Essential Elements

It used to be so simple. Furnishing your first apartment meant snaring a few stray chairs from Mom, offering to take that ratty sofa-bed off Aunt Mary's hands, buying a table from a thrift store, throwing a few big pillows on the floor and building some makeshift bookcases out of plywood and cinderblock. Add a blender for margaritas and a microwave for popcorn and you were home, sweet home.

Then it all changed. You grew up, became respectable and bought your first house or condo. Suddenly, your make-do décor seemed less shabby chic and more just shabby. And that's when you first found yourself perusing catalogs and wandering through furniture stores, dazzled and confused.

There's no question—collecting a household full of furniture can be a daunting task. First there's the sticker shock. Quality furniture is rarely inexpensive. But even if you've wrapped your mind around writing four-figure checks, there is the seemingly infinite number of choices. Throw in your acquired notions of comfort and beauty, plus the decorating fantasies of your significant other, and it's enough to send you to the nearest easy chair. It's no wonder most people spend years amassing a houseful of "good" furniture.

If you're in the throes of redecorating or upgrading your home furnishing portfolio, Northeast Florida decorators have a little advice: Take a deep breath. Creating an interior you love while avoiding expensive mistakes isn't as difficult as it seems. The important thing is to buy a few good, versatile pieces that can take on different looks and functions as your decorating schemes and tastes evolve. Think of these pieces as the little black dresses of the furniture world—basics that can be dressed up or down, trendy or elegant, as the occasion demands.

So what classic pieces do the experts suggest? Read on.

Sitting pretty

Adequate seating can make the difference between a rousing good time, with after-dinner conversation that continues into the wee hours, and a dud of a gathering that mercifully disperses in time for everyone to catch Survivor.

But even if you don't have space for more than one or two armchairs in your living room, you can augment seating with occasional chairs. "Smaller side chairs in upholstery groups are extremely versatile," says Karen Schindler, director of visual merchandising at Ashley Furniture Home Stores in Jacksonville. "I use them as dining room chairs and also have a few in my kitchen and my bedroom. They can be pulled into the living room or great room for extra seating. And if you want to change the look you can always throw a slipcover over them."

Donna Kaldau, Allied ASID, owner of Norwalk: The Furniture Idea, suggests investing in a Bergere chai—a low-profile, wood-framed armchair with an upholstered seat. "A classic Bergere chair can fit into any décor—French country, Mediterranean, even contemporary," Kaldau says. "They never go out of style and can fit into any room. I even have them in my family room. They're dressed down with plaid upholstery."

Although Kaldau sings the praises of side chairs, she believes a well-dressed home begins with a well-chosen anchor: A good sofa.

"A neutral sofa provides a backdrop for the whole room," Kaldau says. "It's the centerpiece.

"With pillows and throws you can change the look from formal to casual. By changing the look of the sofa, you can change the look of the whole room."

Kaldau suggests going with a well-made sofa in a classic shape. Neutral shades, such as light or dark beige, tan, white, brown or sage green allow more versatility. For example, the sofa can always move to a study or even a bedroom if you get a bigger house or decide to redecorate, she notes.

Amy Hiday, design consultant for Liberty Furniture, encourages homeowners to consider how and how often a sofa or other piece will be used. "You should never scrimp where the family congregates," Hiday says. "A lot of people put more money in their formal living room, but that room doesn't get nearly as much use. It's better to invest in the room your family will use and enjoy."

If you can't decorate and furnish your whole house at once, Hiday suggests completing the great room or family room first, followed by the casual dining room and the master bedroom. "I find it makes people feel better about their homes if those rooms are fully furnished," she says. "Once the rooms you really use are done, you can skip around to complete the remainder."

Tabling the motion

Formal dining room furniture is a major investment that should be carefully considered, say designers. Whether purchased as a set or as coordinating pieces, dining room furniture will remain with most families for 20 years or more.

Consequently, say experts, take your time and buy a table and side pieces you love. And spend enough to get top quality.

But beyond that major outlay, many smaller wood pieces can serve multiple functions in an evolving household.

"A console table is a great investment," says Sherry Marshe, Allied ASID, of Hugo's. "A solid wood table that's not too deep, maybe with a drawer for storage, can be used behind the sofa. It can also be used against the wall in the living room or as a hall table or in the dining room as a buffet."

Similarly, Ashley Furniture's Schindler suggests smaller tables that can make the transition from end tables to nightstands.

"For extra storage, look for pieces that have drawers or shelves or a cabinet," Schindler says. "Pieces like that are invaluable. You can even put them in the kitchen or dining room to store placemats."

Small drawer chests also can serve many of the same functions as tables, occupying a bare spot in the hallway or serving as storage for sweaters or silver in a bedroom or dining room respectively.

"A nice three or four-drawer Bombay chest will never go out of style," says Kaldau. "You can put the chest between two chairs instead of an end table. It can add interest to a large master bath or hold games and puzzles in the family room."

Kaldau and other designers say it's important to buy pieces made of good quality hardwood, preferably in a medium-toned finish.

"You can mix woods in a room, but if you want a piece to be versatile, I'd stay away from a finish with a lot of red in it," Kaldu says. "A nice medium brown wood, like a walnut, is always good."

Hugo's Marshe, on the other hand, suggests furnishings made of mahogany, which she calls "the most timeless wood."

But whatever wood strikes your fancy, only the most well-constructed pieces will remain useful and attractive for many years. So, adds Hiday, be especially demanding about craftsmanship.

"Look at the drawers," says Hiday. "They should pull out smoothly and be sturdy. They should be dovetailed and not stapled. Construction is very important."

Accentuate the positive

Other pieces that can move around the house as needs change, say designers, are low benches (for hallways, the foot of a bed, against a living room wall) and small writing desks. Marshe suggest adding a nice black-and-gold framed mirror that can be hung vertically or horizontally to the mix. She also notes that original art, particularly if it reflects the taste and personality of the homeowner, is important to any decorating scheme.

"Original art is unique," Marshe says. "People put a lot of thought into purchases of original art, and it says something about them."

And that, say designers, is perhaps the most important test of a good furniture purchase. It should say something about the owner. "It bothers me if I'm working with someone and they're not falling in love with the pieces we pick," says Kaldau. "If you fill your home with pieces you love, I think you experience more joy being there."

Even if a must-have piece turns out to be your grandmother's Rhode Island-sized tester bed, an ornate, towering china hutch, a carved ebony bar or some other room-massive object offering little versatility, don't worry.

"If you really fall in love with something, nothing else is going to matter," says Schindler. "What's important is to make that piece the focal point of the room, and to build around it. Everything else should support and not detract from that piece. It's like a wedding-you want the bride to shine and everything else has to take a backseat."