What is your lifestyle?

Whatever your style, furniture should be comfortable, practical, and reflect your tastes. What is your lifestyle? Are you single? Do you have children and pets, or are your children grown? Are you the old fashioned type, or are you high tech? Do you like rich, bold colors and patterns, or soft neutral tones? Ask yourself these questions as you shop for furniture, and try to look at a wide selection of styles to find the one that is right for you.

If you are single or your children are grown, your choice of furniture style might be either formal or casual depending on your lifestyle. For instance, if you entertain with elegant dinner parties, you might want to choose a traditional style of furniture and delicate fabrics. If you entertain with barbeques and buffets, you would probably choose a more casual style with easy care fabrics.

If you have children or pets, you may want a casual or informal style, but it is a myth that you can't have nice looking furniture if you have children and pets. Chose a style that you like, one that is well constructed, with a durable finish and easy to care for fabric. You may even want to mix styles using color, texture and fabric. For instance, you may have a living room that is only used for guests and special occasions. The fabric choices would be very different from those used in the family room where Fido sleeps on the sofa and the family gathers around the coffee table for pizza. Even if the furniture style is the same, the effect is different.

If comfort and relaxation is the key to your furnishings, consider casual styles with oversized chairs with thick rolled arms, and sofas with cushions that you can snuggle down into. If you like to kick back in that recliner, but space is a problem, consider some of the wall hugger models that can be placed as close to the wall as a regular chair or sofa. All of these pieces are available in a wide range of styles and offer a variety of fabric choices.

Do you prefer large, massive pieces, or do you prefer smaller, more delicate pieces? For instance, if you collect Southwestern style art and pottery, a Southwestern style wall unit may suit your tastes. On the other hand, if your tastes are more ecclectic, you may prefer a modern or contemporaty style with lighted shelves enclosed with glass doors.

Most people are neither casual or formal, but a combination of styles. When you shop for furniture chose a style that will make a statement, reflect your tastes and fulfill your needs. Think about what you are going to use it for today, and what you may use it for in a few years. Furniture is not only an investment, but something that should be used and enjoyed.

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