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Choose The Right Type of Wood 

Hardwood
The term refers to all leaf-bearing trees rather than any degree of hardness. Those most often used in furniture construction include ash, birch, butternut, cherry, gum, mahogany, maple, oak, pecan, rosewood, teak, walnut and yellow poplar.

Softwood 
Trees with needles or foliage that remains green year round. These include cedar, fir, pine and spruce.

How the Wood Is Used
Woods for Frame Construction 
Ash, gum and yellow poplar are often used in frame construction and other interior areas for their strength, stability and shock absorption qualities.

Woods for Exterior Surface 
Cabinet woods are those used on exterior surfaces and must be carefully worked, carved, finished and polished. Cabinet woods include birch, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, pecan and walnut.

Wood Preparation 
Wood contains natural moisture which accounts for as much as one-third of the total weight of lumber when it is first received. The curing of lumber requires tremendous care and expertise.

The wood is air dried three to six months, depending on the thickness of the wood. It is then placed in a dry kiln for two to eight weeks. A moisture content of six to eight percent assures the stability of the finished furniture, in either humid or desert climates.

After the lumber is properly dried, it is planed and cut to various widths and lengths and then matched for color. Even within the same tree, color varies greatly.

The word "solid" as used in the furniture industry may be confusing because both types - solid and veneered - are of solid wood construction. 

Solid Wood Furniture 
Solid is used to describe furniture with drawer fronts, tops, panels and other like surfaces made of whole wood, or of one piece, without plies of veneer.

Solid wood surfaces are composed of narrow solid wood planks, bonded permanently together, side by side. These planks serve to prevent splitting and warping when temperatures change and when the wood naturally expands and contracts. They also provide decorative variation.

Veneered Wood Furniture 
In veneer construction, layers of woods are permanently bonded to a center core on a solid wood frame. Veneering permits matching and repeating grain patterns that are impossible in solid lumber.

Veneering is used in about 80 percent of wood furniture, from the least to the most expensive, because of its strength and added versatility. 

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You don't have to be an artist to use color effectively if you understand the relationship of colors to each other 
 
 A color wheel will help you select colors that work well together. Here are some examples of harmonious color schemes.

Monochromatic Scheme 
Select variations in lightness and saturation of a single color from the color wheel. This look is subtle, elegant and sophisticated. It is a calm scheme that forms an excellent background for accessories and collections. 

Related Scheme 
Choose colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Decide which color will be dominant and use the others as accents. A related scheme using cool colors is restful, since there is not much contrast. On the other hand, a related scheme can also become quite exciting when violet and red or pink and orange are combined. 

Complementary Scheme 
Complementary colors are those opposite each other on the color wheel: red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange. Complementary color schemes are uncommon, can be very lively and often are accented with white. 

How to Incorporate Neutrals 
Neutrals include grays, beiges, taupes, off-whites, stark white and black. Depending on how they are used, neutrals can balance strong colors or be incorporated as effective contrasts and dramatic elements.

Use Color to Maximize Space 
Lighter colors are expansive, making the room appear larger. In some cases, you may consider using a combination of colors to create an illusion. For example, if the ceiling is too high, paint it a darker or brighter color to contrast with a lighter or cooler wall color. The reverse will make ceilings appear higher.

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Guidelines for Arranging Furniture 
Begin by identifying a focal point for the room - a favorite piece of furniture, a beautiful view, and entertainment center for the new plasma screen TV. Then, arrange the room around it, with consideration of how the family actually lives in the room.

Here are some basic guidelines:

Allow 2 inches between furniture and walls.

Plan at least 3 feet of clear space behind every chair at the dining table or a desk so that the chair may be easily pulled out for sitting.

Allow space for all doors to open and close. On your floor plan, draw an arc from the door frame which follows how the door opens.

Plan a 3-foot wide passageway through the room, but not through the furniture groupings.

Allow 1-2 feet of floor space in front of chairs and sofas.

Room Dividers 
A sofa works well to divide a room into separate areas. Use the back of the sofa as a divider, placing other furniture against it. Chests, buffets, and bookcases can also serve as room dividers.

Lighting 
Place a lamp next to every chair or seat for adequate reading or working light. A table or flat surface should be within easy reach of every seat.

Signs of Quality
The various sections of furniture should be joined firmly and securely. A well constructed chest or table remains rigid when you place your hand on the top surface and try to rock it.

Unexposed parts should be sanded smooth.

Back panels should fit well and be smoothly finished.

Doors and drawers should operate with ease, and be flush with the surface when closed.

Dust panels between drawers are very desirable features because they serve to seal each unit.

Drawers should be constructed with interlocking dovetail joints.

The finish should feel smooth and free of any rough spots.

Attached labels may describe the color of the finish, for example, as a "fruitwood finish" or a "walnut finish". This terminology is used to describe the finish color and does not necessarily identify the species of wood used.

Look for a lined silver drawer in dining room buffets and credenzas.

Lights and glass shelves in china cabinets and hutch tops enhance the display of art objects as well as china and glass. This versatility is particularly important when the living-dining area is essentially one. Glass side panels in these pieces are also an added asset, and an unusual quality feature.

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Furniture Care
To protect your new furniture, we suggest the following:

• Do not place your furniture in direct sunlight and/or a damp area.
• Arrange your furniture so it is not placed in front of or over heating or air conditioning vents.
• Avoid placing furniture directly under windows.
• Be careful not to place plastic materials (place mats, lamp bases, notebooks, etc.) on your furniture. Certain plastics have ingredients that may react with and damage the finish.
• Occasionally rotate accessories so they do not remain in the same spot for extended periods.
• Avoid creating marks on your furniture by placing a piece of felt, cloth or leather under accessories.
• Lift objects from the top surface rather than dragging them across the finish when moving them.
• Use a protective pad when using your furniture as a writing surface (especially when using a ballpoint pen).
• Wipe up spills promptly. Water left over a prolonged period of time will cause white spots in the finish, and alcohol, perfume, after-shave and medicines can cause severe damage to the finish.
• Dust frequently with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. To remove accumulated dust or old furniture wax build-up, use a soft, lint-free cloth which has been dampened in a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Dry thoroughly using a clean, lint-free cloth and then apply furniture polish, wiping it in the direction of the wood grain.
• We recommend that furniture be polished every six months.

Before You Buy a Sofa
From Coral Nafie,

While it is important to get a sofa in just the right color, it is just as important to get one that will last. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop springs, and look out of shape within a year of constant use. Quality construction will offer years of enjoyment and has enough good "bones" to allow you to recover it periodically.

Choose the Style of Cushions

First decide if you prefer the look of loose back cushions or attached. Loose cushions give you the option of turning the pillows as needed, while attached backs won't need fluffing or rearranging. Be sure to sit in the sofa you are considering. Is it comfortable? Are the arms the right height for taking a nap or reading a book?

How Many Cushions?

How many seat cushions would you like? One cushion offers a clean modern look while two or three are traditional. When you sit on the cushions, do they stay in place or do the corners flare up? Are they attached to the frame with a clip to hold them down?

What style of arm do you like?

Choose an arm style: armless, traditional rolled arm, curved English arm, or a straight Parsons style. The rolled arm has a flat front panel and is often outlined in cording. English style is rounded at the front, with fabric formed into sunburst-type pleats. Straight arm sofas are most often seen in contemporary settings. 

Skirted or Bare Legs?

Do you want a skirted sofa or one with the visible legs? Choose from leg styles that vary from heavy square chunks and wide bun feet to more delicate tapered legs or carved and curved formal versions. Legs are usually available in a number of finishes as well.

Understand Frame Construction

Ask about the construction of a sofa under consideration. The best are made from kiln-dried hardwoods (oak, maple, poplar, etc.), while inexpensive furniture is made from softer pine lumber. Interior construction is important as well. Cheap furniture is stapled together and has haphazardly constructed corner bracing. Better frames are securely screwed together.

Understand Seat Construction

Find out how the seat support system is made. Often a furniture store will have a cutaway model of the interior of upholstered pieces. Does it have quality 8-way tied springs or cheaper wire coils?

Choosing the Cushion and Pillow Filling

The cushion and pillow filling are important to the feel of a sofa. Upholstery foam is inexpensive and comes in several thicknesses and weights, however the best cushions have down fillings. All-down cushions must be fluffed daily, though another option uses down pads wrapped around a core of foam. Understand these options for the sofa you want and which might be best for you. Are the cushions standard or special order, foam or down?

Choose the Fabric

Choose a fabric for your sofa. Chenille is soft and durable while Leather is long-lasting and attractive. Velvets and other fabrics look lovely but may wear out with heavy use over the years. Finally consider options for trimmings. Dress up a sofa with fringed pillows or double welted seams. While these options add to the cost, they also give your piece a one-of-a-kind look. Many furniture manufacturers also offer the option of custom-made slipcovers to give you a seasonal change.