Questions that will be addressed include: What research can be done online?  When is it best to see furniture in a showroom? How best to work with storeroom sales people, interior designers, and other professionals while maintaining control of your budget or plans? To what extent should you match furniture to the present style and color themes of your home?  To what extent should you consider changing those themes (new paint, new carpeting, etc) before furniture selection? How best to navigate the many furniture options -- fabric colors, textures and patterns for upholstered furniture, various finishes for wood furniture, and different furniture accessories? 

Identify your need/want and how much space you have for it. Space is very important.  Measure carefully and be prepared to measure when you get to the store.  You might LOVE the look of a piece in the store, but if you don’t have the space for it, it may look squeezed in.  The opposite is also true.  If something is too small, it will be overwhelmed by your space.  Make a graph of your room for planning.  Measure your room size (each square equals one foot) and plot your furniture in your space.  Don’t forget to plot in your doors and windows. Bring your tape measure with you to the store, as well as a pencil with a good eraser so you can “move” your furniture around when you see the right piece and have it’s dimensions.

Style can be a tricky issue.  If you are the only person making the decision, it is a lot easier.  But, if you share the decision making with someone, it can become challenging.  Talk it out before you get to the store and negotiate if you have different preferences in style.  The art of negotiation in selecting furniture will help you in the other aspects of your relationship.  There are numerous options in style.  The basics are modern/contemporary OR traditional and this contains many different styles (French, English, Mediterranean, country, Early American, etc).  If you think you don’t care about style, you will when you get to the store!  It is amazing how the most indifferent man at home, becomes an intense advocate of a certain style when he walks into the store.  Be prepared!  With all the options available, you will definitely find something that will suit everyone’s taste.   Some people love to shop, but for others it can verge on torture.  It is uncomfortable for everyone when a person has to be dragged into the store, or worse yet, several stores, to find that perfect piece.  Do your homework together (between innings of the game, or whatever works).  In the ideal world, that other person will say “you go pick it out honey – I will love whatever you get”.  Please clone that person for the rest of us. 

Take some pictures along to give the sales person an idea of what it is you are looking for.  There are so many ads in the mail for furniture.  You can also check the websites of furniture stores and manufacturers to find the look you are after.  This site will include links as well.  Call ahead with questions about the services that a particular store may offer to assist you in your shopping decisions.  For those who have the time, browsing through stores is the best to give you a feel for the many options available.  There are so many stores to choose from so it is important to take into consideration buying from a store that will be in business for some time and who will be able to service any problems that may arise.

Thank you for joining us in the launch of FurnitureShopping.us.  Please visit again as we expand the content throughout 2006.