When it comes to interior design, it does literally pay to proceed with caution.

I remember my father having to repaint the living room three times in as many days until my mother was comfortable with her choice of colour.

And I once chose a patterned wallpaper which looked great on the roll but which was completely wrong for the carpet and curtains I already had in my living room. I spent the next 10 years regretting that choice.

So the question is, when it comes to interior design, where and how do you start if you want to avoid a very costly mistake and just as importantly, feel completely satisfied with the finished result.

If you are updating an entire room, then start by selecting your furniture first before choosing curtains, flooring or wall colours, says local expert Jason Sargeant, owner of Heritage Sofas and Chairs in Petts Wood.

“It is best to select the fabric you like for your sofas and chairs before choosing curtains, flooring and wall colours so you can coordinate everything,” he advises.

“When you have selected the design, make sure you test it for comfort. Don’t do this after trudging around the shops for hours, as anything you try will feel comfortable if you are tired.”

He also advises that if you like soft, squashy feathers or fibre in your cushions, then be prepared to regularly plump them up and turn them over.

“If you don’t want to have to do that every day, then high density foam seats might be a better option as they need turning less often,” he adds.

“You also need to decide if you want your sofas to have a more formal appearance and you like sitting upright, or are you happy to lollop?”

He offers more words of wisdom when he says it is best the store you are ordering from visits your home to make sure the sofa will go through the door!

“If the store checks access and the sofa arrives and won’t fit into your home, then it is the store’s fault and not yours. They will have to exchange it or refund your deposit. But if you say the sofa will fit and place the order without measuring it first, the store has no legal obligation to refund your deposit.

Finally he says that if you have been sitting on an old sofa for some time and it has taken your shape, a new sofa will take a few months to bed in and for you to adjust the way you sit for comfort.

“Don’t panic if it takes a bit of getting used to,” adds Jason.

Heritage Sofas and Chairs, 8 Station Square, Petts Wood, Kent BR5 1NA. Tel: 01689 875277. www.heritagesofas.co.uk