Purchasing furniture is a big investment, and for most people, it’s something that requires a little bit of planning. If you want to make sure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck on furniture that really suits your space at Marquis at Barton Trails, there are some simple rules to follow. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing new furniture.

1. Measure everything. You always want to measure your space before purchasing large furniture pieces such as a sofa or an area rug. Measure the entire room first, and then determine how much of that space you want the furniture to fill. Finally, take a measuring tape with you to the store and measure the furniture before purchasing.
2. Consider the doorway. Be sure that you can fit the furniture through hallways and into the apartment itself before purchasing.
3. Think of its uses. Will you use your sofa mainly for watching television, or will it be a gathering space for large groups of people? Keep the functionality in mind before making any furniture purchases.
4. Choose high-quality materials. You might be okay with purchasing bargain furniture for your first apartment, but if you really want your furniture to last, it’s best to pay a bit more for high-quality construction. Look for pieces made with real wood, and if it’s a sofa, inspect the seams and cushions to test their quality.

How to Determine Furniture Proportion to a Room [SF Gate]
Choosing the Right Size Sofa: Four Key Questions to Ask Yourself [Apartment Therapy]
Choosing the Right Furniture [Moving.com]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Upstate Options Magazine

While design magazines and blogs make it seem effortless to throw a few things together on a shelf and make it look stylish, in real life, it’s not quite as easy. If you want to learn how to create a magazine-worthy vignette, these simple tips will show you the way.

1. Start with a blank slate. No matter what type of finished product you have in mind, it’s always best to start with a blank surface so that you can really visualize where things will go.
2. Gather complementary colors. Before placing the items in your vignette, make sure that they all look good together. They don’t have to match exactly, but they should look purposeful together.
3. Start with the largest item. Place your largest item first, whether it’s a lamp or a vase of flowers.
4. Think of layers. Place items at varying heights and depths, such as a couple of large frames against the wall and smaller candles at the front. You can also stack books horizontally to offset the vertical items.
5. Play with spacing. Move objects a few times, then step back and admire your work to find the right spacing.
6. Consider texture. Finally, create texture in your vignette. Incorporate lush plants, flowers, feathers or even a woven basket as a finishing touch.

Creating a Well-Styled Table Vignette [Jenna Burger]
8 Tips for Making Beautiful Vignettes [HGTV]
Rule of Three and Odd Numbers [Cecilia Walker Design]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr manu flickr2010

Are you one of those people who walk through the door and drop everything right in the entryway? If you answered yes, you might be looking for ideas for controlling clutter in this high-traffic area. These simple tips will show you how to control all of those shoes, bags, keys, and other essentials that tend to accumulate right inside the front door.

1. Add hooks. Whether you have an overflowing hall closet or no closet at all, adding simple hooks somewhere that you can easily reach them makes it much simpler to store your jacket, scarf, keys, or purse when you enter the house.
2. Add bins. For your shoes, add a few large bins or one long, low bench where people can store their shoes without them amassing a large, unruly pile. You can usually find this type of storage containers at the flea market, thrift store, or any home goods store.
3. Try out a locker. For more serious storage, hunt for a row of vintage lockers that will keep everything in place (and also create a cool, industrial look).
4. Add a key hook. If you frequently lose your keys, try adding another, smaller row of hooks where you can easily store them every time you come home.

Entryway Ideas [Martha Stewart]
5 Tips for a Clutter-Free Entryway [PopSugar]
Organizing Your Entryway, Hall or Mudroom [Dorothy the Organizer]

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