Shopping for furniture in store can be time consuming and frustrating. And that is exactly why consumers are switching to online furniture shopping, even when it comes to big furniture pieces, like beds or couches.

But is it not challenging and risky to buy furniture online?

Not at all, if you are equipped with tips that will guide you through.

Here is a free dos and don’ts guide we have designed to make things easy for you. Find out what you should avoid and what you should look out for when shopping for furniture online.

We are certain online furniture shopping is going to be a piece of cake after you read our guide.

Let’s jump straight into it.

Avoid impulse buying, even if you think that the piece you just saw is exactly what you have been looking for. Low prices and discounts are always a catch. But quality should never be compromised. That is why we cannot emphasise enough, how important it is to take time and think about what you are about to buy.

The beauty of online shopping is that you can take as much time as you wish to consider your purchase. It is a good idea to add your desired product to cart, and get back to it sometime later for reconsideration.

Consider all the benefits and disadvantages of the furniture piece, when shopping online. Some questions you should ask yourself are:

• Is the price compatible?
• How functional is the product? Can it serve multiple purposes?
• Is it durable and sturdy?
• Is it a good fit for my interior and my lifestyle?

Brainstorm some other questions as well. Think about what you are looking for a in a piece of furniture and what matters most to you.

Imagine browsing through an online furniture catalogue. Everything looks perfect and desirable. However, in reality things might be slightly different. The piece might not fit into your interior as amazingly as it fits into the interior put together by professionals.

Be especially picky about colours of the fabric: read the actual names of the colours, as they may be a tone lighter or darker than what you see on the photo.

While on a professional photo you will always see the best version of the furniture piece, photographed under advantageous lighting and from an advantageous angle, it is a good idea to browse through the photos provided by customers in the reviews. That might give you a better idea of how the piece actually looks.

It is always a good idea to find out what features you should look out for in a furniture piece. Let’s say you are looking for a kids’ bed. Try to find out what some important attributes it should have, like adjustable size.

If you are looking for ideas on how to decorate kids’ room, head to our blog post.

Don’t buy something that might not be of use in the future. Think about how you are going to use the piece, and where are you going to place it.

Think big!

• What is the ideal look you are trying to create in your house?
• Does that piece fit into your dream picture?
• Is it possible you might want to substitute it in the near future or might lose interest in its colour?

If you answered these questions confidently, then you are on the right path. Keep going.

Double-check the measurements of the product you are about to buy. You can place a sticky tape on the floor where the furniture is going to be to get an idea of how much space it will take.

Make sure you know the measurements of your rooms, your entries ad passages as well. No one wants to buy a piece to find out they can’t get it into the house!

While it is tempting to go to checkout and place your order quickly, don’t forget to check out the shop’s terms & conditions. It is important to be informed about what the policies are if things go wrong. Your furniture might arrive damaged, or you might not like its look and feel.

So make sure you know the returns and refunds policy.

It is also important to know the product’s delivery time, warranty, how the personal information you provide is going to be used, what communication options are available, and much more.

Last, but not least, try to find out as much as you can about your online store. Check out their social media channels, see how active they are, how many people have used their services and if the positive feedbacks and recommendations prevail. It is always interesting to find out what others say about not only the product itself, but also company’s customer service, delivery time, returns, etc.

We recommend reaching out to the store as well. If there is an actual physical store, it is a good idea to visit it and ask for assistance. Alternatively, reach out to the supplier through their contact info, be it an email address, phone number, or enquiries form.

Here is a pro tip: Give it a shot and ask for fabric samples.

Now that you have read the dos and don’ts of online furniture shopping, what is the one advice that hadn’t crossed your mind before? Keep these tips in mind and have a great online shopping!