I’ll admit, one of the most overwhelming and intimidating parts of decorating is picking out furniture and decor. The stakes are high because you don’t want to waste money and get something you’ll regret a few months later. Things like dining tables and sofas are not cheap, so you don’t want to buy the wrong item and then be stuck with it.

We’ve all been there before. You finally found an accent chair you like and after much thought, you decide to buy it. Once you get it home, you realize it’s a little too big, or maybe the color doesn’t quite go with the rest of the pieces in your room. So you decide to move it around your house, trying to find a spot for your chair in another room, but nothing seems to work. You wonder if maybe you should paint it or reupholster it? But what color? Ultimately, you’re not happy with how the chair looks in any room in your home, and now you’re suffering design regret and wish you never bought it in the first place. The worst part is, now you have to start all over, searching for a new chair to fit the original place you intended for it to sit.

As annoying and frustrating (not to mention costly!) this is, it happens ALL the time for people. I was on that vicious cycle myself a couple years ago, going back and forth between what I wanted and not really knowing what furniture or decor looked right together. I’d bring a piece home I thought might work, and sure enough, a few months later, I’d be wishing I got something else and regretted my decision. This is why I went through 3 coffee tables in just 2 years. Yes, 3!

Who has that kind of time and money to waste on this whole “trial and error” process? Not me!

Related Post: Your Guide to Shopping for Furniture Online + My Favorite Resources

After a while of this back and forth cycle, I realized it was always the same contributing factors that caused me to regret my decisions that I could have easily avoided in the first place. So I came up with 3 questions to ask yourself before buying anything to avoid that design regret and make sure you get something you actually will love for the long-term.

Just asking yourself these questions first can save you a bunch of time and money because you aren’t wasting time looking for pieces that won’t work in your home or that you’ll regret. You can totally write them down on a note in your phone so you can refer back to the questions next time you’re contemplating buying something. They are so ingrained in me now, I just automatically rule anything out right away if they don’t meet all criteria from each of the 3 questions.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself First to Make Sure You Choose the Right Furniture and Decor for Your Home

Does it Align with Your Style?

First and foremost, whatever it is you’re considering, needs to align with your decorating style. Your decorating style ensures that it truly feels like you, and not something you’ll tire of quickly. You also want to make sure it will go with the rest of your furniture and decor in your home so it doesn’t feel out of place or totally random. Sticking to your signature style keeps you to a cohesive look that flows nicely, and of course, reflects you.

Do You Genuinely LOVE It?

In other words, are you buying it just to cross it off your list, or are you buying it because you truly love it and it’s exactly what you were looking for? It’s easy to settle for something so you can finish your space and move on, but if you don’t love the piece, you will always keep an eye out for something else and never feel satisfied with it. Searching for the right piece requires lots of patience, but you’ll be much happier in the end if you wait until you find something that truly makes you happy.

Is it Exactly What You Wanted?

If you don’t know what you want, then take a step back and find out exactly what it is you need, or you’re setting up yourself for design regret. Think about the functionality of your space first and determine your needs. How do you use the space? Are there certain requirements you must have? How big does it need to be? What color? Is it big enough store everything? The more specific about your needs you are upfront, the easier it is to choose the right piece.

If you completely forget to think about size and how big you need something to be, you will be disappointed when you bring it home and realize it doesn’t quite meet your expectations. It’s super important to measure everything you’re considering buying, so you know if it fits the space appropriately.  When you’re shopping in store, bring a tape measure and make sure you measured your space beforehand so you know what you’re working with. If you’re shopping online, check the specs for dimensions. A few years ago I failed to measure properly before we bought our first couch and when we brought it home, it turned out to be way too big for the space. I had measured our room beforehand, but I forgot to take into consideration that we needed space for a walkway as well. Needless to say, it was a tight squeeze and we ended up getting a new couch just a year and a half later because the other one just didn’t work and was too big. So let that be a lesson to you to always make sure it checks all the boxes and is what you need AND is the right size for your space.

If you ask yourself these 3 questions before buying a big ticket item like a couch or dining table or even a statement chandelier, and can easily say yes to each question, then you’re good to go! You can relax knowing you’re making a good decision you’ll love. If you answer no to at least one, then you may want to reconsider your choice and look for something else.

Searching for the right piece of furniture takes some time, but these 3 things are critical in making sure you choose the right pieces that mesh with your style and home that fit your needs, and can save you tons of time by not having to make trips back to the store for returns. Plus, you’ll be much happier at the end with your beautifully decorated space!

What is your biggest regret you’ve purchased?