Making a large purchase is intimidating. Buying a house, or even a room full of furniture can seem daunting and stressful. There’s a lot to consider from your style to your price points. However, it doesn’t have to be a scary process. Furniture shopping can and should be fun! Creating your space is exciting. Embrace the process and go into it knowing these things before hitting the showroom.

Style

It’s a good idea to have a sense of the style you are hoping to create with your new furniture, especially if you are outfitting an entire room of your home. Stylists and sales people on the showroom floor can help you stay on track with your chosen style, but only you can decide what you like. Dive into magazines and browse blogs to find the style that speaks to you.

Function

How will you be using the furniture day in and day out? For example, if you are shopping for a formal dining room set, you know that your family may not be sitting down to dinner there every day. If you have a breakfast nook or eat-in island, your formal dining room will probably be used on special occasions. Realizing that upfront can make your decision easier. Maybe you can go with a more high-end table due to the lack of potential wear and tear.

If you’re shopping for office furniture, you need to consider what type of office you need. Do you need a space to think, a space to create, or a space that just feels like your own corner of the house? All of these questions help find the function of your furniture. 

Know Your Dimensions

Catalog photos and even showroom setups can be a bit deceiving. You need to make sure you have an accurate depiction of the space your furniture will occupy. Ask yourself how a piece will fit in the intended room as well as how it will be transported there. Before buying, use painter’s tape to block out where the piece will go in the room and take measurements of all the doors and stairwells it will take on its journey to your home.

Budget

Go into the process with a full grasp of your budget. Know how you will pay for the furniture before heading to the store. There are lots of financing options to consider from lay-away to credit. Research your options and decide which is best for you before going to make your purchase. You may decide paying cash is your best option and want to save a few more weeks. Or if you decide to finance through the store, you will probably want to check your credit report before applying. Understanding your budget and financial situation beforehand will help you avoid any surprises after you fall in love with your furniture.

Shop the Sales First

From clearance sections to full living room sales, look to the deals first. They may not be exactly the furniture you had in mind, but being flexible can save you big bucks. You know what also saves? Buying the set. Yes, buying the entire living room or dining room set usually comes with a discount and leaves no doubt that everything will flow together perfectly.

If you have an idea of these things before going to buy furniture, the process will seem a lot less intimidating. There are also other things to consider like style, color, and fabric, but those tend to fall into place after asking yourself about the function and budget of the furniture.