How to Choose the Best Furniture for Your Home

Buying new furniture is often a major investment when furnishing a new home or renovating existing spaces. Are you looking to furnish your home with new furniture? The options can feel overwhelming. Furniture comes in endless styles, materials, colors, and price ranges.

It's important to educate yourself before making major furniture purchases. Follow this guide to learn insider tips for choosing pieces that align with your personal style, meet your lifestyle needs, and stand the test of time.

What Types of Furniture Are Best in Each Room?

The first step is determining what types of furniture you need for each living space. Focus on these essentials:

Living Room

Sectionals, loveseats, and sofas anchor living rooms. Scale seating appropriately to fit both your space and guests during gatherings.

Complement main sofas with accent chairs like slipper chairs or sleek midcentury armchairs.

Coffee tables tie seating together in living rooms. Lift-top coffee tables conveniently stow remotes, books and more when not in use.

Narrow console tables behind sofas provide a landing spot for table lamps and decor.

Media consoles and entertainment centers neatly house TVs, stereo components, and media collections.

Dining Room

A proper dining table allows comfortable leg room while seated. Expandable tables accommodate holiday dinners and large gatherings.

Armless dining chairs maximize seating room around tables. Upholstered seat dining chairs cushion long dinners.

A sideboard offers storage for table linens, extra serving ware and dining essentials only steps from the dining table.

For small dining rooms, a bar cart removes the need for a large sideboard while providing drink staging space.

Bedrooms

Choose beds with footboards to create a grounded focal point. Padded headboards maximize lounging comfort. Platform beds remove the need for a bulky frame.

Dressers provide abundant clothing storage. Look for spacious models with full extension drawers.

Flanking bedroom beds, nightstands hold bedside lamps, books, drinks and alarm clocks. Opt for drawers to hide clutter.

Tufted or upholstered benches at the foot of beds provide extra seating and style.

Bedroom in new luxury home — Adobe - Royalty Free

Home Office

A substantial desk accommodates work needs. L-shaped desks maximize work surface area. Hutch tops or bookcases extend storage.

Support proper posture during long work hours with an adjustable office chair. Lumbar support cushions prevent back strain.

File cabinets neatly corral important paperwork for easy organization. Opt for drawer models that lock for security.

Open and closed bookcases keep office supplies and reference materials organized yet accessible.

What Are The Most Popular Furniture Styles?

When deciding on pieces for each room, narrow down your aesthetic preferences by considering these popular furniture styles:

Modern furniture uses sleek, clean lines. The minimalist look skips ornate details for polished metal and geometric shapes. It pairs well in contemporary homes.

Rustic furniture has an approachable, cozy farmhouse feel. Natural wood finishes display each knot and grain. Soft curved lines add whimsy.

Traditional furniture makes a luxurious statement with carved wood, detailed finishes, and elegant fabrics. Floral motifs, curved legs, and skirted tables have a classic look.

Contemporary style strikes a balance between modern and traditional. Simplified lines and unfussy details create a casual elegance perfect for family living.

Coastal furniture has a breezy, beach house vibe. Light driftwood finishes paired with weathered tops and whitewashed frames capture seaside cottage charm.

Midcentury modern furniture has tapered legs paired with rounded or sloped shapes. This trendy retro style blends organic shapes with sleek profiles.

Eclectic style mixes various pieces and aesthetics for a curated, collected look. Vintage carved chairs around a modern table, for example.

What Are The Most Popular Furniture Pieces?

Beyond style, narrow your choices further by deciding on specific furniture pieces best suited for each room's needs:

When choosing a sofa, ensure adequate seating with room to lounge. Scale your sofa size to fit both your space and guests. Deep seats with a low back lend a modern profile. Roll arms create traditional charm. Slope arms save visual space in tight areas. Tufted backs and bench cushions add interest.

Sectionals provide abundant seating options in family rooms. L-shaped sectionals optimize corners. Modular sectionals allow for customizable arrangements. Chaise sectionals maximize lounging space.

Perfect for cozy conversation areas, loveseats comfortably seat two. Round arms lend flexibility in small areas. Tuxedo-style loveseats have streamlined silhouettes.

Accent chairs provide secondary relaxed seating across rooms. Choose chairs with personal flair, like wingback chairs. Swivel chairs allow movement. Recliners optimize lounging.

Coffee tables anchor living room furniture arrangements. Rectangular coffee tables work well with sectionals. Round coffee tables feel less sharp in corners. Lift-top coffee tables offer hidden storage.

Narrow console tables behind living room sofas provide landing zones. Stylish console tables stage decorative objects too. Mirrored consoles brighten dark rooms.

Round side tables with single pedestal bases maximize tight space next to chairs. Side tables offer convenient end table surface space.

Entertainment centers neatly store electronics in media rooms. Opt for centers with doors to conceal visual clutter when not in use.

Where Is the Best Place to Buy Furniture?

Once you've selected the ideal furniture for each room, consider where to make your purchases:

Test furniture in person at full-service showrooms. Knowledgeable staff provide design advice. Store credit cards offer financing options. Local delivery and assembly services are standard.

Department stores like Macy's and JCPenney carry affordable furniture collections alongside their apparel and home goods. Holiday sales help lower prices further on select items.

Retailers, including IKEA and Target, offer a budget-friendly selection of furniture and home goods. Focus on in-stock essentials across styles.

A world of furniture is available through e-commerce sites. Online shopping allows easy price comparisons across retailers. Measure carefully since returns tend to be more difficult.

Vintage furniture shops offer deals on stylish secondhand furniture. Refinishing old pieces prevents usable furniture from entering landfills.

Services like Fernish allow renting furniture month-to-month. This offers flexibility for temporary living situations or when testing styles.

Cost Considerations

Furnishing an entire home is a major investment. The price ranges below are for new furniture. Set realistic budgets by room, planning higher spending on heavy-use communal living spaces.

Living Room Furniture Costs

Type	Cost
Sofas	$800 - $3,500
Loveseats	$600 - $2,500
Accent chairs	$300 - $1,200
Coffee tables	$100 - $1,500
Console tables	$150 - $700
Entertainment centers	$300 - $2,000

Dining Room Furniture Costs

Type	Cost
Dining tables	$500 - $3,000
Dining chairs	$100 - $300 per chair
Sideboards	$500 - $2,500
Bar carts	$100 - $500

Bedroom Furniture Costs

Type	Cost
Beds	$500 - $5,000
Nightstands	$200 - $1,000
Dressers	$500 - $2,000
Benches	$200 - $700

Home Office Furniture Costs

Type	Cost
Desks	$150 - $2,500
Office chairs	$100 - $1,000
File cabinets	$100 - $300
Bookcases	$100 - $1,500

Learn More About Furniture

So, How Should You Choose New Furniture?

When investing in new furniture, carefully evaluate what you need each piece to achieve. Measure your spaces, browse a range of styles to find ones that resonate, and compare construction quality within your budget. Seek timeless designs in materials like solid wood over fleeting trends that will quickly date. Proper care keeps quality furniture looking its best for everyday use and entertaining over the years. By making informed decisions, you can furnish your home with comfort and style.

FAQs About Furniture

What are the most popular furniture styles right now?

Midcentury modern, industrial, boho, and Scandinavian styles are very popular at the moment. However, choosing classic styles with timeless lines that appeal to your taste prevents styles from quickly dating.

What should I look for when buying a sofa?

Consider both size/scale and construction quality when sofa shopping. Test for comfortable, deep seat cushions that use quality dense foam. Examine the sofa frame for solid wood joinery and corner blocking. Opt for durable, cleanable fabrics treated to resist stains.

How much seating should my living room have?

Sectionals and sofas should offer ample seating space for your household and guests. Allow for seating space of 24-30 inches per person. Coffee tables about 16 inches high leave legroom.

What are high-end furniture brands?

Luxury furniture brands include Bernhardt, Stickley, Dessin Fournir, Turri, and Meridiani. These companies use fine materials like leather and exotic woods. Expect to invest $5,000 to $20,000 in sofas and seating.

What should I know before buying furniture online?

Carefully check furniture dimensions against your space before ordering online. Seek online retailers with generous return policies in case pieces do not fit right or match expectations upon arrival. Expect to pay added shipping and assembly costs.