These days, most people will do anything to avoid crowded shopping centers and aggressive parking lot driving. We\u2019re comfortable ordering many big-ticket items online, including king-size mattresses and brand name refrigerators, but some consumers simply can\u2019t imagine purchasing a sofa without assuming the binge-watching position IRL (cradling a throw pillow, remote in hand, bowl of popcorn within reach).<\/p>\n
But there are plenty of deals to be found online. Without the added cost of physical storefronts and salespeople, online furniture retailers are able to keep prices low and offer flexible return policies to put customers at ease.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re wary of splurging on an area rug you\u2019ve never dug your toes into or have made regrettable online purchases in the past, follow these best practices from experts Jaclyn Harper, Owner and Principal Stylist for Harper Designs, and Maureen Welton, VP of Design at Article, an online-only furniture startup with a mid-century and Scandinavian aesthetic.<\/p>\n
1. Consider your lifestyle when choosing fabric<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGenerally, I recommend a leather sofa for dogs and kids because leather is tough, easy to clean and puncture resistant,\u201d says Welton. \u201cBut leather isn\u2019t indestructible. The good news for your sofa and dog dilemma is that leather wears in, whereas fabrics wears out.\u201d<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t imagine taking an afternoon nap on a leather sofa (too sticky), but your three-year-old is prone to spilling apple juice (also sticky), opt for a synthetic or poly blend. \u201cI personally find these fabrics to be more forgiving when it comes to stains and wrinkles,\u201d notes Harper.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are set on a fabric sofa, look for something with a high Martindale rating. This means it will stand up to wear and tear and look pristine for many playdates to come,\u201d explains Welton. \u201cHigh quality fabric sofas won\u2019t pill and wear thin as quickly as lower quality sofas.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Don\u2019t be swayed by trends when it comes to investment pieces<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re looking for investment pieces like a dining table or sofa, choose a neutral palette,\u201d recommends Welton. \u201cIt will allow you the freedom to change styles without having to swap out all of your furniture to match.\u201d If you can\u2019t possibly live without green velvet or leopard print in your life, Welton has a solution. \u201cIncorporate the trend of the moment into your design with accent pieces like a lounge chair, a coffee table or pillows that are less of an investment.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Measure twice, order once<\/strong><\/p>\n Make friends with your measuring tape because you\u2019re going to need it. \u201cYou should always measure your door frame, hallways and elevator \u2014 anywhere the piece has to travel to ensure it will fit. The last thing you want is to have your new piece arrive and not be able to fit through the front door,\u201d says Welton, who knows this from experience.<\/p>\n While your dream sofa might look picture-perfect on Instagram, it can be difficult to determine whether or not it will work in your oddly-shaped living room. \u201cGreen painter\u2019s tape can be really helpful for visualizing how furniture will fit into a space,\u201d suggests Harper. \u201cYou can also cut butcher paper to size and move it around the room to figure out your layout.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Get smart about space planning<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to spacing, you want to make sure that you measure to allow for at least 18 inches from the edge of your sofa to the edge of your coffee table, and also that you leave at least three feet for entryways into the space,\u201d recommends Harper.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re shopping online for an area rug, try to leave at least 12 inches from the wall to the edge of your rug on all sides.\u201d Another design mistake you\u2019ll want to avoid is the floating, too-small-for-the-space area rug. \u201cEither the front legs of your furniture should sit on the rug, or all of the legs should sit on the rug,\u201d says Harper.<\/p>\n 5. Hone in on keywords in product descriptions<\/strong><\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re a brilliant wordsmith, you may need access to a dictionary when reading product descriptions. \u201cLook for keywords that show signs of quality like \u2018full-aniline leather\u2019 or \u2018Pirelli webbing,\u2019 which is a rubber support suspension used in sofas,\u201d explains Welton. \u201cMartindale rub-test results are also a good indicator of product quality. The rub test simulates the natural wear of the sofa so you\u2019ll want to choose something that can withstand 25,000 rubs or more.\u201d<\/p>\n Other terms to keep an eye out for? \u201cWhenever possible, choose solid wood pieces and look for corner blocking, which is a piece of wood at a sofa\u2019s joints to help improve structural stability,\u201d adds Welton.<\/p>\n 6. Scour reviews on multiple platforms<\/strong><\/p>\n While product reviews on a retailer\u2019s website may be helpful, you should take them with a grain of salt. \u201cYou should always do your own research before buying,\u201d advises Welton. For a well-rounded perspective, search brand hashtags on Instagram, watch unsponsored product reviews on YouTube, or read press articles comparing brands and styles.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you see an unstaged photo of a piece of furniture, it gives you a more realistic expectation,\u201d says Harper. Without professional lighting and a stylist, that headboard you were about to add to cart may look completely different.<\/p>\n 7. Budget for shipping and potential returns<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFurniture can be a big investment, so you need to factor in the shipping costs and return policy into your decision,\u201d says Welton. \u201cAsk yourself, \u2018Is the size right for the space? Do I find it comfortable?\u2019 but most importantly, make sure you keep the return time period top of mind so you don\u2019t decide you no longer love it after the return policy has worn off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis applies to online as well as in-person purchases,\u201d adds Harper. \u201cIf you\u2019re customizing a piece of furniture, quite often you\u2019ll either have to pay a large restocking fee, which can be 20 to even 40 percent of the original price, or you\u2019ll be unable to return it and have to sell or donate the item.\u201d<\/p>\n Many online retailers have competitive return policies and low-cost shipping. \u201cAt Article, we offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee so you can try out your new furniture in your home. If you\u2019re not completely happy, we\u2019ll exchange it for free. Or if you choose to return, we\u2019ll refund you the product purchase price minus the $49 return shipping fee,\u201d says Welton.<\/p>\n 8. When in doubt, contact the customer care team<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be shy about getting in touch with the retailer\u2019s customer care team!\u201d insists Welton. \u201cAsk for their opinion about the sofas. Good customer care teams should be able to share thoughtful, detailed feedback on the sofa you have in mind.\u201d As a designer, Harper says she purchases about half of the furniture pieces for her clients online. \u201cI find you develop a relationship with the supplier over time, and then you feel more comfortable buying online.\u201d<\/p>\n