11 June, 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 2,3 Furniture Sample Answer

These questions were reported by IELTS test takers from a test conducted in India.

Part 2:

Talk about a piece of furniture that you own. Please tell me

• What it is?
• Where did you buy it?
• How do you use it?
• Explain why you like it.

Answer:

Being someone who lives alone, I often buy household furniture items for my house. Recently I bought a table and a set of chairs for my living room. I had been wanting to buy it for a long time so that whenever my friends or family came over, I would be able to host them comfortably and we would be able to sit together and have a whale of a time. I bought it from a furniture market which is near my place. As a matter of fact, I thought it would be extremely expensive but I got a discount on it because of a seasonal sale which was going on at the store. I use this furniture item on a daily basis, as I have my meals on the table. I use it for work as well as it offers a decent posture while working on a laptop. For instance, due to the table, the laptop is placed at the perfect eye level and helps me sit up straight. Moreover, whenever any of my friends visit, we have a decent place to sit and chit-chat. Sometimes I even pull out one of the chairs to the balcony and read a book or just relax. I am extremely happy with this furniture item as it is extremely durable and strong. In addition, its colour scheme matches the decor of my living room, which adds a lot of beauty and aesthetic value to my place. Lastly, I would say that the chairs are comfortable to sit on and have a good grip. To encapsulate, this was a much-needed purchase for me and I am glad I got such a perfect furniture item for my home.

Part 3

• How do people in your country buy furniture?

I believe that people in my country prefer offline shopping when it comes to furniture items as it is much easier to take a look and then make a choice. Also, when one is shopping in person, one gets to test the durability and quality of the furniture items. For instance, people often visit stores, malls, or furniture markets to purchase the required items. It not only helps them to make an informed decision but be sure about the quality of their purchase as well. It has quite an advantage over online shopping wherein you cannot be sure of the size of the furniture item and whether it would be comfortable or not.  

• In families in your country, who usually decides what kind of furniture to buy for the house?

In my nation, home decor is an extremely important element, which matters to the whole family. When it comes to decorating our homes or buying furniture elements, everyone in the family offers their suggestions and likings. So, usually, it’s a combined and unified decision as to which furniture item is going to be bought for the house. This can be most commonly observed when people are building their homes or redecorating them. For instance, in a joint family, everyone pitches in with their ideas on what new furniture item should be bought and finally a joint call is taken, which takes everyone's suggestions into consideration.

• How do people in your country decide what furniture to buy for the home or office?

There are numerous factors that influence people on what to buy for their homes or offices. Firstly, people take inspiration from magazines and catalogs, which contain the latest designs and up-to-date trends in furniture. Secondly, people take suggestions from their near and dear ones. For instance, couples take suggestions from their parents or kids in order to understand which furniture item everyone would prefer and like to have in their home. Lastly, sometimes, individuals seek professional help from an architect or an interior designer in order to decide their furniture needs.

• Do people in your country prefer modern style or traditional furniture?

People’s preferences can be extremely diverse. On the one hand, people in my country are attracted to Western culture and opt for a modern style for their home or office when it comes to choosing furniture. For instance, people have started to adopt various modern furniture items such as lamps, chandeliers, glass ceilings, etc. On the other hand, some people prefer traditional furniture items for decor, to embrace simplicity and a homely look when they consider their furniture needs. To elaborate, this includes carpets, wooden chairs, rugs, etc.