Living room furniture is a beast not easily tamed. For every right combination there’s a wrong combination, and there are so many variables to consider when shopping, that even the most confident individual or couple can easily become commitment-phobic. Sure, you can look at living room furniture as nothing but something to sit on, with a few accent items to lay stuff on, but we all know it is so much more than a simple issue of practicality. Living room furniture should be an extension of your space, complementing it, so people will compliment it, yes? Let’s consider a few things, as well as a few places to score the best deals on living room furniture.

The Practicality of Living Room Furniture – Oh, the 101 variables of buying living room furniture: Are you single, a couple, do you have children? Is this a permanent residence? A house, apartment or townhouse/condo? How big is your space? What type of interior design scheme is already present?

There are so many things to consider, but here is the most important: What do you find comfortable and enjoyable? That’s what it all boils down to. When shopping for living room furniture, you should offer a little more weight to practicality over style, but in that, you’ll likely find a nice marriage of the two. Be patient in your search and you’ll eventually score the living room furniture that is ideal for your space.

Next, identify a few of your likes and dislikes and go wild. If you’re in a temporary housing situation, there’s no need to invest in lavish or expensive living room furniture. Consider what you might find on Craigslist or eBay, and go from there. (Two of the greatest conversation pieces in my family’s household were both purchased from eBay.) If you’re into vintage mis-matched pieces, this is one of the best places to shop! If you don’t have a huge budget to shop with, this is also a great place to find your accent pieces, if you feel you want or need them.

Furnishing your Living Room with a Great Investment – Living room furniture plays multiple roles. Sure, it’s a place to sit or lie down, enjoy a snack, take a nap or enjoy some great conversation, but it will also serve as your movie theater seats, guest entertainment area and it could potentially become the key aspect to “Sleep-over Central,” if you have kiddos. When shopping, you’ll want to consider that you’re investing in something that needs to stand the test of time, or at least wear well while it’s being abused.

Great Places to Purchase Living Room Furniture – Nearly every home furnishing retailer will offer something that piques your interest, or guides you toward an easier online shopping experience.

If you’re looking for everything from a sectional sofa to an entertainment center, you can check out IKEA, if you’re into minimalistic design and live near a retail location. You might also try Living Spaces, a monster retailer that offers a little something to everyone. Further, Pottery Barn definitely offers a niche style to the right person, as does Pier 1 Imports. For something a little more lavish, Restoration Hardware will offer a premium hook up as well.

Other popular retailers have all but become forgotten entities—Sears and JC Penney are still great places to get the most bang for your buck. Especially if you’re looking for a sectional that will need to endure some wear and tear from high traffic and sit rates.