Every home has the same thing: furniture. Your furniture and how you design it can say a lot about your personality as well as where to sit. Here's how to shop for and buy great furniture. If you're in the market to buy furniture, the number one tip is to know where to buy. Where you purchase furniture can be a good indicator of its value. Local furniture stores are the go-to shops for many people. Here's an alternative to consider: buy directly from the furniture maker. Buying from a manufacturer eliminates some of the overhead costs imposed by retail stores. When buying direct, it's important to go to high-quality furniture makers. Before buying furniture, it's important to consider the travel and shipping costs you may incur. This should help you determine if direct buy furniture actually saves you money. You also have the choice to shop online. There are many quality sites for buying furniture. With internet shopping or in person, the same advice generally applies. Consider the history of the company, and factor in any extra costs. Buying furniture sight unseen can be risky. Measuring beforehand can save you a lot of headaches, and it's probably a good idea to be a little flexible with color choices. This advice leads to the next important idea: ask questions. To have the best experience you should get your questions answered. Size, durability and quality are all areas where a professional can help you make a good furniture choice. Ask the opinions of your friends and family if you don't have a professional, and definitely think hard about your decisions. Analyze whether the furniture you choose is good quality or just good looking. With furniture it's always important to consider how long you plan to use it. High-quality furniture will make your home better instead off worse. There is plenty of good furniture buying advice available. Buying furniture doesn't have to be a bad experience if you know where to shop and what to ask and know. These things may save you some money, time or both. Hopefully these tips help you. We don't want to keep good ideas buried like loose coins under your sofa cushions.