Comparison Shopping is the Ideal Way to Achieve Your Decorating Dreams

Find the Perfect Item at the Perfect Price

Use comparison shopping to foster your creativity and amaze your family and friends with the scope of your creative ideas. Once you have answered the questionnaire connected to the room you are thinking of decorating in your home, you'll find it is inspirational(and great fun too) to take a day, or an afternoon if that's what you can fit in, for yourself and do what I like to call "Dream Shopping."

Plan a day when you won't have any other commitments, invite a friend if you wish and make lunch part of your day. The purpose here is to take time to immerse yourself into the world of home decorating. It will be a day to set yourself free from previous prejudices and limitations. This is going to be a day when you let yourself be a child again and enjoy all that could be. You are going to have a price comparison shopping expedition that rivals your wildest dreams. Pack your tool kit and with plan in hand set out to explore the world of home decorating with a comparison shopping experience.

The number one rule today is that you are not going to spend any money. You have in your imagination a platinum credit card with no limit. You can buy anything you want with no worries and you never have to pay for it.

That being said, do not limit yourself to places you feel you can afford. Remember that this is a comparison shopping experience. Go to the biggest, best, poshest shops in town. Remember that anyone in the world can walk in to any store in the world and window shop. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell them you're a tourist and are just browsing.

Ask if they'd mind if you took some pictures to get your spouse's opinion. I have never yet had anyone refuse this request. Be sure and take notes so that when you get your pictures printed you can write all the shopping information on the back. Note the store location, price, and any other comparison shopping ideas you may want to refer to later.

Start with some furniture shopping. Look around and get a feel for different styles. Take notes of what appeals to you. Take pictures of arrangements you like. Note how accessories are used and placed. It doesn't matter at this point if you are totally enthralled by a country bedroom in this corner, but love the traditional one on the next floor. For now, just totally enjoy the comparison shopping experience. Dream, fantasize, and let your imagination run free. There'll be time later to rein in these dreams and get a look you love on your budget, but on this day, we are exploring new territory and searching for gold.

Become familiar with and learn to recognize quality

If you are looking at wood furniture:

Note the construction of the dining room tables. Don't be afraid to look under them and see how they are constructed and what type of bracing is used. Move the table.

• Is it sturdy?
• Will it move as people sit down at it or put an item on it?
• Note the weight and sturdiness of coffee and end tables.

Check out bureaus and cabinets. Open drawers and doors to see how they are assembled.

• Are they dovetailed, or are the sides merely stapled together?
• Open and close draws in cabinets to see how smoothly they operate. Note if there is a center slide in the draw to keep it straight when it's opened and closed.
• Are the doors hung correctly. Do they open smoothly, or are they crooked and hard to keep closed?
• Are the edges sanded to a smooth finish or would you get splinters from them if you weren't careful?

How about the hardware?

• Are the handles and knobs securely attached?
• Will you have to replace them in a short time because they are of inferior quality?

Be sure to check out the beds

• If the bed squeaks, not a good thing!
• Does it move when you move? If so, move on.
• Check the bracing. Is it sturdy or merely stapled?

If you are checking out the upholstered furniture:

Feel its weight and strength. Run your hands over the fabric.

• Is this a feel you could live with?
• Would it be warm in winter, cool in summer?
• Is it easy to clean and maintain?
• Does it have Scotchguard?
• Is the fabric pulled tautly so that there won't be any wrinkles within a few months?
• Sit in it and feel it envelop your body. Is it comfortable?
• Is the seat the correct width for your legs, or do you feel you are back in grade school swinging your legs in the high chair in the principal's office?
• Squeeze the arm. Can you feel the wood frame through the fabric? If so, move on.

• Feel the finish of the wood. Is it smooth and sensuous to the touch. Wood must be felt to be enjoyed, and if the finish isn't right, move on to another piece.

• Smell the leather, the wood finishes, the flower arrangements and candles that may be scattered around the store.

• Feel the fabrics and run your hand over the wood finishes. Feel the smoothness of bronze sculptures, and the coolness of marble. Notice the difference underfoot as you move from tile, wood, and carpeted areas. Note any preferences you may find there.

• Fill your sight with colorful artwork, artistic mirrors, and the myriad accessories scattered around. Again, be sure to make note and take pictures of what moves you and makes you feel good.

• Think Wallpaper and Paint Stores
• Think Fabric Stores and Quilt Shops
• Think Gift Shops and Florists

These are all stores where you will find it necessary to do some price comparison shopping.

The advances in tools for faux painting are amazing. If you haven't visited these stores for a few years, you are in for an inspirational treat. Be sure to pick up plenty of paint chips while you're there. The range in prices of paint is amazing, so be sure and make note of this for your budget purposes. Also be sure to note the location of the store where you picked up the paint samples. Nothing is more frustrating than to have the perfect color in hand and not remember where it came from!

Gift shops and florists are wonderful places to check out accessories when comparison shopping. There you will find a huge range of colors and are sure to find the perfect wall or table accessory to match your color scheme. Many of these items are inexpensive and will fit well into your budget plan. The wall hat hanging at the left cost me exactly $7.53.

If this is the first time you have attempted comparison shopping, you may feel overwhelmed by the entire experience.

Perhaps you will walk in and not even know where to start. You may feel discouraged at the many displays and choices available.

You may get what I call the "Magpie Syndrome." This happens when the next shiny object just at the edge of your line of vision catches your eye. You're looking at a sofa ahd notice this really nice coffee table. As you walk over to look at it, you're already thinking, "Look at this darling lamp, and by the way it would look great under that mirror over there."

Before you know it, you have traversed the entire floor and are heading upstairs without do any price comparison shopping, taking any notes or putting together any ideas for your room.

If you find the above descriptions fit your experience, try these hints below:

• If you find yourself roaming around aimlessly, bring yourself back to your mission. You are here to get ideas, compare prices and products, and take lots of notes and pictures to help you plan your decorating scheme.

• Limit yourself to comparison shopping only for the room you are working on. If you are decorating the living room, stay out of the bedroom areas at this time. Concentrate only on your current project.

• Wallpaper and paint stores can really consume a lot of your time and energy. They can also give you major headaches. I personally try to stay out of them until I have a fairly clear idea of what I want. Try to have your fabric sample with your color scheme in hand, and you will spend a lot less time agonizing about just the right shade of color you want.

• When trying to decide on wallpaper, if you really dislike florals, don't even open a floral book. If you have your heart set on a country theme, stick with that type of book. There are specialty books for kitchens, bathrooms, etc. Use those if this is the room you are doing.

These suggestions should give you some idea about how to comparison shop. Your goal should be to have an enjoyable experience, open your mind to new ideas, and give your natural instincts and creativity free rein to develop a home that is uniquely suited to your lifestyle and personality.

Online Comparison Shopping is an Option for the Time Challenged

If you don't have time to indulge yourself and take a day to enjoy this experience, you can always do online comparison shopping. It is possible to do online furniture shopping for price comparisons, but you miss the sensuousness of the feel, smell, and actual physical sensations you experience with physical shopping.

I highly recommend you take time to identify with your innner thoughts and yearnings by giving yourself the gift of time and connecting with your deepest self.

Take lots of pictures and notes. Be sure and write down prices and locations of items you are interested in. Collect ideas. Enjoy the experience. Later on we will consolidate everything you have collected into a concrete plan, and turn this comparison shopping experience into something you can afford. But for this shopping day, The sky's the limit!

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