Buying for the long haul is mostly about asking the right questions in the moment. Here's the short list we use at the flagship. **1. Where will it live, and what will it live with?** Measure the room, but also photograph it. Most of us underestimate what a piece does to the light in a corner, and a quick photo catches what a tape measure won't. **2. How do you actually use the room?** If you read in bed, a piece that looks beautiful but won't survive a propped-up elbow is the wrong piece. Be honest about habits. **3. What's it made of, and how will it age?** Solid wood, natural fibres, and honest finishes get better with time. Cheap veneers rarely do. Ask what the underside looks like — makers aren't shy about materials they care about. **4. Can you live without it for a week?** Impulse buys age badly. Wait seven days, and see if the room still asks for it. **5. Buy the smaller version of what you really want.** Better to have one right thing than two compromises.