Adri Pedersen is an expert in the field of Mexican furnishings and interior design and shares insights and knowledge about the fascinating world of artisan furniture in Mexico.
When we talk with people who are getting ready to move to Mexico, one question that always emerges is: should we take our existing furniture, or do we sell it and buy locally in Mexico?
For some, their mind is made up: they intend to transport all their furniture to Mexico. However, for the majority the answer is less clear-cut. We’ve worked with many clients in this situation, and here are some insights to help with your deliberations.
Lifestyle Changes
Many people moving to Mexico are looking for a fresh start and, where this is the case, the choice is usually simpler: keep a small few precious pieces (if any) and sell the rest. The reasons for seeking a fresh start are as varied and personal as the people themselves: common themes include a desire to assimilate local Mexican culture, stake-out a smaller footprint, and remodel living spaces to suit new priorities in life situations. If these are the kinds of goals you’re aiming for, you may conclude that a fresh take on your interior design is the most sensible choice.
For others, their personal goods and chattels remain an important aspect of their life’s surroundings—perhaps they harbor memories or are heirlooms—and in these cases, they usually move some or even all their furniture to Mexico.
In our experience, we’ve discovered that people who take a lot of furniture to Mexico with them usually change most of it out for locally produced items which are more in-keeping with local design and décor, and which are better suited for wear in local climates.
Dealing with the Logistics
As the Mexperience article How to Relocate and Move to Mexico explains, careful planning and organizing are key to making your move successful.
Alongside your coordination of all the must-do details of visas, utilities, and closing-out your obligations from your prior residence, etc., handling the logistics of moving your furniture is a very time-consuming task. Even if you hire movers to do the heavy-lifting (and that can get expensive), you must personally document and carefully label everything you will move to ensure it clears Customs, deal with the packing and unpacking—and moving furniture always carries a risk of some damage.
In addition to the logistics, it isn’t uncommon for property delivery or closing dates in Mexico to be pushed back. That brings into play the possibility of needing to arrange and pay for temporary storage as well as having your belongings unloaded and reloaded until your property is ready. By contrast, selling-up in your home country and buying what you need locally in Mexico also gives you more flexibility to match furniture delivery with your actual arrival date.
In a previous article, I explained why it’s important to match your furniture choices with the environment in which you choose to live. Mexico has varied topography and climates and depending on where you live will very likely influence the furniture you’ll feel comfortable with.
Shopping For Your New Furniture
When you decide to refurnish your home locally in Mexico, the next question is how to go about doing this.
There are numerous places where you can buy furniture in Mexico, ranging from street-stall vendors to modern department stores, and high-end furniture boutiques—the latter of which tend also to cater to foreign residents’ tastes. Some people choose to travel to various cities in Mexico to make shopping expeditions, assembling their furniture collection along the way. This can be fun, but you’ll have to set aside ample time, exercise patience, speak Spanish, and have some knowledge about furniture design (the quality, especially from small local vendors, is variable).
The modern option is to shop online, which enables you to browse a wider selection of furniture in many styles. Our business is based on this approach, which enables us to provide customers with a range of options and a service surround that would be near-impossible if we ran a physical store. The goods are often made-to-order and can thus be customized to your specific needs. There is no inventory and no carrying costs, so prices reflect reduced overheads. A good online furniture company will also undertake the logistics work on your behalf, ensuring the order is delivered all at once within a known and agreed time frame.
Closing Thoughts
While it’s easy to feel attachment to familiar furnishings—and in some cases precious pieces will be worth the time and effort required to move them to your new home here—from our experience, I recommend you give yourself time to think carefully about what furniture items are really important to you. If you move everything to discover your furniture isn’t appropriate in the new environment, you’ll have spent considerable time and resources that could have been invested in re-furnishing your home locally.
Adri and Ken Pedersen are owners of Gringo Furniture – a U.S. based company that specializes in artisan furniture for foreign residents living in Mexico.
