Now more than ever, ordering furniture online without seeing it in person first is a part of the retail landscape. That said, there’s nothing worse than placing your order, eagerly awaiting delivery, and then being disappointed when your item arrives and it doesn’t fit your space, the fabric is different than you expected, or it turns out that it’s backordered or stuck in shipping limbo.
But fear not! As you invest in your home right now, our expert Design Team has some fail-safe tips for ordering furniture and decor online, sigh unseen. You’ll find that with a little bit of research, asking the right questions, and the proper tools, you can feel 100 percent confident in every online purchase you make.
And because we want you to #LoveWhereYouLive, we would recommend that you also consider working with an e-designer when making your online purchases–an interior designer can walk your through all of the leg work and assist you in making the right furniture and home decor choices.
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Ordering Furniture Online Tip #1: Take Measurements First
When buying furniture online, the first step is to check all of your dimensions and take accurate measurements before you start looking at specific pieces. We recommend that you use a physical tape measure (rather than an app on your smartphone)–plus, blue painter’s tape is your best friend when you are unsure of whether something will fit in the space.
You’ll also want to always keep scale and proportion at the front of your mind. Make sure every furniture piece relates to every other piece and the overall scale feels uniform. For example, when shopping for an end table, pick a size that’s not higher than your sofa’s height.
If you decide to work with an e-designer, your designer will select furniture based on the dimensions you give them so it’s very important to have accurate numbers on the books. When checking dimensions, don’t forget about the height. Designers often look at the width and length to make sure things fit into a given floor plan, but height is also important when it comes to working with tables and chairs, bar stools vs counter stools, and nightstand and lamp vs the headboard.
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Ordering Furniture Online Tip #2: Ask for Photos & Samples
To insure that you’ll love your new furniture, make sure that you feel confident about how the materials and colors will look and feel in real life. Before purchasing, either ask your interior designer, or inquire with the retailer directly, about getting samples of finishes, fabrics, stone, tile, carpet pile, or any other colored or textured aspect that you feel strongly about touching and feeling.
Additionally, while many e-commerce furniture retailers (including Kathy Kuo Home) are happy to send samples, it’s also work asking for lifestyle photos from real designer projects and customers. Seeing lifestyle photos will help you envision how different pieces work within different aesthetics, as well as within different home dimensions.
Finally, even if you’re vigilant about comparing photos and samples, keep in mind that certain materials can have a variance from what you see. To determine how closely a piece looks and feels like its photos, read reviews and manufacturer disclaimers. For example, you can expect that natural wood and other more rustic materials tend to have more variation.
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Ordering Furniture Online Tip #3: Research Shipping Options
Once you’ve done all your measuring, comparison shopping, and research, the final important topic to look into before pressing the purchase button is shipping and returns. There may be vendors–both through their own commerce channels as well as through external retailers, who do not accept returns if initial shipping was successful; and on the other hand, some items may be on final sale and not eligible for returns or exchanges; the same goes for custom pieces.
Just as we recommend that you read reviews, we also highly advise you to read over warranty and exchange policies. Overall, it’s best for you to be sure you are in love with the piece before you purchase in order to avoid any costly returns.
Lastly, if you need any one specific item in a timely manner, be sure to check on shipping times, stock levels for the items in question, and rush shipping options and pricing.
Kathy Kuo Design Services
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