Online shopping has become the best way to make purchases. Costs are often lower online than in store because the company’s overhead is lower. There are more discounts and sales available and often more stock and options.

Purchasing furniture online is a little more tricky than a piece of clothing or decor item. You have to think about the size, shape, material, colour, and decide whether or not all these specifications will work as a constant piece in a room. Not to mention the bulk of the item – you have to think about delivery and returns more carefully than for a small item.

There are a few good tips to keep in mind when online shopping for furniture. Being an online store ourselves, sohoConcept knows how to best make sure your online furniture shopping experience is as smooth as possible.

What to Keep in Mind when Online Furniture Shopping

• Check the return policy. Some companies offer free returns, while some specify a delivery fee, a restocking fee, or offer no return policy. Make sure you’re familiar with the terms before you make your purchase to avoid any difficulties should you need to make a return.
• Calculate delivery and shipping. How does the company calculate shipping costs? Do they charge a delivery fee as well? Before you input your payment details, make sure you understand the full cost of what your purchasing. If anything is unclear, contact the furniture company before you make your purchase to clarify.
• Measure everything. Seriously, we mean everything. The length, width, depth, even the height of the furniture needs to be well understood before you make a purchase. Make sure each of these specifications will fit in the space you have in mind – don’t guess anything! A good method for this is to use tape to mock up the space in your room. It’s a great way to visualize the actual size of furniture and see how it will fit in a room.
• Visit the showroom. Not everyone will have this opportunity, but if the online shop has a showroom and it’s located near you, make a trip to see the furniture in person. It can give you a good idea of the size and feel of the furniture if you have the chance. SohoConcept has showrooms in Manhattan, Toronto, and New Jersey if you’re in the area!
• Find photos. Many online modern furniture websites have photos of the furniture in rooms and from different angles. It can also be helpful to check online yourself for photos from other customers of how they use the furniture to get a different perspective on it. Search engines can provide even more information.
• Check out reviews. Whether on the company’s furniture website or on another site, like a customer’s blog, always make sure you check reviews. You want to see if there are any defects, or any unexpected features of the product, and also hear how much other customers love the product!
• Shop from secure websites. Ensure the website you’re shopping from has an SSL certificate. You can tell this by checking if there is a green padlock in the URL bar. This ensures that any information you enter, like your address, credit card number, or other personal information, is kept safe.
• Do your research. Make sure you understand exactly what the features of the modern furniture are before you make your online purchase. The types of wood, names of material, finishes, stitching, care instructions – all of this will have industry jargon and names that you should ensure you understand before you make your purchase so you know exactly what you’re getting.

At sohoConcept, we are dedicated to ensuring our customers have the smoothest purchasing experience possible. View our catalogue today and contact us if you have any questions about any of our online modern furniture!