Making a large purchase like home furniture might seem like a hassle and a risk that you don’t want to take, but with the prevalence of online furniture stores and with small local furniture stores disappearing, buying your interior design items from a reputable furniture shop in the USA is a good way to protect yourself while still getting the latest styles.
Of course, you can never be too careful when making any purchase online, and furniture is no different. Make sure that you are working with a US online furniture store that is reputable and offers a wide selection of styles from around the globe, with at least some pieces available from US locations.
Here is a brief guide to buying furniture online through a USA shop.
Start with an interior design plan
Before you start browsing individual online furniture retailers or home furniture brands, you should have a good idea of what type of interior design you want for the space. This is important because while most brands have something to offer everyone and most styles, the brands that specialize in your preferred style will have better value than other “cheaper” sites.
When planning your interior design, you need to choose a style (modern, eclectic, and farmhouse are the most popular), a color theme, what the room’s centerpiece or statement piece will be, and devise a reasonable budget.
Don’t pick a number out of thin air that you think you can afford. Look over some prices to get a good idea of the actual costs so that you can budget accordingly. If you need to exceed your available budget, consider the financing available with most furniture stores today.
Query your favorite online shopping search engine
Now that you have some keywords based on your interior design plan, plug them into your favorite shopping platform to get a general idea of the items that you might want for your room. This will help you set your budget as well, or you can look for those options where financing is available.
Take note of the brands, designs, styles, and colors that keep popping up again and again. Once you have some ideas of your ideal furnishings and décor, you can go to a discount furniture retailer to actually order the furniture.
Before you jump into that, you should check out the brand and the retailer thoroughly to make sure you won’t have any issues with damages, shipments, or service.
Check the reviews – all the reviews
Start with the reviews of the furniture brand itself. You should be looking for signs of quality rather than shipping or damage on arrival. Look for references to the brand’s personal guarantees or warranties as well. Pay close attention to reviews from loyal customers who experienced an issue, which hopefully also shows that it was resolved satisfactorily.
You can’t just look at the stars when you are looking at home furniture reviews. You really need to read the reviews themselves, because often people complain to the wrong company depending on their issue.
Meanwhile, you should check the reviews of the online furniture retailer you plan to order from. Look for signs of delivery issues, as well as damages during shipment and unsatisfactory customer service. Keep in mind that some delivery issues may be on the shipper’s end, although if the store continues to use a shipper that routinely damages products, it is hardly a testament to their service.
When looking at all of these reviews, look too for responses to the reviews. All of the typical consumer review sites allow the company to address or respond to the issue, as well as note when the issue was resolved satisfactorily for both parties. When nearly every negative review has been answered, as well as thank yous for good reviews, it bodes well that the brand has an image they are trying to uphold.
Methods of delivery and delivery times
One of the hardest things to get around when it comes to furniture shop USA shipping is arranging to be there when the shipment arrives. If you are getting free shipping from the online furniture store, it is almost certain to only include delivery to your door. If you need help bringing it inside or if you aren’t able to be home, this type of delivery isn’t going to be sufficient without some planning.
You can usually arrange with their shipper to deliver within a specific window, but you would still need to plan for someone to be there to help you. Optimally, one of the reasons people don’t like to buy furniture online is because they miss that white-glove service. The fact of the matter is that you can still get that white glove delivery when you order online, with furniture stores partnering with local stores and contractors for giving you that personalized delivery experience.
Sustainable home furniture
Eco-conscious shoppers are interested in making sure that the furniture they purchase is sustainable and made with sustainable manufacturing practices. Sustainable furniture is in high demand, and it should be cheaper than wood furniture when you consider how renewable the resources can be.
Sustainable home furniture materials include recyclable and biodegradable materials as well as easily renewable resources. Durable furniture, such as heirloom furniture, is also considered sustainable due to its long lifespan. Working with eco-friendly brands and stores is also an important factor for many shoppers.
Affordability and hidden fees
Many online shoppers are wary of sites that offer furniture for up to 70 percent off, but in reality, these are just ongoing clearance sales. Online furniture stores have a lot of ways that they can cut corners by not having the physical locations of traditional furniture dealers. They can pass these savings on to you, especially in the form of free delivery. Even local furniture stores are starting to offer free delivery just to keep up with e-commerce competition.
At the same time, there are some hidden fees you should be aware of. Make sure that you know exactly how much you will be billed for shipping, the method being used, your anticipated arrival date, and a tracking number. If any additional charges show up unexpectedly, don’t be afraid to challenge them. A reputable online furniture store will not have any hidden fees.
