Recently, a growing number of people have been buying their furniture and other home decor online because of how convenient it is. With online shopping, you can give any room in your home a whole new aesthetic quicker than ever before. But the benefits to buying furniture online don’t stop there. Shopping for home decor online is also generally cheaper than shopping in person, meaning your home’s new look won’t hurt your wallet.
But online shopping also has its challenges. For instance, it can be difficult to accurately judge the color of furniture through a screen. You also need to be more wary of scammers and sketchy stores when shopping online. Here are a few tips to follow the next time you shop for furniture online.
Read the Entire Description
Unfortunately, it is impossible to test any furniture when shopping online. And on top of that, product photos can be very deceiving, especially when you’re dealing with large objects like tables and couches. This is why it is important to read the product description in its entirety before purchasing any furniture.
The product description should have all of the information you need to know before making a purchase.
This includes the color, weight, length, height, depth, and even material of the furniture. There is also a good chance that if a product comes with a warranty or any special instructions that they’ll be found in the product description.
For instance, if a throw pillow can’t be cleaned with certain chemicals, that information would likely be mentioned in the product description.
Order Material Swatches and Samples if Available
When it comes to online shopping, the colors and textures of home decorations are nearly impossible to accurately determine. Many of the items you see when shopping online were photographed in studio lighting, which makes the product look much different than if it were sitting in your home.
Fortunately, most reputable retailers have material swatches available to ensure you understand the look and feel of the product. If you’re unsure whether or not a company offers material swatches, you could always call customer service.
Read the Reviews
Photo by Emre Can Acer
Reviews are one of the most important tools for determining the quality of a product available to online shoppers. Firstly, online reviews will give you an idea of how the product stands up to the test of time. One of the most common reasons online shoppers leave a poor review is because the item they bought didn’t last very long.
Additionally, many online reviews will include photos that may show the product in more realistic lighting. This will give you a better idea of how the furniture you’re viewing would actually look in your home.
If you want to take this advice a step further, you could turn to social media to see what people are saying about a product that you’re considering purchasing. Many brands even have social media accounts that might offer more information than a brief product description.
Measure Twice — Not Once
As previously mentioned, it can be difficult to judge the size of furniture when shopping online. This makes it difficult to determine if the chair or couch you’re looking at will actually fit in your home. It is important to be entirely sure the measurements you’ve taken of where you want to place the furniture are accurate. It would be incredibly disappointing for the new couch you ordered to arrive, only to be too large to comfortably fit in your living room. As the decades-old proverb goes, “measure twice; cut once.”
Don’t Buy From Sketchy Sites
The internet can be a dangerous place for online shoppers if they aren’t careful. There are dishonest people running websites that either make false claims or are outright scams that only ever intended to take your money. Be sure that you can trust the website you’re shopping on before making a purchase.
If a deal seems too good to be true, then it may be a trick. Look for an SSL certificate on the website before spending any money. A secure sockets layer (SSL) is an online security measure that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. This means that any transaction you make on that website is completely protected from being tampered with.
Compare Prices for Home Decor Online (including shipping)
The eCommerce business is incredibly competitive, meaning there are several, if not dozens, of competing online retailers fighting for your attention and money. Use this to your advantage and shop around for the best deal before you settle on a product. There are even websites available that can compare prices for you and tell you directly if you are getting a good deal or not. You may even be able to find online coupons or discount codes that can help you get your dream furniture for cheaper.
Remember to also calculate shipping into the price of your purchase. Many online retailers offer different shipping options for your convenience. You can compare rates across carriers to find the best deal for you. If you’re unsure that you’re getting a good deal on shipping you can use a USPS shipping calculator to find the best rates.
Familiarize Yourself With Return Policies and Warranties
Warranties and return policies are overlooked by many online shoppers, but the truth is that they’re very important. Sometimes we regret certain purchases, and a good return policy ensures that we can get our money back and buy something else. Quality furniture generally comes with a decent return policy, so be wary of products with short warranties. Remember to read the fine print and be sure you fully understand a product’s return policy before buying it.