Interiors' writer Judith Wilson advises on keeping our heads during sales time and concentrating on the 'big buys' such as the classic white sofa or the designer dining chairs. In her book, Essential Home, Wilson says the sitting room is the most 'public' room of the house where you'll entertain friends and consequently, comfort is as important as good looks.

"The essential pieces for any sitting room are a sofa, armchair, table and bookshelf.

But as you plan the room, ask yourself a few questions. If you entertain frequently, would two small sofas be better than one large design? Might a daybed suit the room more than an armchair? And a coffee table isn't a necessity if four small side tables will do the job as well."

Think also about the practicality of what you choose, she adds. If yours is a family home, how much time do you want to devote to keeping it pristine after the kids and the pets have run riot through it?

Although the sitting room may only be used during evenings or at weekends, its major components need to last over a decade . . . so buy the best you can afford and put the money into the most heavily used pieces.

That invariably means the sofa, so ideally it should have coil-sprung seats and duckfeather-filled cushions, says Wilson, while you might just get away with foam upholstery for an occasional armchair.

Veneered wood furniture is fine, she adds, but again, check the quality as the cheaper variety can chip. Wherever possible, choose a solid wood for a table destined for a lot of use. Think ahead too . . . for example when, in five years' time, you've tired of that trend for one wall of patterned paper or that painted floor, the furniture will still be going strong so pick designs that will easily blend in with fresh looks. Choose sofas with legs and an elegant silhouette, giving you the option of choosing plump upholstery or loose covers. When buying other items, such as console tables or side chairs, says Wilson, look on them as the equivalent of those skirts and trousers that mix and match with the key suit jacket.

"In terms of design, there are certain failsafe styles for sitting room furniture. For upholstery, you can't go far wrong with the classics such as the wing chair, a small Victorian armchair, a squared-off Knole sofa, all of which not only have a great line, but also look good with both antiques or contemporary pieces. For a more modern look, the boxy sofa, cube armchair or Lshaped modular sofa are all set to stay for the foreseeable future. Luxurious upholstery options that also wear well include wool mixes, linen or chenille. Ignore clumsy or overly fussy designs and choose cool tones, from white to deep graphite.

"Quite apart from the fact that these colours and lines provide the perfect backdrop for the surface dressing of brighter accessories, they also detract from an obvious trend or date of furniture. Plan to have some key pieces in livelier colour or pattern, whether it's a single large piece, like an armchair upholstered in vibrant tangerine linen, or several smaller items such as bold prints or pink cushions . . . all easy and inexpensive to change. Look out too during the sales for discontinued fabrics or furniture that can be repainted."

Essential Home by Judith Wilson, 27.70, (published by Ryland, Peters & Small)