Put practicality first when buying materials for your home

From stainless steel to wood and laminate flooring and from countertop surfaces to soft seating, here is your must-read guide

Buy boucle with a good inclusion of wool and a high rub count of 50,000 or more. File picture

Rush to short-term gratification based on looks alone — and right here is where you start paying. 

Here are a few of my bêtes-noire — along with tips to wrestle back the dream with some practical balance.