Big Sandy’s Tips for Online Furniture Shopping

While online shopping has elevated our lives for its convenience, it still often feels like a big gamble. Online furniture shopping, in particular, feels like an imminent scam. And it’s because there are higher stakes involved.

Will that couch’s upholstery look good against your coffee table? Does the color of that sectional look more navy than royal blue?

Well, worry not! Our experts at Big Sandy Superstore have a few tips to help you buy furniture online—check them out.

This step is arguably the most daunting one since it involves critical brainstorming and research, but in the long run, you will be happy you did your homework.

You can start by looking to lifestyle blogs for interior design trends to explore what kinds of furnishings and accessories you like that would also complement your space. Maybe a compact living room can inspire you to adopt a minimalist approach. Or if you’ve got an open-concept layout, that might direct you toward sectionals and large statement pieces. In truth, the possibilities are endless.

Once you’ve pinned down an aesthetic, notice words and phrases that are associated with that style. This running list will help you determine keywords to use and look out for when you’re searching for online furniture stores or scrolling through furniture catalogs.

If you’re looking for modern furniture online, our catalog has virtually everything, including living room, bedroom, dining room, outdoor patio sets, and more. We’ve got styles in spades, too—from classic to contemporary and coastal to cottage.

Of course, it’s not enough to just stumble across a beautiful piece of furniture, evaluate the price, and add it to your online shopping cart. We advise you to protect your wallet and dig a little deeper.

Along with studying the product model and image, take a close look at the description. Don’t just scan those words, take them in. If you’re looking at a wood dining table, you might want to check if it’s made from synthetic material or solid wood—the latter is of higher quality and is sure to last longer.

In addition, don’t forget to read the product specification sheets for more information regarding manufacturer care instructions, construction, and durability.

As you’re checking out a product’s description and specifications, you’re bound to come upon its height, width, and depth. Yes, it’s time to whip out that tape measure.

It’s best to take measurements of your available space before you scroll through furniture catalogs. Doing this first will help narrow search results right off the bat. Could you imagine the heartbreak upon realizing that your new entryway table blocks the front door? And nobody wants to deal with the hassle of online returns—so, take, check, and double-check your measurements!

And if you’re shopping for multiple pieces at a time for a single room, try to keep traffic flow in mind. Devising a room mockup ahead of time will help you visualize how many seats, chests, and tables your space can afford without feeling overcrowded.

Depending on who you are, this step might have prompted you to go, “Well, duh.” Just the same, we’re invoking it for emphasis. As is the case with digital dating, online furniture shopping can lead you to some proverbial catfishes. Hear us out.

Sometimes, through the screen, product images can exude a more, let’s say, “deluxe” look than what we might experience in person. Since these images are often of beautifully furnished rooms, it can be easy to fall into the trap of assuming the featured product is cut from the same luxurious cloth when it may not.

Product reviews from shoppers will indicate whether the furniture looks and feels as advertised. While one bad review shouldn’t necessarily deter you from a purchase, we recommend steering clear of any products with several bad reviews. These one-, two-, and three- star reviews often indicate poor construction and issues with use.

If available, you should scope out any photos that consumers have uploaded with their reviews since they can give you a pretty good idea of how the furniture will appear in your own home.

As you’re rounding out your selection of brand-new furniture, we implore you to reassess your shopping cart before placing your order. Unless you’re going for an eclectic look, you want to make sure your tables, seating, and home accents bring unity to your space.

Do you have too many competing textures in your furniture? Do the wood finishes look too disparate from one piece to another? Is that coffee table too high for this loveseat? In short, it is a good idea to double-check your haul in case you need to go back to the drawing board on a couple of items.

If the task of coordinating your furnishings is too much to bear, that’s where furniture sets come in. Your saving grace, our furniture catalog has living room collections, including seating sets, table sets, and full room sets.

For our last tip, we advise strategizing a route for your furniture delivery. As you map out this path, make sure you avoid tight turns and stairs as much as possible.

Upon checkout, you may select to pick up your purchased furniture at either a primary distribution center or a brick-and-mortar location to do the heavy lifting yourself. In terms of safety, we recommend securing your home by covering exposed floors and removing other furniture or objects that may obstruct the delivery path.

At Big Sandy, we offer white-glove delivery, wherein our delivery team uncrates your furniture, removes all packing materials, and inspects for visual product damage. If you opt for this service, prior to delivery, be sure to remove old or existing furniture from the room you hope to adorn with your new merchandise.

For the best online furniture store, look no further than Big Sandy Superstore. Deck out every space of your home with gorgeous name-brand furniture backed by our commitment to value. If you have any questions, reach out to our friendly staff of experts—we’re always happy to help. Call or visit us today!