Thinking about buying furniture online? Read our tips first to get the best results. Image: Blue Ocean Design
Online shopping is a great tool for furnishing a home. But a lot of us write off the idea of buying furniture online because it seems too risky. How can you tell if what you see is actually what you get? How do you know the piece will work in your home if you haven’t had a chance to see it first?
If you’ve ever asked yourself similar questions, this post is for you. In an effort to guide you through this process, we’ve taken the liberty of pulling together our four top tips for purchasing furniture online. Read them over carefully for the next time you’re ready to change up your interiors. With our help, we bet you’ll feel confident enough to add online stores to your repertoire.
Measure once, then do it again. Image: Estes/Twombly Architects Inc.
Measuring is the most important component of buying furniture, period. It’s even more crucial when buying online. Since you won’t be able to walk into a brick-and-mortar store and see with your own eyes how that piece will fit in your space, you’ll have to make sure your measuring skills are solid.
When you have an item you want to buy, read over the product listing to find the dimensions. (If you can’t find the dimensions, don’t buy that one.) Then, use measured-out painter’s tape or string to build a layout of how it will look in your home. If your furniture expands somehow — like a recliner or extendable dining table — make sure you account for the largest version. Then, double check your work.
Keep in mind this isn’t the only measurement you have to account for. If your furniture is coming to you already assembled, you need to measure any relevant doorways and stairways to make sure you can actually get it to where it’s supposed to go.
Read reviews to get a sense of customer satisfaction. Image: Gradient Architecture PLLC
Product listings are supposed to sound complimentary. That’s why it’s not uncommon for a piece of furniture to sound exactly like what you’ve been hoping for at first glance. Often, though, reviews tell a slightly different story. That’s where other customers often get real about their experience with the product.
When buying online, these reviews are key to your success. Focus your shopping on items that have lots of available reviews and read over them carefully. You’ll usually start to detect a theme about certain details mentioned by multiple customers. Weigh these comments in your decision, as they’re likely to be reflective of your experience.
Keep in mind that every product is bound to have a few bad reviews, especially if it has a high number of comments. A bad review doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the product, but it should factor into your decision. Pay close attention to the percentage of bad reviews overall and how the complainants say the seller handled their issue. That said, if a review doesn’t sit right with you, it’s probably best to explore other products.
Try to find a customer photo of the item to see what it looks like in a natural setting. Image: Cottage Home Company
Online product photos are hard to judge. Yes, that may technically be what the piece of furniture looks like, but it’s also being shown in the very best light and with the very best placement to encourage you to make a purchase. Often, once you get it home, certain details — especially color and texture — can be wildly different than in the photo.
That’s why we recommend viewing the real thing before buying, if at all possible. If taking a trip to a store to see it in person is doable, that’s your best bet. If not, try requesting a fabric swatch. Many companies will send one to you to ensure you’re happy with the way the fabric looks.
Lastly, if a swatch is not an option, you can always do an image search for consumer photos of the product. While some details will still be slightly altered by your computer screen, those will show you a different version of how the piece will look once you’ve furnished your home with it.
A workable return policy is key. Image: Cherith Craft Interiors
No one wants to go into a purchase thinking they may end up sending it back. However, it’s often unavoidable with online purchases. Sometimes, even your best judgment is not enough and the furniture just won’t work in your home the way you thought it would. Checking the return policy ahead of time gives you the reassurance that you have a backup plan if things don’t go your way.
Here a few things to look out for:
Ultimately, whether or not a return policy is satisfactory to you is a personal decision. Only you can tell whether or not you’re willing to take the risk. However, since furniture tends to be a costly item, we recommend sticking to stores that allow returns so you can protect your investment.
Use these tips when buying furniture online to make your investment a success. Image: Amy Carman Design
Buying furniture online doesn’t have to feel like you’re taking a big gamble. You just have to be smart about your selection process. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our best advice for shopping online. Keep these tips in mind for the next time you’re ready to make a big purchase, and we’re sure you’ll feel much more secure about what you’re bringing home.
What do you think of buying furniture online? Do you have any tips to add? Tell us all about it in the comments.
The post Nervous About Buying Furniture Online? Follow These 4 Tips to Make a Better Purchase appeared first on Freshome.com.
Use these creative workstation ideas to inspire your own space. Image: Planwirkstatt
Most of us would probably jump at the chance to decorate a home office of our very own. Limited square footage in most homes means dedicating an entire room to work isn’t always possible, but it doesn’t mean we should give up on the dream of creating an area where we can be productive. Sometimes a workstation, or a work area within another room, is all it takes to get the job done.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to get your workstation started, this post is for you. We’ve compiled design inspiration for the task, as well as some practical advice on how to set up your space. Read them over to get a sense for which type of area will work for you. Trust us when we say there’s an option to fit every aesthetic.
A workstation can go just about anywhere, even at the top of the stairs. Image: Bryant Hill Media
Use corners or odd room angles to your advantage. Image: Luci.D Interiors
Most bookshelves can double as a ready-to-go workstation that fits just about anywhere. Image: Bespoke Kitchen
When in doubt, invest in a workstation that can be there when you need it and fold away when you don’t. Image: The Tiny Project
If needed, don’t hesitate to create a truly custom workstation that meets your needs. Image: Schmitt + Company
Make a style statement by building a workstation into another piece of furniture. Image: Dyer Grimes Architecture
In your workspace, make sure function comes first. Image: Cummings Architects
Don’t be afraid to give your whole workstation a pop of bold color. Image: Danielle Colding Design, Inc.
Consider using wallpaper or another colorful pattern to separate your workspace from the rest of the room. Image: Camille Hermand Architectures
Be sure to include a few common threads like color and texture to tie your workstation into the rest of the room. Image: McDonald Jones Homes
Don’t forget that your space needs to include some sort of organizational element to keep it functional. Image: Holly Marder
Remember to add a few décor elements like art or knickknacks into your design, too. Image: Charles Vincent George Architects, Inc.
If two of you are using the same space, be sure to leave room for each of your personalities to shine. Image: DIY Decorator
A kid-friendly version of a workstation is the perfect spot for them to do homework or crafts. Image: 22 INTERIORS
How do you feel about these creative workstation ideas? Will you be trying any of these out in your own home? Do you have any ideas of your own to add? Let us know in the comments below.
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Stockholm was packed with the world’s biggest retailers and designers looking for the latest in Scandinavian design at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, the world’s leading event for Scandinavian design. The city also hosted Stockholm Design Week 2018 for the public so everyone could get their Scandi-fix. Here are our favorite 12 pieces from the show:
Poul Volther’s 1959 daybed has been put into production by KLASSIK Denmark in collaboration with Volther’s family.
Pholc presented the new Apollo 79 pendant lamp by Broberg & Ridderstråle. Cone-like shapes in brass or aluminum are accented in seven muted tones and several sizes.
Design House Stockholm’s Air sideboard uses rattan in a modern way. Place a lamp inside the sideboard to really make it pop!
Fredrik Mattson designed the versatile Pax chair for Materia. It’s designed to be small in scale with a curved shell.
Luca Nichetto was the star of Scandinavian Design Week 2018 with several stunning designs. The Mame chair, produced by Fogia Sweden, is the perfect fusion of Scandinavian design and sleek, Italian styling.
Voice’s Levier bookshelf, designed by Cate Högdahl and Nelson Ruiz-Acal of Cate & Nelson, is perfect for small spaces.
The Danish brand Muuto presented Norma Studio’s Mimic mirror, which is functional on one side and decorative on the other.
Skandiform’s Nestor Collection was designed by Lars Hofsjö to be mixed and matched in configurations and colors.
The spun-steel shades of Luca Nichetto’s Alphabeta lamp are grouped in pairs to direct light down and up. Customers can mix and match the shades to create a custom lamp of their choice.
Massproductions developed the Rose chair using 3D printing technology.
Swedish designer Johan Kauppi created this office system for Glimakra of Sweden. Inspired by the small farmhouses of the Swedish Lapland, the houses and dividers are semi-transparent and sound absorbent.
Anya Sebton and Eva Lilja Löwenhielm designed the Palais Royale table for Asplund, made of lacquered oak panels and an oak veneered top.
The post Here Are 12 of the Coolest Pieces From Stockholm Design Week 2018 appeared first on Freshome.com.
