No piece of furniture sets the tone for your living room more than the sofa. But besides being the vehicle to advertise your design tastes, it’s also where the binge-watching happens, where family or friends gather for a chat over coffee, or where you curl up with a book and good intentions before an accidental afternoon nap. In summary: Couches are heavy hitters in your home.

Knowing there’s a lot to consider during the purchase of such a pivotal furnishing—style, budget, material and size—we consulted higher powers to lead you to your most complementary sofa. Let the stars (and your astrological sign) be your guide.

If you’re an Aries: Briar Sofa

Unafraid of trying new, bold things, you surround yourself with items that match, or even broadcast, your intensity. A dynamic burgundy velvet sofa that reflects your energy is certainly not for the fainthearted, but it would look right at home in your home.

Buy it: Briar Sofa in Banks Currant, $1,931 at Joybird

If you’re a Taurus: Wells Leather Grande Sofa

You love making sure your place is filled with comfortable, well-made things. It’s upon closer inspection that one might realize the extent of your taste for luxury. This classic leather sofa was created with you in mind; the beautifully neutral shade has a hint of green—a power color for the Bull.

Buy it: Wells Leather Grande Sofa in Fern, $5,199 at Crate & Barrel

If you’re a Gemini: Cecilia Willoughby 2-Cushion Sofa

Curious and fun, these social butterflies attract others with their undeniable charm and they like their homes to reflect their inner brightness. While yellow is a supercharged color for a Gemini, a uniquely patterned couch could suit you, as well.

Buy it: Cecilia Willoughby Two-Cushion Sofa, $2,698 at Anthropologie

If you’re a Cancer: 5-Seat Modular Corner Sectional

As the zodiac’s homebody, the private crab enjoys creating a true sanctuary. Compassionate and highly sensitive to emotions swirling around you, you love showing others that you care. At home, surrounded by possessions that reflect the deep and multilayered world within, your couch plays a quiet, supporting role. A cushy, lounge-able sectional is in your cards.

Buy it: 5-Seat Modular Corner Sectional, $5,250 at 7th Avenue

If you’re a Leo: Elena 3-Seater Sofa

The image of a queen on a throne comes to mind. All the better to entertain adoring fans and visitors if that throne is as arresting and vibrant as you. The attention this lush, jungle-inspired shade (and the brass accents) will inspire at your next fete is just what you crave.

Buy it: Elena 3-Seater Sofa in Green Velvet, $1,750 at Live Lusso

If you’re a Virgo: Muir Sofa

Simplicity doesn’t mean sacrificing sophistication. Appreciative of clean lines and interesting details, your discerning eye is drawn to the blending of function and form. This minimalist wood-framed style truly suits your inner perfectionist—the one who needs order and prefers neutrals at all times.

Buy it: The Muir Sofa in Dusk, $4,500 at Maiden Home

If you’re a Libra: Mori Performance Fabric Sofa

Your penchant for harmony naturally encompasses your surroundings, giving you a knack for creating aesthetically pleasing spaces. Your home is the very picture of peace, and this couch fits with its clean, warm vibe. When others comment on the incredible but low-key way your style comes together, it lights you up.

Buy it: Mori Performance Fabric Sofa in Alpine, $2,299 at Castlery

If you’re a Scorpio: Mardones Sofa

Your flair for the dramatic and powers of observation are legendary. Some may say you enjoy playing up the moodiness—just a bit—and your predilection for black leans into that. The never-not-trending shade is loved by many, but when used by you, Scorpio, the mystery you (and your living room) project undeniably intensifies.

Buy it: Mardones Sofa in Curious Ebony, $2,199 at CB2 

If you’re a Sagittarius: Joannes Velvet Sofa

An Old World sofa paired with an adventurous color choice feeds your natural optimism and satisfies your exploratory side. Plus, the unique shape will look just quirky enough, anchoring a space filled with the many treasures you’ve gathered on your far-flung travels.

Buy it: Joannes 84” Velvet Sofa, $1,140 at Wayfair

If you’re a Capricorn: Madison Leather Chaise Sectional

Ever the hard worker, you often make things look like they fell together effortlessly—but there’s actually a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Your understated but carefully considered style finds its match in a buttery leather sectional. Quiet luxury is right.

Buy it: Madison Leather Chaise Sectional Sofa in Caramel, $3,299 at Castlery

If you’re an Aquarius: Carson Sofa

Whipsmart and eccentric, you’re a true individual—and you possess an incredible eye for modern design. When your rich inner monologue takes you spinning off into other dimensions of space and time, the blue color of this sofa will help bring the Water Bearer’s attention back to Earth.

Buy it: Carson Sofa in Baltic, $2,078 at Apt2B

If you’re a Pisces: Waverly Sofa

Your sensitive self feels best surrounded by the soothing, restorative shades of the ocean, Pisces. The dreamy seafoam color of this couch and its gently rounded shape are both romantic and reminiscent of water. Curl up, loosen those impressive powers of imagination, and daydream away.

Buy it: Waverly Sofa in Champlain Sea Velvet, $3,999 at Kim Salmela

 

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PAM’s conservator will use tiny cotton swabs to remove a layer of varnish from 1959.

Claude Monet, Waterlilies, 1914-1915, oil on canvas, Museum Purchase: Helen Thurston Ayer Fund (Portland Art Museum)

 

Many visitors to the Portland Art Museum have oohed and aahed over Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. The 1914-15 oil painting is a cornerstone of the museum’s Impressionist collection and a perpetual visitor favorite. It features the characteristic blues and greens of the artist’s Giverny, France, garden, plus reflections and pink and blue blossoms.

The first time that conservator Charlotte Ameringer surveyed her new employer’s collection upon moving to Portland from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in 2022, she saw all of the Monet’s glory, plus something else: a varnish on top that absolutely had to go.

“It significantly changes the way it looks—and not the way the artist wanted it to look,” she says. “Because it’s so important a painting, we have this obligation to present it in its best light.”

Ameringer has her chance starting in late June, thanks to a Bank of America grant, one of 24 artworks to receive support this year.

Monet created a series of about 250 Water Lilies (Nymphéas) paintings in his garden in Giverny over the three decades before his 1926 death. PAM’s is considered a particularly superb interpretation: It hung in the artist’s son Michel Monet’s dining room for more than 35 years before coming to PAM in 1959. That’s when the varnish went on, as per the industry standard.

The artist was very specific starting around the 1870s that his paintings should not be varnished, Ameringer says. She gives an analogy of collecting rocks at the beach: wet rocks have vibrant, saturated colors but once they dry out, all those color differences are much more subtle.

“The dry rock is what Monet wanted,” she says. “A wet rock is what we have. [The varnish] amps it up in a way he didn’t really intend.”

This is the second time a piece in PAM’s collection has been chosen for the Bank of America conservation program: In 2019, Roy Lichtenstein’s Brushstrokes, the yellow and green aluminum sculpture in front of the museum on Southwest Park Avenue, got a fresh coat of paint.

Art lovers can follow along with Ameringer’s painstaking work with a series of seven videos that she will create during the painting’s six-month conservation. She uses tiny, hand-rolled cotton swabs similar to Q-tips dipped in a mixture of solvents to remove the varnish without damaging any of the paint layers. She might be able to finish 2 square inches in an eight-hour workday.

But what is it like to work so intimately with a masterpiece?

“I think it’s really exciting, I’m not going to lie about that,” Ameringer says. “But we’re trained to treat every painting equally. You don’t know what will be important in 100 years.”

While Water Lilies is getting work done, visitors can get their French art fix at the museum’s exhibit Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, which runs June 8-Sept. 15. The show includes Monet’s Rising Tide at Pourville, an 1882 painting of a clifftop dwelling in Normandy.

 

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Whether you like to sip your morning coffee on your patio, enjoy an after-work drink on your deck, or gather around the firepit for post-dinner s’mores, you’re going to need some outdoor seating. But with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Should you focus on a quality sofa or opt for a set that includes additional seating (and maybe also a coffee table)? What types of materials should you look for (and avoid)? And how much is the right amount to spend?

We talked to interior designer Angela Belt and landscape designer Amber Scott Freda to get their take on how and what to buy this season. Read on to find out:

5 tips for buying outdoor seating you won’t regret

When it comes to outfitting your outdoor space, follow these universal rules of thumb.

1. Know your space and your lifestyle. The right furniture for you depends on your space and your lifestyle. If you’re lucky enough to have a rooftop terrace, be sure to consider the wind’s ability to blow things away. Got kids? Maybe don’t get white cushions or pieces with sharp metal corners.
2. Don’t overspend. “For most of us, outdoor seating is a seasonal retreat, so it should be a low-cost investment,” says Belt. A good benchmark? Budget less than you would on your indoor living room, which is used year-round. Freda notes that you can find sofa sets from places like Amazon, Wayfair, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s, for around $1,000-$2,000. She adds that stores like West Elm and CB2 might offer the sofa alone for the same price, and high-end vendors, like RH, Design Within Reach, Pottery Barn, or Crate & Barrel, will be at least double that amount for just a sofa.
3. Read the online reviews. If you are going to buy from lower cost or mid-range sellers, Freda has one important tip. “I recommend going with items that already have a high volume of reviews,” she says. “If there are any defects or other problems, those will be reflected in people’s comments.”
4. Consider artificial or composite wood. Freda also notes that real wood, while nice in theory, won’t last as long as artificial wood—and it will weather to gray unless you sand and oil it on a regular basis. “There are very nice looking composite wood materials that give the look of wood, but are a lot more durable,” she says. If you do choose wood, Belt advises steering clear of “solid woods that expand and contract due to natural elements.” Instead, opt for something more weather-resistant like teak or acacia.
5. Choose something comfortable. Last but not least, both Belt and Freda suggest prioritizing seating you’ll actually want to sit in, whether that’s a sofa set, a standalone sofa, or a cozy lounge chair. “People will use their outdoor space more if they feel comfortable being there for an extended period of time,” Freda says.

If you’re starting from scratch and like to entertain: Get an outdoor seating set.

If you don’t have any outdoor furniture, Freda says you’ll need at least a sofa or loveseat and a coffee table to make your space functional. “If you plan to entertain at all, go for the set,” she adds. Belt agrees, adding that “it’s more cost-effective to buy a set of outdoor furniture than buying each piece individually.”

Shopping list: 

• 6-Piece Patio Conversation Set with Rattan Wicker Chairs & Coffee Table, $540 at Target
• Outdoor Set Cord Patio Loveseat & 2 Arm Chair, $1,400 at Nathan James
• Maui Outdoor Loveseat & 2 Lounge Chairs Set, $1,999 at Castlery
• Ora Beach Sand Sofa Set, $2,247 at Article

If you already have chairs and a coffee table: Splurge on a quality sofa.

If you’re looking for an investment piece to take your outdoor setup to the next level, you can easily spend $3,000 or more on a single sofa. But, according to Freda, the prices at high-end sellers reflect style, durability, and customer service. One of her go-to vendors? RH. “They have a really nice white-glove service,” she says. “They install and assemble the furniture for you.” Freda also likes Summer Classics for looks employing wicker, woven straps, and vintage rattan, as well as Blu Dot, West Elm, and CB2 for a diverse array of styles at more affordable prices.

Shopping list:

• Marteau 2-Piece Black Metal Loveseat with Sunbrella Cushions, $1,978 at CB2
• Marbella Teak Sofa, from $2,545 for members at RH
• Havana Cane Sofa, from $2,906 at Summer Classics
• Veranda Sofa, $5,700 at Outer

If your outdoor area is on the small side: Buy a lounge chair (or two).

No room for a sofa? Comfy seating is still the way to go. That could be a cushy conversation set, a single lounge chair for soaking up the sun solo, or even a fold-up chair that can be tucked away when not in use.

Shopping list:

• The Sling Chair – Lauren’s Navy Stripe, $124 at Business & Pleasure
• Lollygagger Lounge Chair, $645 at Loll
• Dweller Chair, $1,500 at Neighbor
• Charcoal Aluminum Outdoor Armless Chair Conversation Set, $2,700 at Outer

 

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There’s a certain point in the lifecycle of renting where you say to yourself: I just can’t do this anymore. Maybe it’s the upstairs neighbors, who relentlessly stomp across their apartment into the wee hours of the morning. Maybe it’s the numbingly dull white walls you’ve stared at year after year. Or perhaps it’s that bitter pill of knowledge that your hard-earned money is circling down the drain—en route to paying someone else’s mortgage.

No matter the reason, most of us eventually hit a breaking point with renting, and vow to become first-time home buyers.

But just because you want to buy a home doesn’t mean you should buy a home. Even if you’ve already evaluated your finances and told yourself, “I can swing a down payment,” there are some additional key questions to ask to determine whether you’re ready. Here, we unveil some oft-overlooked, soul-searching inquiries that you really should ask yourself before you make the biggest financial commitment of your life. Ready?

1. Have I recently experienced a loss?

If you’ve recently gone through a breakup, lost your job, or suffered any other kind of negative life event, you might feel like the answer is to start over. A reset can indeed do you a world of good, but taking on a mortgage probably won’t be the fresh new beginning you’re looking for.

“The most challenging time in someone’s life to buy a home is during a time of loss—and that can be many kinds of loss,” says Tyler Whitman, real estate agent with TripleMint in New York. “If it’s truly a high-stress moment, adding a move on top of that only makes things worse.”

Even if you think you’re in a good place, emotionally speaking, Whitman warns that stress might cause you to subconsciously make your housing decisions out of fear. It’s better to wait until you’re past a situation and can know you’re making the best choice for you.

2. If I get a new job, will I have to move?

The job market has changed drastically since the days when your parents bought a home, and you should know how that will affect you before you buy.

“Previous generations planned to get one job, keep it forever, and retire. Buying into a house because they were looking for a permanent living situation made a lot more sense,” says Chandler Crouch, broker for Chandler Crouch Realtors in Fort Worth, TX. “Now, job-hopping is prevalent.”

Changing jobs won’t be a big deal if you can keep—or raise—your salary, and your new gig is in your current city. But if there aren’t a ton of jobs in your industry in your area, you may find yourself having to relocate a year after you bought your home.

“It honestly isn’t a good idea to buy a house unless you plan on staying there for at least five years,” Crouch says. If you sell earlier, you may end up taking a loss on the deal.

3. Am I ready to write (a lot) of checks beyond the down payment?

Here’s the good news: Mortgage requirements have been loosening since the credit crunch, and you may very well be able to buy with less than 20% down. But the bad news is that won’t be the end of your upfront costs. Hire a mortgage broker and you could pay a 1% to 2% fee on the amount of the loan. A home inspection will cost you a few hundred. Your closing costs could add up to 7% of the total cost of the home. And then there’s the Murphy’s Law of it all: If something can go wrong, it probably will.

“If the air conditioner breaks a month after you close, or the dishwasher gives out, that’s now up to you,” Whitman says.

If you don’t have the funds to cover your closing costs and a separate emergency account for the inevitable “just moved in” headaches, it might be better to wait until you do.

And don’t forget about the additional costs of things like homeowner insurance and taxes. (Although you’ll likely be eligible for some pretty sweet tax deductions for being a homeowner, you’ll still have to pay property taxes—and that can mean a bit of sticker shock for long-term renters.)

4. Am I OK with owing the bank lots of money for a long time?

One of the biggest benefits of homeownership, of course, is the equity. Instead of handing all your hard-earned cash over to a landlord, you’re putting it back into your home—which you (hopefully) will sell for a profit down the line. But that equity doesn’t happen immediately. In fact, for many buyers, it takes time. Sometimes a long time.

Unless you pay for your house in cash, you’ll be on the hook for not only your monthly mortgage payment but the interest on the loan as well. Stretching out your payments over more years—as with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage—can help reduce (and stabilize) your interest charges. But it can be hard to pay down your principal when you’re constantly trying to cover other costs.

It’s part of being a homeowner, and you need to decide if you’re good with it.

“Anyone considering buying needs to look at an amortization schedule to see exactly how much out of their monthly payment will be going toward paying off the house,” Crouch says.

5. Is buying truly cheaper in the long run?

This one depends quite a bit on where you live.

So do the math. Understand that when you’re buying, you’ll be taking on a big down payment and all those additional costs. On the other hand, you’ll want to take a look at your local rental market. If your rents are increasing steadily year over year, you might be shelling out more on temporary housing then you would on your own home each month. And you may find yourself with your savings too depleted to buy.

“On average landlords raise rent 7% per year,” Crouch says. “This is a compounding increase in expense.”

That could mean that buying, while a punch to the wallet now, will be more affordable in the long run. But if you live in a more stable rental market, it could be better to sock away some cash and wait a few more years to purchase a home. You can use our handy Rent vs. Buy Calculator to crunch the numbers and decide what’s right for you.

6. Am I secretly trying to talk myself into it?

Your co-workers don’t understand why you’re still renting. Your friends are all buying their first homes. You’ve been saving for years specifically so you can buy a house and become a key-carrying member of the Great American Dream. It may seem like you should just buy already, but try asking yourself: Do you really, truly want to?

Even if it might make sense on paper, Crouch still recommends asking yourself three questions before you finally decide:

• Am I trying to sell myself on the idea of buying a home?
• Am I trying too hard to justify it financially?
• Do my reasons to buy outnumber my reasons not to buy?

After all, buying a home is arguably the biggest financial (and, sometimes, emotional) commitment you’ll ever make. You need to be sure it’s right for you—no matter what anybody else says.

 

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Even when houses get offers within days of hitting the listing pages, selling a home is a long, complex, and stressful process. It’s easy to get confused, overwhelmed, or too attached to how you imagine your home sale should go.

The many moving parts of a real estate transaction might even have you unwittingly using some home-selling tactics that could backfire and ultimately kill the deal.

With the spring market heating up, we asked real estate agents how some home sellers self-sabotage by neglecting crucial aspects of the selling process.

Here are the bad habits the pros say you should give up and what to do instead to successfully sell your home quickly for the most money.

Self-sabotage No. 1: Rushing the process

Jen Turano, a real estate agent at Compass in Greenwich, CT, saw countless deals fall apart in 2023, partly due to the frenzy surrounding the home’s initial listing.

“Buyers stepped up with little time for their own diligence, made rash offers, had second thoughts, and backed out for one reason or another,” says Turano. “The home was back on the market weeks later, losing some of its early momentum.”

Seller solutions: Take a breather, and scrutinize those multiple offers. Start vetting the buyers, their level of interest, and their loan qualifications.

“Thoughtful consideration benefits you greatly and leads you to the best, most certain deal,” says Turano.

Self-sabotage No. 2: Forgoing concessions

When the market favors sellers, they can afford to be a little stingy with concessions, as eager buyers are less likely to ask for seller concessions to make their offer stand out.

But with today’s elevated home prices and high mortgage rates, buyers need a little more wooing. Seller concessions can help seal the deal by taking the sting out of all the money a buyer has to shell out.

Seller solutions: “Offering concessions is not a deal breaker; it’s a chance to negotiate and build rapport,” says Fran Lisner, a real estate agent with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty on Long Island, NY. “By being flexible and open to compromise, you’ll attract more serious buyers and increase your chances of sealing the deal.”

Self-sabotage No. 3: Overpricing your home

We get it. You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your home and want the asking price to reflect that. The trouble comes when your ego and pride enter the formula and you set the price too high.

“Overpricing is a buzzkill for potential buyers,” says Lisner. “It’s like offering a glass of water for the price of a vintage wine.”

Bottom line: Listings get the most action in the first 30 days. When a house is priced too high, buyers ignore it and you lose precious momentum. Buyers might think something is wrong with the house. If it languishes longer, buyers might think you’re desperate and present lowball offers.

Seller solutions: “Do your research, consult professionals, and set a realistic price that aligns with the current market,” says Lisner. “By pricing it right, you’ll attract more serious buyers, generate healthy competition, and increase your chances of a successful sale.”

Self-sabotage No. 4: Staying stuck on selling as-is

If you don’t have the time or money to spruce up your house, or you inherited a house and want to dump it for a quick profit, you might be tempted to list it as is.

That doesn’t necessarily imply the house is falling apart at the seams. It simply means the property is being listed in its current condition without making any repairs.

“As is” can seriously limit your pool of potential buyers, as they might not be able to secure financing if the property is in poor condition.

“I recently had a client who was purchasing a home as is, but the lender went back to my client to tell him that the roof was in bad shape and they wouldn’t finance the property unless it was repaired,” says Lauren Reynolds, an agent at Forte Team at Compass.

Seller solutions: While you might not want to invest a lot of time or money into a property, addressing essential repairs that could hinder financing, such as fixing a faulty roof or structural issues, will widen your pool of potential buyers.

Self-sabotage No. 5: Not listing when the market is hot

Historically, spring is the best time to sell your home. The weather is better, and buyers are eager to get into a new house before the summer or a new school year starts.

We get it. You might be thinking of selling but are not quite ready to move. But you might be missing out on selling your home for top dollar.

Turano says that unless there is a rational reason to hold off on listing your home, you should consider listing it now to take advantage of the current market conditions.

Seller solutions: To help you get a clearer picture of when to list, you and your agent should monitor the market and strategize to determine the ideal time to sell.

“If we experience a market turn, it may be beneficial to list when most buyers are active,” says Turano.

Self-sabotage No. 6: Leaving your pets at showings

Though most people understand pets are part of the family, potential buyers probably don’t want your overly excited pooch jumping on them or triggering their allergies. Plus, your pets could bolt for the door and escape.

“You want potential buyers to focus on your home and its merits, and not rush through to evade a pet,” says Turano.

Seller solutions: Take your pets when you have a showing. If you can’t, keep them in a comfortable spot in the home and give your agent the heads-up on what to expect. If you’ve been neglecting cleaning the pet areas, do that before every open house. And don’t forget the yard. Stepping in dog poo leaves a really bad first impression.

 

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