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Tips For Buying Furniture

Once you buy a house, chances are you'll soon be buying new furniture. With all the expenses attached to homeownership, coupled with the one-time expenses that come in the first year, decorating and furnishing the house, it's important to carefully plan your furniture purchases.

In the first twelve months after purchasing a new home, owners spend an average of $8,900 to furnish, decorate and improve their homes -- more than twice the $4,000 spent by non-movers, according to a report from the" the National Association of Homebuilders." The report says about 77 percent of it goes toward furnishings and changes to the property. The rest is spent on appliances.

Those that buy a home, spend $3,766 more than non-moving homeowners in the year following the home purchase. When buying furniture, it's important to do some research so you get the most for your money -- and maximum enjoyment from your furniture.

Here are some tips:

Figure out what you need. Decide exactly what you will need and how long you will need it. That should also play a role in how much you plan on spending. For example, if you're buying a baby crib that will only be used for a few years, you may want to budget less than you would on a table and chairs that you will have for many years.

Know how it will be used. If you have small children, then you'll want to choose furniture and fabrics that can stand up to your kids' wear and tear. On the other hand, if you don't have children at home, you may want to purchase pieces more suitable for entertaining or that won't get everyday use.

Determine your space constraints. Draw up a floor plan of the room you will be furnishing and sketch in different furniture arrangements to see how you can best make use of the space and take your drawing with you when you go shopping.

Set a budget. Before you shop, determine how much you will spend -- and stick to it.

Get some decorating magazines and look through them for ideas on how to decorate your home. Specifically, you should identify your personal style, whether it's casual, contemporary, country, traditional, or eclectic. Think about your preferences -- what colors, textures and patterns do you like?

Prioritize your purchases. Determining which items you want or need most. many furniture stores offer interior design consultation, room planning guides and product brochures. In the end, trust your own judgment and buy what you like.

Shop around . Extra delivery charges or higher credit charges could mean what initially appeared to be a bargain is not a bargain after all. And while you're shopping, check out the labels. Federal guidelines require manufacturers to say whether materials like vinyl or synthetics are used to give the appearance of other materials, like leather, wood or marble. If a label mentions only wood, all surfaces must be wood. If there are veneers, it must say so on the the label. Once you choose the furniture you want, ask about the terms and conditions of warranties, as well as the store's return policy. And if you're buying on the stores credit plan, be sure you know the full terms and the rate of interest they will be charging.