5 Common Mistakes People Make When Shopping for Living Room Furniture

“Well, that didn’t turn out like I imagined.”

That’s the sentence quietly muttered by many homeowners a few weeks after their new furniture arrives. The sofa looked perfect online, but now it swallows half the room. The coffee table legs keep catching their shins. The accent chair, while gorgeous, never gets sat in.

If this sounds familiar—you’re not alone.

Buying furniture for your living room isn’t always straightforward. With so many colors, styles, measurements, and materials to consider, it’s easy to get swept up in what looks good in the showroom (or on your screen) and forget how it will live in your space.

So before you make your next trip to a furniture store, here are five of the most common mistakes people make—and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Scale and Proportion

“It looked smaller in the store.”

This is the most common refrain, especially when buying from a large showroom or online listing. Retail spaces are designed with high ceilings and wide floor plans. In that context, even a sectional the size of a small boat looks manageable.

But once it’s inside your living room?

It might block pathways, cover windows, or make the room feel claustrophobic. Scale matters, and so does proportion relative to other pieces.

Avoid this by:

• Measuring your room before shopping
• Using painter’s tape to mock up furniture outlines on your floor
• Bringing those measurements to the store and comparing them in person

At What’s New Furniture, sales teams often suggest mapping out your space first—because style without spatial harmony quickly becomes visual clutter.

Mistake #2: Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Function

“I love how it looks—but I never use it.”

There’s always that one piece—the sculptural chair in the corner that nobody ever touches, or the coffee table that’s too low to comfortably use. These are the “Instagram purchases”—furniture bought for its visual appeal without a clear role in daily life.

While aesthetics are important, your living room is a functional zone. You’ll use it to relax, host, snack, stretch out, scroll, snooze, and maybe even work from home.

Avoid this by:

• Asking yourself how you really use the space
• Sitting, lounging, and stretching on showroom models
• Opting for materials that suit your lifestyle (e.g., kid-friendly fabrics, pet-resistant upholstery)

The best furniture isn’t just beautiful—it’s quietly brilliant at serving your routine.

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Flow

“Why is everyone walking around the couch like it’s a traffic cone?”

A common oversight: buying pieces that don’t leave enough room for movement. You might have space for that grand sectional on paper—but will people have to sidestep around it constantly?

Living rooms need circulation. The ability to move freely through and around furniture impacts both comfort and safety.

Avoid this by:

• Leaving at least 24–36 inches of space between furniture and walls or walkways
• Considering how people enter and exit the room
• Thinking in terms of zones (seating, storage, TV viewing) and ensuring flow between them

Any experienced furniture store will help you model out walking space when reviewing layout plans—not just seating arrangements.

Mistake #4: Buying Everything at Once (And Matching Too Much)

“It’s all the same wood, the same fabric, the same…everything.”

It’s tempting to go all-in and buy a matching living room set. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it looks pulled together. But full sets often lack personality—and buying everything at once can lead to oversights.

Maybe that oversized loveseat feels redundant. Or maybe the matching coffee table blocks your rug design. When all your furniture speaks the same design language, nothing gets a chance to stand out.

Avoid this by:

• Building your room over time, starting with anchor pieces (like the sofa)
• Mixing materials—wood, metal, fabric—for layered interest
• Thinking in textures and tones rather than rigid match-ups

Some furniture stores, like What’s New Furniture, curate their displays with this variety in mind—showing how contrast creates cohesion rather than conflict.

Mistake #5: Skipping the Sit Test

“It looked great online… until I actually sat on it.”

Online shopping is convenient, but comfort is personal. A seat that’s too deep for one person might be perfect for another. A back cushion that looks plush may actually collapse under use.

The sit test isn’t just about softness. It’s about posture, support, depth, and the way your body fits into the design. The best furniture adapts to you, not the other way around.

Avoid this by:

• Sitting on every piece for at least a few minutes in different positions
• Checking how your feet touch the floor, how your back aligns, and how the cushion responds
• Asking about cushion fill, frame support, and suspension system—not just fabric or color

If comfort matters to you (and it should), prioritize showrooms where you’re encouraged to take your time—not just browse from a distance.

Final Thought: Your Living Room, Your Rules (With a Bit of Guidance)

Designing a living room isn’t about following a template. It’s about discovering how you want to feel in your space—and making thoughtful decisions that support that.

Yes, mistakes happen. But with a little foresight, a tape measure, and a mindset that balances form with function, your next furniture purchase can become one of your favorite daily rituals—not a regret waiting to happen.

And if you’re unsure where to start, walking into a thoughtfully curated furniture store like What’s New Furniture can help guide the process. Because the best spaces don’t come from perfection—they come from pieces chosen with care, intention, and a vision that reflects you.