Purchasing furniture is one of the priciest investments that you make in your home, so you likely want to keep it looking as good as new. Follow these smart tips for preventing stains, rips, and other signs of wear and tear on your new furniture.

1. Invest in high-quality pieces. First and foremost, investing in good quality furniture is one of the very best ways to ensure that it keeps its original look for years to come.
2. Protect your fabrics and upholstery. When you first purchase a new rug or upholstered sofa, pay a bit extra to have a professional administer a protective coating to repel stains.
3. Flip sofa cushions. By flipping your sofa cushions monthly, you can distribute the weight from frequent use to multiple parts of the cushion.
4. Minimize eating in the living room. If you’re already trying to break this bad habit, just imagine a food stain on your brand new sofa for a bit of extra motivation.
5. Tackle stains immediately. Whether it’s on a rug or the sofa, the most important way to prevent permanent staining is by addressing it immediately so that it can’t sink into the fabric. Read the care instructions on your furniture or rugs when you purchase them so that you know exactly how to remove that red wine stain before it inflicts major damage.

How to Keep Your Furniture Looking Like New [WikiHow]
4 Steps to Keep Your Furniture Looking New [Apartment Therapy]
Keep Your Sofa Looking Like New in 3 Easy Steps! [Shofer’s]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/horiavarlan

No matter the shape or size of your closet, there are ways to make it work for you (and your wardrobe). Here are a few smart tips for creating a space for every sweater, shoe, and t-shirt in your closet.

1. Add shelves. If your current closet only contains a few clothing rods, you’re not getting the most out of the space. Hang some sturdy shelves along the sides or in any unused space underneath your clothing in order to store shoes and other small, folded items.
2. Pack away out-of-season items. If your closet is overrun by winter coats that go unworn in the summertime, considering storing them in vacuum-sealed bags under the bed or on a shelf.
3. Use tie and scarf hangers. If your ties and scarves are creating a tangled mess in your closet, invest in some hangers designed specifically for separating these items.
4. Purchase storage boxes. Affordable storage boxes are available at just about every home goods store, and they can be stacked neatly on a shelf to minimize clutter. Use these to store things like scarves, hats, socks, and other small items.
5. Give it a good cleaning. Finally, one of the best ways to clean your closet for good is by sorting through your clothes and donating all of the unworn items. As a general rule, donate anything that you haven’t worn in six months.

How to Gain More Closet Space Without Renovating [This Old House]
Maximizing Your Closet Space [Martha Stewart]
Maximize Small Spaces: 8 Revamps for Your Closet [HGTV]
10 Tips for Maximizing Closet Space [Apartment Therapy]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/kthread