Do's and Don'ts to buying furniture - by Donna

Do's

Do scrutinize the room you are furnishing before you purchase anything.

Do search for pieces that are attractive on their own, and that will also enhance the entire space as a whole.

Do your homework. It is necessary to take the time to research.  Look on the Internet, in decorating books, in magazines, and in stores to see what is out there.

Do check on the company.  When spending money on furniture, it is paramount that you buy from a reputable dealer. Most companies can be easily checked on by doing a basic background search.

Do invest in good quality furniture. When buying furniture for a room, start off by splurging on one fabulous piece, and expand from there.

Do be creative and put your imagination to work.  For example, a cabinet meant for a bedroom could work in another area of the house.  An article of furniture like a wrought iron table made for the outdoors can also work inside. Try different scenarios to see which ones work.

Do check the ads for upcoming designer sales.

Do go with your instincts.

Do buy ceiling light fixtures in the appropriate sizes for rooms.

Do purchase lamp shades in similar colour tones, if they are going in the same room.  Do mix up the bases though.

Do look for unusual pieces that no one else will have.
Do buy furniture that is easy to care for.

Do talk to the dealer about a discount, if you are buying a few pieces at the same time.
Do check out estate sales and eBay.

Do buy multi functional furniture pieces.

A great example is this sofa from Baxton. It works as a regular sofa, it can turn into a sofa bed, and also separates into two swivel chairs.

Do buy earth friendly and green furniture.

The table and chairs shown here, from Ethan Allen's American Artisan collection, is an example of earth friendly furniture.

And this beautiful bed is from Harden's eco-friendly line.

The sofa pictured here is from Broyhill's environmentally friendly, upholstery collection.

And the tv stand below is an example of an echo-friendly product that is available from the Sauder Woodworking Company.

Don'ts

Don't buy all your furniture in the same texture or colour.  For example, furnishing a room with all leather pieces is not ideal, just as using the identical colour for a sofa, love seat, and chairs that are all in the same room would be way too much.

Don't be afraid to mix furniture from different collections.

Don't buy trendy furniture, unless you have a budget that allows you to change your style often.

Don't settle. Because you want a new sofa doesn't mean you will find it the first day you go out looking.

Don't impulse buy. What is the point of buying another chair, if you don't have room for it?

Don't buy furniture that is uncomfortable.

Don't be in a rush. If you find a piece you love, and it is not in stock, it is worth waiting for.

Don't buy huge pieces of furniture for small spaces.

Don't buy small pieces of furniture for big spaces.

Don't let sales people talk you into buying anything you are not 100% certain of.