We don’t have to tell you how great it is to shop online: Just point, click, and it works! You just got your whole house set up in a few minutes. But as easy as it is to buy furniture online, it’s just as easy to make a mistake. Badly.
Maybe you just skimmed the policy on returns. Or perhaps the color you thought was forest green is more like lime. And let’s not even talk about the broken parts that came with the 6-foot entertainment center. It’s enough to drive an average person crazy.
Looks can be deceiving, primarily online. When that chair is in your living room, lighting, camera angles, and styling can make it look like a whole different piece of furniture.
Don’t worry; you can buy from an online furniture store like a pro if you avoid these mistakes.
Not thinking ahead
You’re looking for furniture to fill the home you have now, but it would be foolish not to think about how your life and living space may change in the next few years. If you’re thinking about moving in the next five years, you should think about how your square footage might shrink or grow.
How you’ll use the space, and where your furniture would go. It’s also wise to think about the future when shopping for “forever” pieces like sofas and dining tables. Pay close attention to trends.
Leaving out the research step
Look around in stores and on the Internet before you buy anything. Taking the time to “window shop” will help you figure out your options and how much they usually cost before you buy something you see in a store. Use reviews from reliable sources to figure out how good the stores you’re going to and the brands and pieces you’d like to buy are.
Not being practicle
Before you buy furniture, you should think about how you live. If you like to have dinner parties, you might want to choose a dining table with an extra leaf. If you have kids or pets, you’ll probably want easy-to-clean upholstery that can hide dirt and wear. In the same way, be realistic when you try out furniture in a store. If that chair makes you feel uncomfortable after just a few minutes, it won’t get any better after a long time.
Rushing the process
Furniture in a store is set up to look great, but you need to think about its look in your home. So, don’t listen to the salesperson pushing you or the voice in your head that tells you to hurry up. Instead, take your time and shop in a planned way. While you’re at the store, try out every piece you like. Open and close the drawers, sit on the sofa for a few minutes, and see how sturdy the TV stand is. Make sure to take pictures and bring fabric swatches home with you to see how each piece would look in your space. You’re about to spend money you’ve worked hard for, so be wise.
Not Taking Measures
Nobody can say it enough: Measure everything! Before you go shopping, measure the space you have and the size of the furniture you already have, whether or not you plan to keep it all. Even if you don’t plan to buy a piece that’s the same size as what you already have, having something to compare it to can help you decide. Before you decide on a bit, go home and draw out how you might arrange your online furniture store.
Ignoring Your Budget
Set a shopping budget before shopping, and then stick to it. If you can, pay in cash that you’ve set aside for the purchase. You won’t be tempted to spend more than you planned. Even though many stores will try to get you to sign up for a store credit card when you buy something expensive, don’t feel like you have to.
Conclusion
It’s easy to make a mistake when shopping from an online furniture store. When shopping for “forever” pieces like sofas and dining tables, think about the future. Use reviews from reliable sources to figure out how good the stores are and the brands you’d like to buy. Don’t rush the process. Take your time and look at each piece in a planned way.
Before you go shopping, measure the space you have and the size of the furniture you already have. Draw out how you might arrange your furniture before deciding on a piece. If you can, pay in cash or set aside the money you’ve budgeted for the purchase.
