How we decorate our home is a reflection of our personal taste, there are those of us who prefer to keep it simple with white walls and minimal furniture in a similar style, whilst the more flamboyant will choose bright colours and a mix of furniture and décor of different designs and eras.

Making your home look good doesn't have to cost the earth and there are plenty of trendy and fashionable stores these days that offer affordable prices, so if you are just moving into your first home, or updating your current one, look online and you'll be spoilt for choice. Whether you choose to buy your furniture new, second hand, or from an antique shop, it makes sense to go for the best quality you can afford within your budget.

Shopping online is so easy when compared to shopping in the high street. You can browse in each store for as long as you like, take time studying each piece, and open more than one website and compare prices - and you don't even have to leave home, get dressed, drive the car, or be polite to store assistants.

It makes sense to invest in furniture that will last, buy cheap quality and it is likely to break or become worn very quickly, also it won't be as stylish or comfortable as you would wish. Quality doesn't have to equal expensive, you just need to know where to look.

The internet has thousands of websites so use it effectively for searching for items and particular pieces of furniture that you are considering buying. Oak furniture is very popular with homeowners as it fits in with most types of décor and is an economical option. Oak is a solid wood that is suitable for every room, and it means that even if you do decide to change the décor of your home in a few years time you won't have to also change the furniture to match.

High quality and reasonable prices, that's what most people are looking for, but stylish furniture is often well above the price we can afford. Oak furniture offers quality, durability, and doesn't have to be replaced after a period of time as it looks better with age.

Making an investment in good solid furniture will save you money in the long-term as you won't have to replace it every few years. The great thing about oak is that it makes beautiful pieces and can be passed onto future members of the family when they eventually get their first home. Well-known as being one of the most attractive woods for the manufacture of high quality furniture with a beautiful grain structure, it is extremely resilient and strong.

Solid oak furniture is ideal for the bedroom, dining room, living room or kitchen, basically anywhere in the house! UK manufacturers offer a range of contemporary or traditional styles in oak with wax or lacquer finishes – check out the various designs of sideboards, beds, tables and chairs, coffee tables and much, much more. A favourite in the UK for centuries due to being particularly strong and tough, it has a striking colour and grain that looks good either varnished in a dark colour, waxed or with a natural lacquer applied.

There is a vast range of oak products, from Alpine, Fusion, Havana and Hereford to Java, Canberra, Rustic and Oxford, and that's only to mention a few. Oak furniture makes great coffee tables, check out the Tempo solid oak coffee table with its simple lines and elegant design. Featuring jigsaw type joints and hidden handles on the doors and drawers of the sideboard, Tempo also has a superior range of TV units and dining tables and chairs. Or take a look at the Cambridge coffee table constructed from high quality grade oak that includes wood-panelled drawer bases and cabinet backs, and uses intricate dovetailed joints.

If you're looking for quality yet affordable oak furniture for your home or home office, then you should seriously consider ordering online, you often get free delivery if buying over a certain amount, also it comes direct to the door within a few days. Online stores generally have a lot more styles and designs to choose from, and prices are lower than the high street as they don't have all the overheads to deal with.