Care & Guidance

Furniture planning and care guides

Explore practical ideas for planning a room, comparing furniture details and caring for your selection.

Hardware & Finishes

• How to Choose Cabinet Hardware That Fits the Furniture and Your Hands
• Plan a Furniture Finish in the Right Order
• Choosing a Stain: Color, Grain and the Wood Underneath
• Choosing Painted Solid-Wood Furniture for Your Room
• Specialty Finishes: Aged, Antiquated, Glazed and Textured Wood
• Two-Tone Furniture: Plan Color Placement Before Choosing the Pair
• Choosing Furniture Wood by Grain and Character
• How to Compare Furniture Samples at Home

Furniture Styles

• Legacy, Transitional, Shaker, Mission and Country: Choosing a Direction
• A Shaker-Inspired Dining Room Without a Bare or Unfinished Feeling
• Planning a Mission-Inspired Room Around Structure and Grain
• How Transitional Furniture Connects Different Pieces in One Room
• A Country-Inspired Dining Room That Works for Everyday Life

Dining Furniture Planning

• Complete Dining Set or Coordinated Pieces: Which Approach Fits Your Home?
• Round or Rectangular Dining Table? Compare the Whole Footprint
• Pedestal, Trestle or Four Legs: Choosing a Dining-Table Base
• Dining-Table Leaves: Plan for Everyday Meals and Larger Gatherings
• Will the Chairs Fit the Table? Measure More Than Seat Height
• Side Chairs or Armchairs? Plan the Seats People Will Actually Use
• Wood or Upholstered Dining Seats? Choose for Your Routine
• Bar Chairs and Swivel Stools: Look Beyond the Product Name
• Counter or Bar Height? A Measurement Plan for Kitchen Seating
• Choosing a Dining-Chair Back: Shape, Support and the View Across the Room
• Buffet, Sideboard or Hutch? Choose Dining Storage by What Goes Inside
• Cabinet Doors and Drawers Need a Room Plan Too

Dining Rooms & Kitchen Spaces

• How to Measure a Dining Room Before Choosing Furniture
• A Small Dining Room That Still Works Every Day
• How to Define a Dining Area in an Open-Plan Room
• Is a Dining Bench Right for Your Table and Household?
• Plan a Hutch Around the Dishes You Want to Store
• Kitchen Island Base Only or Complete Island: Know What You Are Ordering
• Choosing a Kitchen Island Top Starts With Its Job
• Planning a Kitchen Nook That Is Easy to Enter and Use

Bedrooms & Storage

• Plan a Bedroom Set Around Your Daily Routine
• Choosing a Bed Size: Measure the Frame and the Route Into the Room
• Headboard Only or Complete Bed: Make the Connection Clear
• Will a Drawer Bed Work in Your Bedroom?
• Dresser or Chest of Drawers: Which Storage Shape Fits Your Room?
• Six-Drawer or Eight-Drawer Dresser: Look Beyond the Count
• How to Choose a Nightstand That Works Beside Your Bed
• Replacing One Bedroom Piece Without Replacing the Whole Room
• Wardrobe, Armoire or Chifferobe: Start With the Interior
• Place Bedroom Furniture With Windows, Vents and Daily Light in Mind
• A Guest Bedroom That Is Comfortable Without Becoming Overfilled

Home Office

• Choosing a Wood Desk Chair for a Room That Does More Than Work

Furniture Care & Ordering

• Living With Solid Wood Through the Seasons
• An Everyday Care Routine for Finished Wood Furniture
• Plan the Delivery Route Before Ordering Large Furniture
• Review a Made-to-Order Furniture Purchase Before You Place It
• How to Read Furniture Photographs Before Ordering