Each year, more than 40 million American households undertake a home improvement project. The construction, furniture, and interior design industries have sky rocketed making the sight of a mega-hardware store like Home Depot around the corner just as common as McDonald’s. Here are some Home Decorating tips for going solo on a project and buying furniture:

Top 10 Home Decorating Tips:

1) Set a budget and stick to it no matter how much you like that armoire!
2)Set aside a block of time you’re willing to dedicate to the project each week
3)Get your friends and family to help, that’s what they’re for!
4)Have everything bought before pounding in the first nail.
5)Read the manuals, do your homework.
6)Clip out designs and setups you like from home magazines.
7)Don’t do anything extreme before getting the opinion of friends (paint does not come off easily!)
8)If the job because too big, don’t hesitate to hire a professional.
9)Safety first - hire a professional for any electrical, landscape, and plumbing work.
10)Have fun – decorating should not be a chore; it should be a labor of love.

Top 10 tips on how to buy furniture:

1)Do not skimp out on the price – furniture from cheap outlets are often defective, uncomfortable, and unsightly.
2)Have a budget set beforehand – salespeople are skilled at promoting and selling the most expensive piece on the lot, don’t give in to the temptation, have a price range in mind.
3)Go with your gut feeling – if you like a piece, indulge yourself but don’t buy furniture just because the price looks nice. Remember that you will be using it for a very long time (hopefully).
4)Shop around and wait for major sales
5)Don’t let your money pay for BMWs – many of the overrated galleries and stores sell almost the same styles and design as less-expensive, national brands.
6)Be wary of antiques – not only are antique furniture are to match and form an aesthetically pleasing set, you can easily be scammed. Bring a knowledgeable friend along.
7)Flea markets can have nice finds, just make sure it’s not junk but something that’s of value.
8)Don’t get suckered into buying an extended warranty.
9)Haggle! – negotiate, bargain, most salespeople have a certain bottom line above which they’re quite flexible. Just make sure you’re nice about it.
10)Try to buy a whole set at once – not only do you get a better deal, you save on delivery charges.