Selecting furniture for a home can a fun, frightening and also challenging process, depending on your viewpoint. The best way to ensure that you end up with precisely the kind of furniture you want at a great price, a bit of legwork may be required. Read on for some tips that will help make sure you end up with the home of your dreams.

When you are getting older furniture, check out its undercarriage to be sure it is stable. It is common for it to look solid, but actually be in poor condition. Rust and dry rot are common problems that tend to plague older furniture.

When you see something you like, wait to buy it for at least 24 hours. If it’s not the last item in stock, you have the time. You need to go home and see if the piece you’re considering would work in your space, and whether you really want to spend the money. Waiting will help.

Before purchasing a piece of furniture, always open drawers and doors. You should not purchase a piece of furniture if the drawers do not open all the way and close evenly. Make sure the doors stay open and close properly. You should also check the knobs or handles to make sure they are properly attached.

If you are buying wood furniture, especially if they are antique, look beyond the outside of the piece. Look inside and underneath the item. Pull out the drawers and inspect them. In many cases, a visual inspection will provide you with a better picture of the condition than the outside surfaces. Referred to as secondary woods, these types of surfaces speak to the quality of construction and age of the piece.

Color of furniture is one of your prime considerations when you are looking at new pieces. If you’re getting bold colored furniture it can be hard to match the rest of your home with it. Focus on neutral colors with bigger pieces of furniture, that can be integrated into most styles. Save the bolder colors for the smaller additions.

If you want a new piece of furniture and already have a piece similar, consider altering the piece. There are many different ways you can alter furniture. If you want a new color, you can paint it or add a nice slipcover. If you aren’t comfortable doing it, there are a lot of people who enjoy this type of project.

While it’s good to talk to the salespeople in furniture stores, realize and remember they might not be your best source of advice and information. They may be focused on customer service, but only to sell. An actual interior designer is someone who can really help you find the right furniture for your home.

Furniture shopping is something that many folks find daunting, simply because of the innumerable options available. By spending some time researching the subject, it is possible to demystify the process and actually make it enjoyable. Hopefully the piece above has provided you with the knowledge you needed to get the job done right.

By Laura