Online stores are a convenient way to get your furniture fix. You can browse hundreds or thousands of looks at the click of a button. However, the convenience offered by shopping online does not come without its risks. Online customers have no means to try a piece of furniture before buying it, so they may end up taking a gamble when buying expensive items. Before you bite the bullet and order furniture online, it is important to consider these things first.
What’s It Made Of?
Is the furniture you’re considering buying made of real wood or particle board? Some furniture looks solid in online pictures but it’s really made of light veneer. You also need to consider the strength of the wood. Is it made from a solid tree, like mahogany, or just a composite of other woods that don’t hold up as well?
The durability of your furniture is key. Knowing what it’s made of ahead of time can save you a great deal of money in the long run. You won’t buy cheap furniture that falls apart quickly or looks like you purchased it from a yard sale at a cheap motel.
How Does It Look IRL?
It’s always a good idea to search for pictures of what the particular piece looks like once assembled and placed into an actual room or living space. This will help you avoid spending money on an item that has poor visual appeal.
Interior design apps like Roomy allow you to upload a photo of your room then view furniture in augmented reality to see if it’s the right fit and style for your home.
Get Out Your Tape Measure
If you’re ordering furniture online, it may be difficult to determine whether a piece will fit into the intended space. However, it’s crucial to do this before the delivery truck arrives! Take accurate measurements of your room and compare them to the dimensions listed in the product description. If you don’t have an actual tape measure, try an app like Tape Measure. It helps interior designers measure furniture dimensions and window sizes before decorating.
What’s the Total Cost?
Does the price seem too good to be true and, if so, what’s the catch? Maybe shipping fees are very high or the website is fraudulently taking money and will never deliver your items. Or they might deliver a shoddy version that looks nothing like the promo images. Only buy from reputable dealers and remember to check for hidden fees.
What’s the Return Policy?
Many furniture retailers offer free shipping but make you pay for return shipping. Check online reviews and ask the retailer what their policies are if you receive a damaged or defective item. Be aware of whether they have a price match guarantee as well — so if you find an identical item at a lower price, you can ask them to match it.
Will It Suit Your Home?
It’s easy to get carried away with the latest trend — especially when it’s on sale. The same goes for buying pieces of furniture based on how good they look in your favorite Pinterest photo. However, there’s nothing worse than ordering a brand new piece of furniture only to realize it clashes with everything else you own.
Before you pull out your wallet, ask yourself these questions. How will it look in your space? Will it fit in with the rest of your furniture and current color scheme? These questions are especially important if you’re redecorating a room. Consider looking at sites like Emma Mason, a leading furniture store, which has a large range of furniture and designs. This way, you can envision the furniture in your home and see if you think it would fit. And if not, there are many other options to look at. Even though all those new pieces may have looked good together on an interior design website, fitting them into your home is a whole other story so pick an online retailer with plenty of choice.
Will You Need to Put It Together?
Many relationships have been ruined by hours spent trying to assemble furniture. Unless you have the spare time and patience to put together furniture yourself, don’t buy anything that doesn’t come pre-assembled. You also want to check and see if it comes with all the tools required for assembly or if you’ll need to purchase additional items such as wrenches or screwdrivers.
Reviews Are Your Friend
Reviews can help you decide which company to buy from or whether a particular piece of furniture is worth purchasing at all. Always check reviews. Look out for ones that mention problems with quality or customer service. Some sellers might offer lower prices than others but they may also have less favorable customer service ratings. If the price difference is marginal, it makes sense to go with the company with better reviews and slightly higher cost.
Reviews can also tell you what online images can’t — whether the furniture you are considering is actually comfortable or ergonomic. For example, people may mention that a particular chair is quite narrow or small. This may not be a problem for everyone but it’s certainly something to consider if you’re looking for comfortable seating in your home.
An in-depth review will also tell you whether the item arrived damaged or if furniture that needs to be assembled came with the appropriate instructions and tools. For furniture reviews, comparisons, and coupons, check here.
Check Return Policies
Be sure to buy from a reputable retailer with return policies in case you need to exchange or return the item later. Read all the fine print before confirming your purchase. Not every store has a no-hassle return policy, so be sure to check. If you decide to go ahead with your order, inspect your items as soon as they arrive and note any damage on the delivery bill or invoice. If anything is missing or damaged, contact customer service right away.
Final Advice
The tips in this article can help you avoid wasting money and time on furniture that doesn’t suit your needs. Research your options. Make a list of criteria and stick to it when shopping around. If you pay attention to these details before you click the “buy” button, you’ll end up with furniture that fits perfectly into your home. Once you’ve conquered your online furniture fears, get into the natural trend with our post about using flowers and plants to brighten your interior design.