Furniture Shopping Tips for New Homeowners

January 18, 2024  ·  8 min read  ·  Reviewed by Sarah Zubowski

Taking the first steps to figure out how to furnish a new home can be an overwhelming and somewhat stressful experience for new homeowners. Where do I start when furnishing a new house? What all do I have to purchase? Is it going to be expensive? It doesn’t have to be this way. Furnishing a new home can also be an exciting journey that allows you to create the home you have always wanted! This is your space and it should look and feel exactly the way you want it to. 

Wondering how to buy furniture for a new home? We’re here to help. From the furniture and design experts at Living Designs Furniture, here are some helpful tips for new homeowners about to embark on their furniture shopping and home furnishing journey:

  • Figure out your vision and budget
  • Find the right furniture store
  • Book a design consultation
  • Research furniture financing options

You can also view our Furniture Buying Guide where our furniture expert Sarah walks you through what to consider when purchasing pieces for your new home.

Tip #1: Figure out your vision and budget

The first step to furnishing a new home is to pick which room you would like to start with. We recommend new homeowners stick to furnishing one room at a time so that you don’t overwhelm yourself with too many decisions. Our expert recommendation would be to begin with the living room as it is the focal point of most homes and usually comes with the most important furniture purchases, which can help set the tone of your home.

From there, establish the exact pieces of furniture that you need and how much you would like to spend. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine what you might need when you start shopping:

  • How big is your space? This will help you get an idea of what sizes or configurations of your furniture you might need.
  • How many people need to be seated in the living room? For example, a married couple may only need a loveseat or small sofa whereas a family of four may need a sectional or a few armchairs for adequate seating.
  • Are you going to be hosting guests often? If so, a sectional may be more practical than a sofa.
  • Do you have children or pets? Consider investing in performance fabric over normal upholstery for a more durable product. 
  • What styles of furniture do you like? Consider if you want your space to speak to a more traditional, modern, contemporary, or even transitional style. You can view our inspiration board to see what types of styles speak to you!

Once you have a rough or detailed idea of what pieces you’re shopping for, it’s time to choose where to shop (hint: you should pick us!).

Tip #2: Find the right furniture store

When it comes to purchasing furniture for the first time, it’s crucial to find reputable stores that cater to the needs of new homeowners. Although there are so many options for furniture stores in Houston, not all retailers will be able to provide you with what you need — or offer it for a fair price. 

One of the best furniture stores for first-time buyers is Living Designs Furniture due to our:

How to shop 

If you want to simply walk in and purchase a model right off of our showroom floor, you can! Or, if you would rather create a custom piece to fit your unique vision or size requirements, we can bring your ideas to life for less! We turn a daunting task into a simple, collaborative experience where our experts guide you through each and every step. 

Because we handcraft all of our furniture in our on-site factory in Downtown Houston, we can provide you with top-quality furniture for attainable, factory-direct prices. Our pieces are crafted to be durable and long-lasting, saving you money in the long run. You won’t get better furniture for a better price in Houston or The Woodlands.

Before you head into our showrooms to begin shopping, take a look at this checklist that lists out what you need to come prepared with to set yourself up for success.

Showroom checklist

“Just had our living room furniture delivered, and all I can say is WOW! Living Designs Furniture exceeded our expectations greatly. We walked into their showroom thinking it was like any other furniture store. They have floor models, but they also can build you whatever you want. You can pick everything from style to size and color, etc. The cost was no more than buying nice furniture at any other store; however, at this store, you can change just about anything. Can’t do that at Star, Ethan Allen, etc. The quality is exceptional, the delivery is top-notch, and it took about as long as they forecasted for the build to be complete. So happy we chose Living Designs Furniture!”

Richard S. | Verified Customer
Woman looking at furniture in showroom

Tip #3: Book a design consultation

In our opinion, no tips for new homeowners will be as helpful as this one. Booking a design consultation is a surefire way to set yourself up for success before you start shopping for furniture. Going into many furniture stores cold will only create decision fatigue and make your vision feel less and less clear. Or, you may end up spending more on a piece you don’t love. 

Living Designs Furniture offers our consultations for free, something other designers charge thousands for. Here are a few reasons to book a free design consultation with us before you begin shopping:

  • Speak with an expert one-on-one to determine your unique needs
  • Consider your lifestyle and what you need from your furniture 
  • Discuss your space’s stylistic goals and size specifications to create a plan
  • Establish a budget 
  • Share inspiration 
  • Get advice from a design expert who knows the ins and outs of our products

The purpose of our design consultations is to make sure that you feel confident that you’re making the right furniture purchases, and that you end up with the right pieces. We understand that furniture is an investment in your home, and we want to do everything we can to ensure that your furniture shopping experience is as seamless and satisfying as possible.

People looking at couch fabric samples

Tip #4: Research furniture financing options

While finding the right furniture for your home is an investment, you should not have to sacrifice your budget to bring your vision to life. On top of our lower, factory-direct prices, Living Designs Furniture also offers in-store furniture financingto help you pay for your furniture at your own pace. 

We have partnered with Synchrony to provide up to 60 months of interest-free financing* for our customers so that you can enjoy quality, handmade furniture without breaking the bank. You can apply online in advance today in as little as 5-10 minutes!

*On qualifying purchases of $499 or more with your Synchrony HOME Credit Card.

Living Designs Furniture is the best furniture store in Houston for new homeowners

New homeowners, we understand that choosing what type of furniture to put in your new home can be an overwhelming experience, but we are here to make that process more enjoyable and attainable. Remember, it’s not just about filling your rooms with furniture — it’s about curating a living space that reflects your personality and meets your lifestyle needs. 

We are one of Houston’s best furniture stores for first-time buyers because we offer what other furniture retailers can’t: top-quality furniture for factory-direct prices, design experts to help you throughout your journey, customization capabilities to make a piece feel truly your own, and fresh, in-stock designs that are always sold for a great price in our showrooms. 

Ready to get started? Book a free design consultation in person at our Downtown Houston showroom to speak with an expert or visit a showroom in Houston or The Woodlands!

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