests were at once enamored by the showroom’s luxurious leather-lined sofas and wood-paneled shelving units.

Hülsta and Rolf Benz are two leading furniture brands from Germany. 

Jaime Daez, Philippine managing director, said Hülsta “features modern and contemporary designs infused with latest technologies.” Rolf Benz is “one of the top five best sofa manufacturers in the world.”

Rappler asked Daez, who also serves as managing director of Fully Booked, some tips on how condominium residents can make use of their limited space by choosing the best furniture pieces.

When choosing furniture, he says, “it’s important for people to have an understanding of a certain lifestyle that they live. It has to be functional, practical, and it should give you a benefit.”

Dining Table

The dining table is an important part in any home. And when furnishing a small space, choose something that has more than one benefit.

“This is the characteristic of a good product: if it does something for you and gives you some benefits,” says Daez. A table that easily expands from a four-seater to a ten-seater is a perfect example. “You can have it in a small space not extended, but if you have guests later for dinner, you can extend it in a very easy way.”

Shelving Units

Storage is another factor in a small space. When choosing a shelving unit, sometimes, having someone come in to customize pieces according to your space is a good idea.

“All the shelving units here are customized,” says Daez. “A good shelving system should give you ample storage. Sometimes people don’t like open storage. With a sliding door, for instance, you can slide the door across it and hide whatever’s behind it. Or have some open compartments where you can place nice objects for decoration.”

Sofa

In a small space like a condo unit, a sofa is already a luxury in itself. So choose one that has added benefits and can serve you in more than one way.

“A sofa that you can recline and swivel around in, again, gives you a benefit. You can sit on it like a typical couch, but if you swivel it around it becomes a chaise,” or something you can comfortably rest your whole body on.

Bed

Foam beds are very common in the Philippines, as opposed to spring mattresses in the States or in Europe. But with our tropical weather, the problem is that it can get pretty warm on summer nights, says Daez.

A cold foam mattress is a good compromise, such as one made from different cube-shaped foam divisions with vertical air channels in between. Air can circulate while the mattress follows the contour of your body.

Chair/Recliner

If you’re planning to get a chair, might as well get one that doubles as a recliner. Again, says Daez, look for pieces that provide added benefits. Also keep in mind that it should “perfectly follow the natural shape of the body when you start to relax,” to prevent back pain. -Rappler.com

Peter Imbong is a fulltime freelance writer, sometimes a stylist, and, on some strange nights, a host. After starting his career in a business magazine, he now writes about lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, and profiles of different personalities. Check out his blog, Peter Tries to Write.