Seven furnishings and home design features you should never skimp on

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You may not always notice it, but your living space plays a huge role in your life.

It's where you eat, sleep, relax and spend precious time with the people you love.

These days, it may also be where you work. Because so much of life takes place in your home, you'll want to treat it as an investment.

While you'll want to find the best deals you can, there are certain pieces you should be willing to invest a little more on.

These are typically the ones that'll stick around forever: flooring, wardrobes, some kitchen appliances, and others.

Here are the seven pieces of furniture and design features that you should never cheap out on.

Flooring is one of the few design features that affects the entire house.

There are different options you can go with: wood, carpet, tile, marble, etc. Some work better for certain rooms.

When deciding on flooring, you'll need to walk a fine line.

On the one hand, don't use a single style throughout the whole house, as that can get boring.

On the other, each room having its own floor design creates a sense of disharmony. As a general rule, stick to two or three types, and make sure they go well together.

Living in your own house means you'll be having friends and family over for dinner from time to time. This means you'll want quality cutlery. You're not a student anymore: the cheap, three-piece sets you can find in groceries shouldn't be your first choice.

For day-to-day use, stainless steel is your best bet, as it combines quality and affordability. You may also want to have one or two sets of silverware for display and extremely special occasions.

Your choice of wardrobe will depend heavily on your lifestyle. Do you own lots of shoes? Do you have a lot of outwear you need hanging space for? Are you the sort of person who owns a lot of clothes in general?

Your wardrobe also needs to fit seamlessly with your room. Find a spot for it, decide how much space you want it to take up, and match it with the room's overall aesthetic. Alternatively, you might decide to start with the wardrobe and build the rest of the room around it.

Your front gate is the first thing people, including you, will see when pulling up to your house. You'll want one that matches the aesthetic you're going for with the whole house: don't go for an old-fashioned iron gate if your place is modern. Similarly, an automatic sliding gate probably wouldn't go with a more classical home.

There are plenty of great gates (try saying that out loud) to choose from, so you're certain to find one that's perfect for your home.

Your couch is the centrepiece of your living room. Whether you admit it or not, it's also where you'll be spending a good chunk of your day, so it's a good idea to find one that both looks great and is comfortable.

With couches, it's best to try before you buy. You might find a great-looking sofa online, but you won't know how it feels to sit or lie down on it unless you've actually tried it in person.

A comfortable bed is crucial to a good night's sleep. You'll want to invest a decent amount of time and money in building a sleeping environment that lets you wake up refreshed and full of energy.

As with couches, it's best to buy bedding supplies in person, as you'll want to try them out for yourself. Don't rely on online reviews, as comfort is subjective. A mattress that's just right for someone else might be too hard or too soft for you.

Obviously, you'll want to tailor the size of your bed to how many people are going to sleep on it. You'll also need to take room rize into account.

The fridge is the heart and soul of the kitchen: it's the first thing that'll catch visitors' gaze when they step inside. A great refrigerator will also make your day-to-day life so much easier, so you'll definitely want to find the best one you can afford.

You may be surprised to find out that choosing the perfect one isn't so straightforward. The first thing you'll need to take into account is size: buying the best fridge in the world will be a waste of money if it doesn't actually fit inside your kitchen. Then, you'll want to consider whether you want your freezer at the top or bottom of the refrigerator.

Don't take this decision lightly, as spending time looking for a fridge that's just right for you is incredibly rewarding.

Furnishing your new house is an incredibly exciting experience, especially if it's your first time.

It's crucial that you spend time figuring out what to put inside your home, as you'll be living in it for a long time.

Do lots of research, and don't hesitate to invest a little more in those pieces you know will be around for years.