Choosing furniture for your home isn't like choosing new curtains or wall art. If your curtain color doesn't jive or if they aren't the right size, in most cases, you can simply pack them up and send them back to the store.

Returning furniture, however, poses unique challenges. Large sofas and tables are tough to move once, let alone multiple times. Any homeowner would agree that purchasing the perfect living room furniture or bedroom dressers the first time around is highly preferable.

It's quite difficult to know from a glance whether a piece in a furniture store will look right in your living room. Use the following hassle-free furniture shopping tips to help you find the right piece for your space:

1. Measure with Blue Tape

Interior designers and architects have been using this trick for years. To determine how large your furniture should be, mark out the empty space with blue tape first. Use the tape to better visualize how furniture dimensions will look against the wall and around your other belongings. Is the couch too tall for the side tables? Will a wide armchair block the walkway? Once you've taped out dimensions that make sense, write down the measurements and take them to the furniture store with you for greater shopping clarity.

2. Don't Be Matchy-Matchy

It can be tempting to choose furniture in all the same colors or materials. Though you may think this strategy will ensure each piece harmonizes, designers warn that too much coordination can overwhelm a room. Try using swatches of different fabrics or paint samples while shopping to see how a different color families pair together. Finally, don't trust online images or photos on a smartphone for judging colors, since different screens can warp the hues.

3. Quality Is a Better Investment that Quantity

When furniture shopping, don't select a piece simply because it's the cheapest one you can find. In many cases, a high-quality sofa or bed frame will get more use, be more comfortable, and leave you more satisfied with the space. Though leather furniture should be conditioned every six months, with proper care, similar high-quality materials will last significantly longer than other types. In most cases, choosing quality saves you money and time in the long run.

Furniture shopping can be a struggle, especially when you're not sure which items will look and feel best in your home. Use the tips above for guidance during your shopping expeditions to find furniture you'll love for years to come.

Looking for a furniture store that offers high-quality mission style selections? Contact The Mission Motif today!