what to ask when buying furniture

1 What's My Style?
A quick scout around the high street, or an even quicker online search will soon flag up whether your taste is for the dark designer tones of wenge, the warmth of family-friendly warm oak or the glamour of pristine, touch-me-not white. If you're starting afresh, matching furniture does set an instant style, but if it's a case of adding to existing furniture, pick out pieces in similar colour tones and let the shape you already have dictate the terms.

Once the scene is set, all that's needed is one supermodel accent piece. See-through glass and acrylic furniture and glitzy mirrored finishes are bang on trend, or try an embossed metal effect from Graham & Green for an ethnic twist. For a classic appeal, painted furniture, with its roots in Gustavian or French country style, stands up well when used as a one-off piece among natural wood finishes.

2 Will It Fit?

Size and proportion are crucial when choosing furniture - too big and the room will be swamped, too small and you won't have enough storage. Check the fit before you buy, by taking measurements of the furniture, and making a newspaper template to spread out in your room. Consider modular designs or co-ordinated ranges which you can add to as your needs change, though bear in mind that wood will change colour as it ages, so buy a new piece later and it may not be a perfect match. Storage is always the big issue - opt for coffee tables with drawers, a TV stand with media storage beneath, or a whole wall of units with open shelves for display and cupboards to conceal your junk.