I recently had the opportunity to spend the day helping my in-laws shop for furniture for their new apartment. These are some thoughts and tips about furniture shopping that I thought might be helpful.
1. Measure your rooms and make a little drawing of where the furniture you want to buy will go.
-Note window heights from the floor. That will be so helpful when you are looking for a piece that will go under a window. You will want know if it will be above the sill.
-Figure out the maximimum length a piece can be, ie: sofa or dining table with leaves. Things have a tendency to appear smaller in the large space of a furniture showroom. Keep the scale of your room(s) in mind.
2. Bring your sketch, a pencil and a tape measure.
3. If you have a pillow or picture or paint chips of the colors you want to use in the room's decor, bring it all with you!
4. Make sure you have plenty of time to browse and shop. Don't let a salesperson pressure you into making a decision. This is a big decision, don't rush it! You can even shop a while, take a break for lunch, and go back!
5. Style and color are important, but they are not the only things to be concerned with. Be sure to "try on" the furniture by sitting on it or lying down if necessary (bed, sofa) in order to see if it "fits" you well.
6. Once you've made your selections, don't be afraid to ask for a price break on the "package". There is usually some room in their markup to give you a "discount" for buying a quantity of furniture. Your salesperson will likely need a manager to approve this. Don't be intimidated!
7. Ask about what is included in delivery. Do they bring the items in and set it all up? If so, make sure you are ready with placement diagrams when they arrive.
Happy hunting!
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