Unless you’re a first-time furniture purchaser, we’ve all experienced some level of buyer’s remorse after we’ve purchased furniture for our homes. Maybe it didn’t quite fit, or it was the wrong color, or maybe you just paid more than you should have for it. Here are 10 tips from the Furniture Fair Design Team on things to consider before buying your next piece of furniture. 1. Know your lifestyle: If you love to entertain, you’ll probably want to go for a bigger sofa and dining room table than if you rarely, if ever, host people. Do you have kids? You’ll want to opt for materials that are easier to clean and darker colors that will hide messes. 2. Think about your life 5-10 years from now: You’ll likely be using your furniture for longer than a year. Where do you see yourself in the near future? Will you have young kids? Will you be living somewhere else? These are things to keep in mind when you’re considering things like furniture fabrics, colors, and budget. 3. Test it out: If you’re buying a mattress, wear comfy clothes and sleep on it. Lounge around on the sofa in the store – could you or a guest take a snooze on it? Is it plush enough that you’ll love watching TV on it? Is the dining room table really big enough for your family? Your furniture is part of your life – you want to make sure it fits. Take a snooze on this Furniture Fair mattress: Nationalism Euro Top Mattress Set 4. You might have to move it: That heavy oak dresser may look gorgeous now but how long will you be staying in your current home? Will you be lugging that piece from home to home, year after year, carrying it up and down in buildings that may not have elevators? Weight, fragility, and scratch-proneness are all things to consider if you plan on moving frequently. 5. Bring a tape measure: Measure beforehand so that those shelves you bought will actually fit the dimensions of your reading nook. Avoid buying tables and chairs that aren’t quite the right height for each other by doing research on appropriate height pairing and measuring things out beforehand. Make space for this Furniture Fair piece: Cross Island Door Bookcase 6. Resale value: Sure, discount furniture stores are cheaper, but you might regret it when you can only resell your $450 IKEA sofa for $100 a year later. 7. Splurge on the important things: Your sofa, dining table and chairs, and mattress are where you’re going to spend the most time. These are the pieces you’re going to enjoy when it’s time to relax and unwind from a long day. Invest in high quality pieces that make you feel at home. Splurge with Furniture Fair: Hamilton Pub Set 8. Buy at the right time: July and December are usually when the big furniture sales are. You can save hundreds of dollars if you can wait until then to purchase. 9. Check the manufacturer’s warranty: People never consider that their sofa can split or that their bed can crack but these things happen. It’s better to ask and understand the warranty than to assume anything about it or even that one exists. 10. Buy it only if you love it: ‘nough said. Have questions? Stop by and talk to one of the members of the Furniture Fair Design Team today. Happy furniture shopping!