The Ultimate Online Furniture Shopping Checklist
Shopping for furniture online offers unmatched convenience, allowing you to explore brands and snag deals without stepping foot outside. However, making a significant purchase like this can come with its own set of challenges. To ensure a smooth and satisfying experience, here’s your ultimate online furniture shopping checklist designed to help you make informed decisions and smart purchases.
1. Measure Your Space
Before diving into the endless options online, start by assessing your space. The first step is to guarantee that your chosen furniture will fit comfortably where you envision it. Unlike in-store shopping, where you can physically see dimensions, online furniture shopping requires a keen eye for details. It’s essential to take accurate measurements of your space. Use a tape to assess the length, width, and height of the area where you plan to place the furniture.
Moreover, make sure there’s enough space for walkways and that the furniture doesn’t block other areas. Aim for a buffer of about 2 to 3 inches around each item for comfort. Pay special attention to taller pieces like bookshelves and wardrobes, ensuring they don’t overwhelm the space visually.
2. Note Entryway Sizes
It’s not just about fitting into your room; consider how your new furniture will actually enter your home. Many people forget this step and end up with furniture that doesn’t fit through their doors, elevator, or staircase. To avoid this delivery disaster, it’s important to measure door frames, elevators, or staircases. Check the width of all relevant doorways to ensure your furniture can pass through without hassle.
Furthermore, if your furniture needs to navigate stairs or fit in an elevator, measure its width and depth. Also take into account any turning radii in hallways and staircases to move things smoothly. If using an elevator, don’t forget to check the weight capacity and opening size.
3. Set a Budget
Before you dive into browsing, establish a clear budget to keep your spending in check. Assess your finances to set a generous budget and avoid spending beyond limits. Know your maximum spend limit to filter your choices effectively and prevent feeling overwhelmed by options. Even if you don’t necessarily need to budget your online furniture shopping, it’ll save you from impulse purchasing.
Additionally, don’t just consider the price of the furniture; factor in all the associated costs. This includes shipping fees, taxes, installation costs, and any extended warranty plans. These can add up quickly and significantly fluctuate the final bill, so calculate them beforehand to avoid unwelcome surprises.
4. Compare Prices Across Websites
Online furniture shopping can be an expensive venture, especially with added costs like delivery fees and taxes. Therefore, do your due diligence to avoid overpaying for something basic. Take your time to compare prices and terms to get the best value for your investment. Don’t just rely on one brand or retailer; research multiple websites to broaden your options.
The same piece of furniture may be offered on various websites, often at different price points with different shipping terms. You might find the same leather couch listed for $900 on one site, but it might appear for $850 somewhere else. This gives you the opportunity to find the best deal for your budget. Lastly, keep an eye out for special offers and deals that can reduce your overall expenses.
5. Review Materials and Finishes
The online images are enticing, but they can often be misleading. From professional lighting to sophisticated editing, it can be easy to get lured by the striking photos. Understand that lighting, angles, and editing impact how the product appears online. This is why it’s crucial to scrutinize product details instead of relying solely on the images.
Pay close attention to the material and finish descriptions. A stunning photo might not tell the whole story; the item you love might turn out to be mismatching. For instance, you order stunning marble top dining table only by looking at the images, but when it arrives you learn that it’s made of faux marble. This hidden detail is often mentioned in the description, so do not skip this section when doing online furniture shopping.
6. Check Product Dimensions
Just as measuring your space is essential, verifying product dimensions is equally vital for online furniture shopping:
- Read Descriptions Carefully: Look beyond images, focus on the detailed measurements provided for height, width, and depth in either inches or centimeters.
- Cross-Check Dimensions: After you obtain the measurements, double-check them against the space you measured at home for a snug fit.
- Consider Practicality: For seating options like sofas and chairs, take note of seat depth. For tables, check the height and clearance beneath for cleaning and storage.
7. Inquire Assembly Information
Before you click the checkout button, take a moment to consider assembly requirements. One common pitfall for online furniture buyers is underestimating the complexity of DIY assembly. Many items arrive in flat packs, with multiple pieces and an instruction manual that you must navigate. While some products are straightforward to put together, others can be more intricate.
Be sure to read up on assembly details before finalizing your online furniture shopping. Often, customers assume that all necessary tools will be included and only to find themselves with a headache of setup. From daunting manual to missing hardware upon arrival, assessing this before purchase will save you from frustration later. And, if you’re not keen on assembling your furniture yourself, look for retailers that offer paid assembly services.
8. Ensure Color Accuracy
In online furniture shopping, colors can vary significantly between the product images and the actual item due to lighting conditions. Professional photography can enhance colors in marketing materials than in reality. Also, remember that product images also go through editing to make them appear more vibrant compared to raw images.
This color discrepancy leads to unrealistic expectations, which turn into unintended purchases. For instance, you fall in love with a cream colored armchair, but when it arrives at your home, it looks tan or beige. Always read the product description for details on color. Not only this, view the item on at least two devices to gain a clearer understanding of its true color.
9. Assess Weight Capacity
Understanding weight capacity is crucial for your safety and the functionality of the furniture you’re purchasing. Not all items can support heavy loads, which can lead to structural issues over time. For example, beds are typically designed to accommodate two to three people, along with the weight of a standard mattress. Exceeding this limit may compromise the bed’s integrity. Similarly, utility furniture like bookshelves or media consoles has a certain weight capacity to support your items without sagging.
While this can easily be checked at any outlet or store, online furniture shopping limits this accessibility. To find this information, check the product description or specifications. If it’s not readily available, peruse the Q&A section or customer reviews for insights.
10. Read Customer Reviews
Customer reviews provide invaluable insights into your potential purchase, especially for online furniture shopping. They give you a glimpse into the experiences of others who have bought and used the furniture in their homes. They’re kind of like a digital version of word-of-mouth, giving you a better idea of the furniture you are buying.
Look for both high and low-star reviews to evaluate the ups and downs of the furniture. High-star reviews can highlight the positives, while low-star reviews often reveal pitfalls such as product quality and delivery issues. Plus, customer-posted photos in reviews can help you gauge size and color in a real-world context.
11. Verify Seller Ratings
When shopping for furniture online, you’ll encounter multiple sellers for the same product. To find a reputable retailer, create a list of brands that fit your budget and have a strong product range. To confirm the seller’s reliability, check ratings and reviews. Look for a consistent mix of positive and critical feedback. Be wary of overly glowing reviews with unusual phrasing, they are mostly fabricated.
Furthermore, recent reviews matter the most for online furniture shopping. Focus on current feedback to see how the seller performs in the present day. One effective way you can recognize a credible seller is through their customer support. Reliable sellers prioritize customer concerns and typically respond quickly and courteously to inquiries.
12. Look for Warranty
Investing in furniture is a big decision, and it’s crucial to protect your purchase. Ensure that the items you consider come with a warranty that covers structural components and potential manufacturing defects. First, think about the warranty duration. It typically ranges from 6 months to 10 years, depending on the item. For instance, recliners might have warranties of 1-5 years based on motor parts, while sofas usually offer 1-3 years.
Additionally, investigate what aspects are covered by the warranty, which might include the frame’s structure, upholstery stitching, or hardware components. For example, if you buy a recliner, you might find that the fabric has one year of coverage, but the motor comes with a five-year warranty.
13. Know Return Policies
Before wrapping up your online furniture shopping, thoroughly review the return and refund policies of the retailer. Many buyers make the mistake of assuming that returning an item will be easy if something goes wrong. But this is not always the case as each retailer has unique policies regarding:
- Return Windows: These can vary from flexible options of 7 to 30 days whereas some retailers don’t allow returns at all.
- Return Shipping Costs: Some retailers may cover these costs, while others charge between 10% and 30% of the product price.
- Return Process: Check whether the retailer will arrange for the pickup or if you’ll need to send furniture back yourself.
14. Confirm Delivery Timeframe
Before you complete your online furniture shopping order, it’s essential to clarify the expected delivery timeframe. Many buyers overlook this, expecting their items to arrive within days, only to be left waiting for weeks. Although standard furniture delivery typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, larger and bulkier items can take 3 to 8 weeks. Moreover, location factors also play a critical role in this. The distance from the retailer, whether they’re local, in another state, or overseas, can significantly affect delivery times.
Before paying, look for specific delivery dates or estimated ranges rather than vague phrases like “ships soon.” This will help you plan your schedule accordingly. If timing is critical, explore fast or express delivery options, but be aware that these services often incur additional costs.
15. Inspect Furniture Upon Delivery
Online furniture shopping means you lose the tactile experience of physically testing items. You cannot touch, feel, press, or sit on the item before buying it. You can only look at the images on the screen and read the description section. This makes it essential to thoroughly inspect your order when it arrives. Here’s what you can do:
- Check the Package: If possible, open the box and inspect the item before signing for delivery. Check that the size, color, and design match the online description.
- Document Any Issues: Most retailers allow damage claims within 24-48 hours of delivery, so act swiftly if something is wrong. Take clear, timestamped photos or videos during the unboxing to provide evidence if needed.
