In recent months we’ve seen a shift from shopping in stores to going online for practically everything we need. It’s clear that we’re witnessing a change in the way we buy the things and that change could be here to stay.

I’ll bet you’ve been sitting at home and truly “living” in your living room, you’ve probably began to look around to take stock of your furniture and décor.

Maybe you’re thinking you need to paint the walls or strip that wallpaper that was there when you moved in.

Maybe you’re fed up with the lumpy sofa and you can go through one more Netflix binge on something that feels like you’re sitting on a bag of sand and rocks.

But, if your room has a tricky layout or architectural obstacles, you may be hesitating to pull the trigger on new furniture.

Whatever the case, furniture shopping has changed for the moment and making the right decisions from home, when you can’t see or touch furniture, is more important than ever for determining a good experience from a bad one.

Before you whip out your credit card and hit the buy button on what you think is the perfect furniture for your living room, there’s a few things to consider to avoid buyer’s remorse. Here’s 5 questions designers ask before buying furniture and why you should too.

1. What are the dimensions?

In other words, it’s important to know the dimensions to ensure the proper fit in the space you want to put it AND it’s important to know the dimensions to make sure it will fit through your front door and every other place on the way to its final destination.

That means: Will it fit in a small entry way? Will it fit through interior doorways and halls? Can it go up an enclosed staircase, or down the basement stairs? If you live in a condo or apartment building, will it fit in the elevator?

Having a well thought out plan for how to get your furniture into place will save you tons of mental stress in the process.

If you’re unsure, make a cardboard template and do a dry run to see if it will turn the corners and fit. The extra effort will clear up a lot of uncertainty right off the bat.

Ask if the legs come off and what the frame dimensions are without legs. If the piece has back cushions, are they removeable or attached? The frame by itself can be 3 or 4 inches shorter than with the legs on. This will make a world of difference getting sofas or chairs through smaller doorways.

If the piece won’t fit, ask the furniture store if there is another option or if the piece can be customized to make it work. If not, ask if the sofa is available as sectional pieces. Sometimes getting left and right arm pieces with an armless chair will be the key to making it work. This is especially true if you’re pathway includes enclosed staircases with angled ceilings.

Case goods, like large wall units or cabinets are usually shipped flat and assembled on sight, so it’s a pretty safe bet they’ll be boxed and arrive in pieces. But to make sure of that, ask if the piece is “knock down”, or K.D. This means it is not put together and you will need to assemble it yourself.

Other pieces like credenzas made from solid wood construction will probably not be unassembled or make come partially assembled. In this case, you’ll need to know the length, width (depth) and height so you can make sure it will fit.

I like to tape off the area on the floor with the dimensions of the piece to visualize the footprint. This helps to get an idea of how things will look IRL. I’ll tape everything off: area rugs, sofas, chairs, tables, etc. Pay attention to how much space you have to navigate around the pieces and adjust if necessary.

Ready Made Vs. Custom

If you’re having a difficult time finding furniture that will fit into your space, try going custom.

Some retailers have the ability to customize furniture so they meet your needs better. It is usually more expensive than stock furniture but, it could make the difference between the piece fitting or not. Plus, when you consider that you’ll have the piece for many years, the higher investment is actually money well spent.

2. How is it made?

Upholstery constructed with regular plywood or composite wood fiber and put together with glue and staples will not last long with heavy use. Bodies put pressure on frames and the lesser quality construction will break down and become uncomfortable and unsightly super fast.

Laminated plywood secured with corner blocking, glued wood dowels and screws will last much longer. These frames are designed to withstand heavy use and higher end companies spend a lot of time and money getting the construction right.

My rule is, if you sit on it, you want the best quality you can afford to avoid disappointment.

What is the cushion construction? Is it foam, spring cushions, feather down cushions? All these options have different densities that will absolutely affect the cover of an upholstered piece.

For example, a feather down cushion will always make the frame of the piece feel deeper and lower than a foam filled cushion.

That can work for your or against you depending your height and body frame. A tall person sitting on a feather down cushion may feel like the upholstery is too low to the floor but, a foam cushion is just right. Conversely, a shorter person may feel like a foam cushion makes the frame feel too tall, especially if their feet can’t touch the ground while sitting in it.

It’s worth asking a seasoned furniture salesperson what their overall customer experience has been with a particular frame/ cushion combination.

Another important consideration is the fabric construction. Ask how the fabric’s been tested against wear. Most companies will have a double rub test quota that each upholstery fabric goes through, like 20,000 double rubs. That translates to a whole lot of use before the fabric starts to show wear.

You should also ask if the fabric is back lined to provide another level of durability and protection.

Case goods constructed with dove tail or butterfly joinery will always hold up better than pieces made from particle board. Drawers will not pull off like something held together with staples and the piece will be much more durable over the long run. I’ll always recommend investing in quality case goods that get heavy use in bedrooms and offices. If your dresser drawers need to contain a lot of stuff, you don’t want the drawer front to snap off after a few pulls.

Leave the less expensive pieces for the decorative accent tables and hall cabinets that don’t get heavy daily use: opening closing doors and drawers, etc.

Tip: If you can’t find the construction information online or by speaking to someone from the company, read the reviews. If people are saying it wears down fast or falls apart in a few months, you’ll know it’s crap.

If the company doesn’t show reviews on their website, check places like Amazon for the product. There’s tons of people selling furniture by drop shipping online and there’s always feedback on the products.

Lastly, if you can’t find out how it’s made, think twice before buying. Just because a sofa has an amazing price point and looks beautiful in online pictures doesn’t mean it’s made well or utilizes quality materials. Knowing how it’s made for sure will give you peace of mind.

3. How do I clean it?

Knowing how to clean your furniture is vitally important to avoid expensive mistakes and tragedy.

Some upholstery pieces can be cleaned with water. This means, you can get the fabric wet and it will dry without leaving a dark water mark behind.

Others require solvent only clean up. That means, you cannot get the fabric wet because it WILL leave a dark shadow after drying. Solvents are like dry cleaning solution that break up residue and draw it out of the fabric.

And, some other fabrics can only be vacuumed for cleaning, which means definitely no water or solvent.

The manner of cleaning is a definite consideration for how you live with your furniture, day to day. If you have small children, pets or entertain often, a durable, easy clean fabric is essential.

The same applies to case goods and wooden occasional furniture. Make sure to ask how to clean it.

These days, most wood pieces have a more distressed finish without a lot of glazing. So, in most cases, a chemical furniture polish is not needed. A damp cloth and or clean dry microfiber cloth will work to keep surfaces clean.

But, ask to make sure. Some wood furniture, painted, distressed, inlay, etc. should not get wet and so a damp cloth is not ideal.

4. What is the warranty?

Try to get a copy of the warranty information and read it over and ask what is covered and for how long if it is not clearly stated. Most times you can find warranty information on a furniture website in the footer or FAQ section. If you poke around, you’ll find it.

Most furniture retailers have specific language for what is covered and what is not. Knowing if your sofa is warrantied against fabric or frame defects is crucial and can save a lot of hassle before you whip out your credit card; especially if the piece you’re considering is custom and more expensive than a stock piece.

Make sure you understand what your responsibilities are to uphold warranty. For example, if you choose to apply a topical fabric protection above and beyond what is available on your upholstery at purchase, does that void the warranty if something happens during that warranty coverage period. Most often, the answer is yes, it will void the warranty.

Some companies also have accident protection programs that are an extra investment but could save your hide if something significant happens during the coverage time, which is typically 3 to 5 after years after purchase.

5. Does it serve the purpose I need it to?

This is more about you than the furniture but, it’s probably the most important question of all to consider.

It’s not wise to rush into buying a piece because of a phenomenal sale or because there’s limited quantities. If the piece you’re looking at doesn’t tick all the boxes on your list, leave it out of your shopping cart.

If it’s too big, too small, or a deal too good to pass up, more than likely you will not be happy with your snap purchase.

For example, a love seat is not ideal for a family of 5. You may encounter a heck of a deal on said love seat, and it may even tick a couple of the boxes on your list, but come first family movie night and the twins are fighting over who gets the cushy seat instead of the floor and you’ll quickly see the value in waiting to find the best option.

Having specific parameters to stay within, like the style, size, color, quality etc, for any furniture you’re considering, will put you leaps ahead in the end. Making a quick decision that doesn’t align with what you need will usually backfire and send you back to square one.

Again, always read reviews and pay attention to the ones that describe things like comfort, color: does it look lighter or darker IRL?

There you have it, 5 questions designers ask before buying furniture and why you should too.

1. What are the dimensions?

2. How is it made?

3. How do I clean it?

4. What is the warranty?

5. Does it fit the purpose I need it to?

Considering these core questions will affect how you live with the furniture you buy online. Having a plan to accommodate the physical attributes of you new furniture will save you time, money and hassle in the long run. And, I would venture to say that these questions are even more important than color and pattern, especially if you have a small space or tricky floor plan.

I’d love to hear what you think? Leave me a comment below and tell me if you’d add anything else to the list?

Join The Fun

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a few minutes here with me.

Don’t forget to subscribe to see the last installment of this 3 part series next week. The best way to do that is to subscribe so you don’t miss out. You can subscribe by downloading my 11 Secrets Only Designers Know to Make Your Space Rock. If you’re curious about how decorators and designers make a home look magazine ready, you’ll love taking a gander at these 11 secrets. You’ll learn how to style your room from the floor up and it will work for ANY space you have.

Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.