Save or splurge: The living room

Increasingly, furniture is made from fiberboard and plywood. Since these can be labeled "wood," it's hard to tell what you're buying.

On the plus side, the finishes "are more convincing than ever and the materials stronger," says furniture expert Litwin. (This Pottery Barn table is part veneer over bentwood.)

And since your coffee table doesn't take much weight, you can safely buy on the lower end.