How to choose furniture that fits

Furniture is the easiest thing to get slightly wrong online. It looks right on a screen and arrives too big, too small, or the wrong shade of white. None of that is bad luck: it is measuring. Here is how to get it right the first time, room by room.

Living room: the TV stand

The number on the listing ("fits up to 65 inches") refers to the TV, not the stand. What matters is the width of your TV's feet or base, which should sit comfortably inside the stand's top with a few inches spare each side. Measure foot-to-foot, then add ten inches, and you have your minimum stand width.

Height matters too: the middle of the screen wants to land at eye level from the sofa, which usually means a stand between 20 and 26 inches tall. A fireplace insert adds warmth and light but no extra height, so measure as if it were a plain stand.

Bedroom: the vanity

A lit vanity needs two things a bedroom does not always have: a clear run of wall about four feet wide, and a socket within reach for the lights and charging. Measure the wall, subtract the stool's pull-out room, and check the mirror height clears any wall art or sloped ceiling.

Drawers are where vanities differ most. Seven small drawers suit someone with a lot of small things; two deep ones suit someone with a few big ones. The product spec lists the count on every piece.

Storage: sideboards and hall trees

Depth is the number people forget. A sideboard that looks slim in a photo can be 16 inches deep and eat a walkway. Measure the floor space and leave at least 30 inches of clear passage in front of any piece with doors that open outward or drawers that pull.

Finishes, quickly

• White opens up a small or dark room and keeps things feeling fresh, at the cost of showing marks sooner.
• Rustic brown warms a large or bright room and hides everyday wear, but can close in a small space.
• Grey is the compromise: neutral, forgiving of fingerprints, and easy to match to what you already own.

When in doubt, pick the finish first and let it narrow the range. Browse by room once you know the size and shade you are after.