How to Buy Furniture One Piece at a Time

If your budget dictates that you furnish your house or apartment slowly, be smart about it. Here are some tips for buying furniture one piece at a time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Prioritize your needs and shop accordingly. If you need a kitchen table, try not to come home with a couch, even if it was on sale.

2. Buy the best quality you can afford. Poor furniture quality is less likely to hold up over the long haul, which means you might have to buy items twice.

3. Realize that furniture manufacturers regularly discontinue individual pieces and entire lines. When you buy one piece from a show-stopping suite with an eye-catching finish, be aware that you may not be able to match it in the future.

4. Think about versatility in styling when you buy. Classic looks, from contemporary to Chippendale to French provincial, can be easier to decorate around, especially for long-standing furniture.

5. Ponder versatility in function when you buy. Today's end table could be tomorrow's nightstand; this year's entry-hall table might be next year's home-office console.

6. Choose non-trendy upholstery. The hunter green that was hot a couple of years ago is practically invisible now (except at closeout sales). Neutrals, especially solids, are a best bet for long-term furniture purchases.

7. Consider buying secondhand pieces. Search the used furniture classified ads, because folks are constantly sacrificing like-new pieces (as well as lovely antiques).

Tips & Warnings

• When trying to match colors, bring along fabric swatches, wallpaper samples, chair cushions, and other materials when you shop.
• When shopping at furniture sales, ask why a piece has been marked down. Sometimes you'll be told that it's a floor sample (which could mean the piece will no longer be made) or that it's being discontinued. When you must furnish a piece at a time, decide whether a discontinued piece is workable.