Nine Furniture Shopping Tips

by Nick, Digital Specialist | February 29, 2020

Furniture shopping doesn't have to be difficult, and nobody wants to spend their entire weekend wandering aimlessly through a showroom. Check out these helpful tips and tricks to make your furniture shopping trip go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

It’s a common thing for our clients to be 90% ready to make a purchase, only to get interrupted by something they didn’t think about. It’s frustrating for our customers to have to wait to place their order, and it just adds to the time they have to wait. The worst is when a customer is almost there but then thinks of something at the last moment that derails the entire process, forcing them to start over from scratch and dragging out the process even longer.

With that in mind, here are nine tips that will help make your experience as smooth and efficient as possible:

1. Do Your Research: Having at least a general idea of what you’re looking for before you step foot in the store prevents the aimless wandering we see so often. These customers are overwhelmed and/or don’t know where to start, and after a while, everything starts to blend together. Know before you go! Start with a store’s website, or Pinterest!

2. Take Pictures: It’s always helpful to have some snapshots of the room you’re working on, so you can reference them while you shop. It’s helpful for gauging colors, but also to make sure that you’re laying out the room the way you want to. You don’t have to be a professional photographer- pictures on your phone are fine.

3. Measure the Space: This is crucial- one of the most common reasons why people leave without buying is because they have to measure. Be prepared. You don’t have to be an expert with a measuring tape, nor do you have to draw out a scale model of your living room. But have a rough idea of how the size of your room, so you know the pieces you’re going to add will fit.

4. Measure the Stuff in the Room: While you’ve got that measuring tape out, measure any pieces that you’re keeping in the room. If you’re replacing pieces (replacing an old sofa, for example), measure the old piece. This will help give you an idea of how a new piece will fit compared to the old one.

5. One More Thing with Measuring: What path will the delivery team have to walk to get your new furniture into your home? Are there any narrow doorways, tight turns, or stairs that might prevent it from getting in? Consider both exterior and interior walkways. Basements can be especially tricky for delivery.

6. Think About your Budget: It’s uncomfortable for some people to talk about money, but it’s helpful to have an idea of what you’re comfortable spending if you find something you’re interested in. Plus, you don’t have to waste time looking at things that are out of your price range.

7. Bring Samples: If you’re shopping as a part of a bigger design project, see if you can get your hands on samples of your flooring, paint, window treatments, or other things in the room. This can be helpful when you’re trying to decide on colors or fabrics, rather than starting and stopping.

8. Notify the Decision-Makers: Many times, there is more than one person involved in making the decision to purchase. It’s not always easy to get everyone in the same place at the same time, but technology like video chat makes it easier to get them involved. Let them know that you might be calling so they can be prepared.

9. Be Willing to Accept Help: Customers are sometimes afraid that salespeople are going to sell them something that they don’t want or need. However, as long as you’re at a retailer that you trust, a salesperson can offer their knowledge and expertise to help you come to the best decision for you, saving you money and time. Look for a store that has great online reviews and one that has been in business for a long time.

These tips will help ensure that your trip to the furniture store is as smooth as possible. This way, you can spend your free time doing whatever it is that you love to do!