First you need to know the size of the rooms you are going to be furnishing, right



down to windows, and walls that might not work well. You can either purchase a

piece of software that will help you design a cozy room or grab a pencil and

paper and start sketching. If you have any original pieces you are keeping, then

make sure to work them into your room plan.

Once you've decided what would look good where, and how large of furniture

you can purchase, you need to set your budget. Decide how much money you

are willing to part with and stick to it.

Once you know how much you're going to spend you'll be able to decide on the

type of furniture. Determine the type of use the furniture will get. Are you buying

furniture for a family room or a living room? If you're buying for a family room

you're going to want to look at furniture that's built to hold up with high use. If

you're buying furniture for your living room, and it's more of a show room then you

might look at fancier, less functional furniture.

When deciding on the type of furniture also takes into consideration your lifestyle.

Do you have pets that are going to claw or chew? Do you have small children?

Is your home air conditioned? Leather is a great example of a piece of furniture

that looks good, but can be downright uncomfortable in the hot weather, unless

you have air.

Once you've narrowed down what you're in the market for, make a list itemizing

each piece you're looking for. Include sizes that will work, color preferences, all

the fine details. You'd be surprised at what you'll forget once you walk into the

furniture store. It's easy to get distracted because of all the choices. But with list

in hand you'll be prepared.

Make choices that will last you for years. Don't choose trendy furniture that you'll

be tired of in six months. Furniture is a big investment, so keep your tastes in

check and choose furniture that wills look and feel good for years to come. You

can add some trendy small ticket items such as vases or wall d'cor. Keep your

furniture colors easy to work with. That way you will be able to do a room face lift

just by changing out small ticket items, like pillows, ornaments, and wall art.

Once you've found that perfect piece of furniture, get physical with it. Check the

construction of it, watch for low quality assembly. If you buying a couch or bed,

sit on it, move around on it, see if it fits your body well. Check to see if you can

feel springs, if the buttons are attached well, if the seams are finished properly.

Don't take any piece of furniture at face value, get underneath and check the

entire construction of it.

Once you've made your choices, all that's left to do is pay and wait for delivery.

If you have old furniture in the room, it's easier to dispose of this before the new

furniture arrives. Prep the room, so that when the delivery guys arrive they can

place the furniture where it belongs.

Stress free furniture shopping can be accomplished with just a little bit of pre-

planning. Now all that's left to do is enjoy your new room!