When moving into a new home, furnishing is the most important aspect to ensure comfortable living. From choosing the right pieces and maintaining your budget to achieving a seamless blend of colors and patterns, the process requires close attention to detail. Although it seems expensive and challenging, knowing some common mistakes to avoid when buying furniture can help you save money in the long run and furnish your home comfortably.

Not buying the right size
The most crucial mistake people make when buying furniture is getting the measurements wrong. These measurements are not just limited to the space that they will keep the furniture in, but also the main house door, any narrow parts of the hallway, or other doors and corners. For those living in flats, it is also important to ensure that the furniture pieces can be carried up the staircase easily.

Returning pieces that don’t fit right may require you to pay a restocking fee, which can add to your expenses. So, when possible, opt for flat-pack furniture that can be assembled at home or choose pieces that can be taken apart and reassembled upon delivery.

Not keeping the scale in mind
When decorating a room, it is important to remember that pieces that are too big for the room may be overwhelming, while too many small pieces can make the space cluttered. For instance, a sofa that looks like the right fit at the store may look too big or too small in your living room. Decorating is a delicate art, and it is important to put a lot of thought and effort into planning and understanding the scale to turn a space into the perfect room for you.

To avoid this mistake, keep the following dimension recommendations in mind:

• Keep around 18 inches (45 cm) of space between the couch and the coffee table
• For easy movement, keep 32-36 inches (80-90 cm) of space between different furniture pieces
• Ensure there is 48 inches (120 cm) of space around the chairs at the dining table to facilitate access

Moreover, if people require a wheelchair or remote access around the home, it is important to keep those considerations in mind before selecting the furniture.

Prioritizing form over function
This is one of the most common mistakes to avoid when buying furniture. Just because something looks great in a catalog, does not mean that it will improve the esthetics of your room as well. Before making a purchase, think about what you are looking for from a particular piece of furniture. This includes its comfort and functionality, along with practical considerations like ease of cleaning. For example, those with children in the house may want to steer clear of too many glass surfaces or sharp corners that may become a hazard. Further, those with accessibility issues may want to opt for a lower bed than usual. These factors must not be ignored as they play an important role in helping you pick the right furniture to build a comfortable home.

Making impulse purchases
Impulse purchases may feel irresistible, particularly during a sale. While you may want to snag the perfect piece of furniture you found before it gets sold out, it is important to think about the size, form, function, as well as style of your room before making a purchase. Making an impulse purchase can turn into an expensive mistake, so ensure that the item you are looking to buy fits well into your home before spending your hard-earned money on it.

Not testing before you buy
When possible, it is important to test a piece of furniture for its comfort levels. This is particularly applicable when buying sofas, recliners, and chairs, so you can ensure optimal comfort and relaxation. Additionally, when buying closets or chests, remember to check their hinges and other mechanisms to ensure the drawers open and close comfortably.

Avoiding maintenance
Your furniture needs to be taken care of to enhance durability. So, keep the maintenance needs in mind before making a purchase. For example, wood furniture may require regular coats of polish, and a couch with silk or velvet upholstery may need more care and attention than one covered with leather or linen.

Instead of only looking at the price tag of a product, make sure you examine its quality and functionality carefully. Poorly built furniture pieces tend to fall apart easily and may end up increasing your maintenance costs or force you into buying replacements.

Keep these six mistakes in mind before furnishing your home, so you can comfortably build the home of your dreams!