Bedroom Shopping

If you are decorating or remodeling your bedroom, The American Home Furnishings Alliance makes the following recommendations for bedroom furniture shopping:

• Decide what best expresses your personal style
• Determine your budget.
• Measure your space to see what pieces you can accommodate.
• A well-equipped bedroom generally consists of a bed, a nightstand or two, a dresser or chest and a mirror. Many of today's bedrooms feature an armoire, too.
• The bed is generally the focal point of the bedroom so you'll probably want to select that first.
• When shopping for pieces that aren't upholstered, such as dressers, chests and tables (known as "casegoods" in the furniture world), find out what they are made of – is it hardwood or softwood? Quality pieces are available in both hard and soft woods.
• With any wood pieces, an examination of the construction will reveal a lot about the quality. Lift a corner. Does it feel heavy and sturdy? Check out the corners. Do they feel strong and secure?
• Open and shut the drawers. Do they open and close easily? Do they fit snugly? You want to make sure they don't sag.
• Examine the finish of the piece. The finish should be smooth, without cracks or bubbles
• Check the hardware, e.g. handles and pulls, they should be secure and strong with no rough or sharp edges.
• And after you've made your major furniture selections, remember to add accessories such as lamps, photo frames, rugs and wall décor.
• Most importantly, enjoy yourself and the process of furnishing your bedroom.