Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. You re-painted the living room and now you can t stand your old furniture. Well, you re in luck. Lots of new imports means there s never been a better time to buy furniture. Before you shop til you drop, though, do some online research. Find out what pieces you like and locate showrooms where you can try them out in person. Bring paint chips and fabric samples with you. If you re going to be living with this piece for years, you shouldn t just go by the picture: Quality of construction and comfort are something you need to see for yourself. If you have kids, pets or you like entertaining, be sure to find out how easy or how difficult it s going to be to clean the piece you re considering. And think of all the places in your home where it could come in handy. Years down the line when you re furnishing a teenagers basement hangout or an in-law apartment, you ll be glad you chose something versatile and durable. Measure your room to be sure that big sectional couch will fit where you want it without looking too big or too small for the room and to make sure it ll fit through the door! There are some great room planning tools available online to make buying furniture easy. You can map out your room, enter your measurements and try out the different pieces and configurations until you know what works in your space before you buy. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Use safety brackets to secure heavy furniture to the wall and prevent accidental injury to children.

Keep these things in mind when you need to repair old furniture. First, make sure you've removed all the old glue from the joint. Then check the joint to be sure there are no gaps you need to fill before gluing. Apply your glue, then clasp the joint. Be careful not to bruise the wood; use wooden pads if you need to. Wipe off all the excess glue and allow plenty of drying time.