I often get asked for interior decorating tips and advice on what furniture to buy when you move out of home for the first time.

It really doesn't seem that long ago when I first moved out of home. All my girlfriends and I had with us were the contents of our bedroom and boxes full of all the stuff our parents were glad to get rid of.

We were so happy to have couches, even though they were ugly hand-me-downs, because they were ours. It was all about freedom as opposed to design and style.

It's hard to believe seeing as though I graduated in design and started up my own business in interiors!

I feel like I'm talking as though I lived through the depression but the late eighties and early nineties was boom and bust in a modern kind of way. So where am I going with this?

Moving out of home is about learning who you are and the transition to the real you. This also means your style will grow and change. In these times of affordable mass reproduction, limitless credit options and throw away mentality, people are more mature and particular about what they want. But it's also easy to make some very expensive mistakes.

So, what are the essentials? First, start with a few good pieces that will stand the test of time.

A bed
If you are going to splash out and get a few good pieces, your bed is where I would start first. Treat a good mattress and base as an investment. You can then penny pinch on fashion linen and cushions as often as you like, add and take away bed heads. A good mattress can last 15-20 years.

A designer or bespoke chair
A classic design such as a Featherstone or Eames chair will last the test of time. You don't have to go for the original, there are fantastic registered copies and these styles weave effortlessly within modern and traditional schemes. They are versatile to move from lounge, to bedroom to entry to study.

Dining table
These you can trawl through e-bay, antique houses or modern designer shops. A good table can be for formal, casual, breakfast bar all the way to the study/homework table. If you take your time on a good table you can mix and match styles and designs of chairs that will move with the times.

Take your time and pick classic pieces for your biggest cash outlay and then be cheap on the rest till you are able to slowly build on furniture that is worth your hard earned cash. You will notice I haven't included the everyday staple - the couch. Couches take up a huge amount of room, take the toughest treatment and usually date quicker than any furniture.

So, until you know your style and confident your purchase will last a good 15-20 years, stick with a comfortable, cheap couch that you will get a good few years from that you wont mind passing on to a friend moving into their new place!