Meet the Expert

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If you find yourself dining casually more often, consider a smaller, more flexible dining arrangement.

“Their usual proportions make them uncomfortable for both sitting and sleeping.”

an elegant contemporary living room

Stocksy / Raymond Forbes LLC

“Multi-purpose, streamlined pieces make better use of the room, especially in smaller areas.”

Lichtenstein agrees, and avoids oversized seating options.

Display-Only Furniture

Another pop in of furniture our designers avoid?

Refurbished particleboard furniture with gray paint and decor items displayed in square shelves

The Spruce

Anything purely decorative without an everyday function.

And when it comes to picking the perfect bed, Lichtenstein reminds us that bigger isn’t always better.

formal dining room wall treatment

Forbes + Masters

Living room with wood coffee table, plants, futon sofa and floor lamp

Oscar Wong / Getty Images

Large living room with sectional.

Yael Weiss Interiors

Beachy neutral bedroom with bench at foot of bed.

Julian Porcino