Just because you love the way something looks doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best possible choice for your and your family.

Your personal decorating style doesn’t have to be a compromise between form and function.  You should be able to satisfy both requirements–an attractive piece that is comfortable and/or useful–but there is no guarantee.  Let’s face it, a lot of furniture designers are pretty much concerned with only one or the other.

The first thing that is going to attract you is the appearance of the piece.  But the key to being happy with your purchase for the long term is being conscious of your overall needs.  An honest evaluation of any piece of furniture is going to make sure you are still in love with it years after you bring it home.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have enough space to accommodate the piece?
• Will this compliment my home and existing furniture?
• How is the quality?
• Is it versatile?  Are there ways to change its appearance if I need to in the future?
• Is it really comfortable?
• Does it perform more than one function (i.e. creates extra storage)?
• Is it so “trendy” that it is going to be out of style in a few years?
• Is there a warranty?
• Is it easy to clean?

Don’t be pressured into buying things.  Take your time, go back to the store a few times if you have to.  Make sure you love your new furniture for more than just it’s “pretty face”.  You have to live with it every day, and you need it to do more than just look nice.