Home Decor Trends: Locally Made, Made in the USA

Many people around the United States are opting to swap out their foreign-made furniture, home accessories and other home decor items for locally made or made in the U.S.A. products. Unfortunately, dependence on foreign products has resulted in some shoddy workmanship for certain (but not all) products that are now being made (again) in the good ol' U.S. of A. Here's the low down on American-made home accessories and decor, including what you should look for and what you should steer clear of.

We're all familiar with that little oval circle that says something along the lines of made in China, Taiwan, Thailand or some other far off exotic place. Many people today flip an item over and if they see that little sticker, or any other notion that the product has been made outside of the U.S.A., they set it down and walk away.

Purchasing products made in the United States can have a great effect on our economy. Whether you're looking for furniture or other home accessories, clothing or even just locally grown food, by investing in locally made products, you're actually investing in your home. It sounds a bit cheesy, almost cliche, in fact. However, the movement is growing and it's no surprise that people are joining in.

Why Invest in Locally Made?

The number one reason to invest in these products, whether it's furniture or food, is because you're truly investing in your own country. Secondly, if you're interested in following trends, you'll be interested to know that by investing in locally made products, you're also investing in more eco-friendly practices.

It's true, by purchasing locally made or made in the U.S.A. products, you're cutting down on the amount of fossil fuels and other resources that are needed to transport these products from their country of origin and into the United States.

What to Look For

That being said, it can be tricky to know exactly what to look for. Since the trend is growing, there are a plethora of items you can find that are made in the U.S.A. This includes furniture, light fixtures, various home accessories, clothing and so forth.

Of course, as with any product (no matter where it hails from,) you need to take note of quality. For furniture, you may want to consider shaking the piece slightly to see how sturdy it is. If you're buying from an online retailer, you won't be able to do this. Instead, be sure to seek out customer reviews to ensure that the furniture you're purchasing is quality. If it isn't, you'll see plenty of complaints to tell you otherwise.

With furniture, you may want to look for key words aside from 'made in the U.S.A.' For example, kiln-dried frames are higher quality than frames that have not been kiln-dried. The same goes for taking note of what fabrics are being used, and so forth.

With other items, it's pick and choose. When you're out shopping for home accessories and you pick an thuisdecoraties item up, you should feel whether it feels shoddy and cheap, or whether it feels sturdy and well constructed. It's really all about the feel of the item. Just be cautious and go with your gut instinct.

 

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