Buying furniture can be nerve-wracking for many people, especially if they’re afraid of making an expensive mistake that you’ll be stuck with for a long time. We’ve helped a lot of people for a long time, and we’ve come up with this list of mistakes that many people make. Do your best to avoid these common oversights. 1. Measure your space . This should go without saying, but be sure that your new furniture will fit in the room where it’s going before you buy it. Grab your measuring tape and see how big your room is, and then check it with the measurements of the pieces you are looking to buy. One easy way to tell: lay out the size and shape of the furniture in masking tape, on the floor of the room where it’s going. This will give you a great visual idea of where the furniture is going to be, and you can even walk around the taped shapes on the floor to make sure you have enough room to walk around it. 2. Measure your doors : Furniture is big and bulky- bigger and bulkier than it looks in the showroom. Take a second to think about how your new furniture is getting into your home- not just the exterior doors, but inside doors, hallways, stairways, etc. Measure the narrowest spot, and be sure not to buy any furniture that is bigger than that. One tricky spot we always see: the stairs going into the basement. Those stairways tend to be narrow, and delivery can be even more difficult if there is a turn at the bottom of the steps.

3. Consider your lifestyle : And be honest with yourself. Do you tend to be rough on your furniture? Do you have kids or pets that could be rough on your furniture? If so, it might be worth the extra investment to get better-quality pieces, or to consider a fabric that is stain-resistant. Make sure to think ahead, too: your needs right now could be different than they will be in a few years. Don’t throw your money away on something that might not suit your lifestyle in a couple short years.

4. Take a sample home : If the store will let you, think about borrowing a fabric or wood sample to see what the piece will look like in your home. Everyone’s lighting is a little different, which could make the color appear lighter or darker in your home versus a furniture showroom. Once it’s home, check in on the color during different times of the day. Yes, it may be a little longer for you to place the order since you have to take the sample home and then take it back, but it’s worth it to avoid the disappointment of your new furniture looking a little different than you anticipated.

5. Check everything . Yes, the piece of furniture you’re getting may be the perfect style for your home, but don’t be surprised by hidden things that often get overlooked. If it’s important that you’re able to flip the cushions of your sofa, check to make sure that the cushions are finished on both sides. Check to make sure that the pieces to your new sectional will clip together on the bottom, so they don’t slide all over your hardwood floor. Does your new couch come with all the pillows that it’s shown with? If you’re getting a new bedroom set, does your new bed need a boxspring with it?

We hope this guide will help you be as prepared as possible when buying new furniture. These simple tips can help avoid a lot of future headaches and the “I-didn’t-know” issues that are so easily preventable. Happy shopping!