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When buying furniture, the very first step is in measuring. Measure the room(s) you are buying the furniture for, as well as all doorways that you will be bringing the furniture through. Will the piece(s) fit the size of the room comfortably with
extra room for traffic to flow freely? Will the piece(s) fit through the doorways?

A lot of people don't give this much consideration, but if you live in a smaller type dwelling or an apartment, this could present a very big problem once you get the furniture home. Not all doorways and stairwells are standard sized. You may find that you cannot get that queen or king sized mattress or box spring through the door

or stairway, or around corners. That overstuffed sofa might be a very tight squeeze
causing you to remove part of your door jambs just to get it into the living room or den (remember, box springs and sofas do not bend). Take a measuring tape to the store with you and measure any piece of furniture you are about to purchase. This will save you the headache of falling in love with a certain piece that, you soon discover, will just not fit into your dimensions.

A good idea might be to map out a plan of your room with accurate measurements (length, width and heighth) prior to going to the store, so that you have a precise idea of what will and will not work in your room/home.

Of course, durability is a must to consider. Many people are on a tight budget and
cannot afford to buy new pieces of furniture every couple of years. How long do
you suspect this furniture will have to last you? Do you have rambunctious children
and/or pets? Will this create a lot of added wear and tear on the upholstery? You might have to pay a higher price for good quality fabric, but this might pay off in the long run. If the upholstery can last a few extra years, you've already saved yourself the cost of a brand new piece of furniture within the next five or ten years. Having a piece of furniture reupholstered can cost almost as much as buying a brand new piece.

Your present decor is also something to give some thought to, unless you plan on
painting and decorating your room around your new piece of furniture. If you are not,
does this piece follow along well with your existing decor and the color of your walls? A good tip would be to take a color sample with you to the store as well.

A lot of today's furniture is quite heavy. This might also be something to consider
depending on your home and the piece of furniture you want to purchase. Are your
floors (and floor joists) sturdy enough to accomodate the new furniture? Also, when
it comes time to cleaning underneath or behind, will the weight pose a problem?

When keeping these few tips in mind, hunting around for furniture can be a more
pleasant experience.

Learn more about this author, Penny B.
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