Have you ever casually gone shopping for something but once you’re having an actual conversation with a human, you realize how unprepared you are to make a buying decision? We’ve all been there.
Maybe your old furniture wore out and you need to replace it ASAP. Or perhaps you’ve been planning a furniture purchase for some time. Regardless, here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we believe it’s critically important for shoppers to think through as much of the process as possible before setting foot in the store.
Join us below as we review everything you should know and everything you should do before going furniture shopping! Our hope is that by following this easy furniture shopping checklist, your furniture buying experience will be far more enjoyable and far less stressful — whether you buy from us or elsewhere.
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Furniture Shopping
To start, there are a few key questions to ask yourself prior to visiting our furniture showroom (or any showroom for that matter). Your answers about your needs, your home and its contents will make your shopping experience much quicker, easier, and more enjoyable.
What Do You Have in Mind?
It’s always important to know what you’re shopping for, and what your expectations are.
- What piece of furniture or décor are you looking to purchase?
- What kind of materials are you looking for? (For instance, leather or fabric, solid wood, metal, glass, etc.)
- Which colors are you considering, and which colors go with the rest of your décor?
Which Room Is It For?
Although some pieces of furniture like consoles or accent chests can be used throughout the entire home, most pieces of furniture are constructed with specific rooms or functions in mind. As a result, it’s important to know exactly which room you’re furnishing. That way, you can visualize the pieces you’re shopping in their exact place in your home.
This leads to the next important question…
How Is It Going to Be Used?
There’s a huge difference between furniture that gets regular, daily use and furniture meant for entertaining occasional visitors. For instance, the bed in your master bedroom will likely be used almost every single night. Similarly, the sectional sofa in your family room or den will likely get lots of seating hours. By contrast, a nightstand in a guest bedroom or loveseat in a formal sitting room, may not see nearly as much use.
- How frequently will this furniture be used? Daily or just occasionally?
- Will it be used mostly for relaxation, for work, or for entertainment?
- Is this furniture meant to be more functional, or more decorative? Put differently, is the piece for formal or casual use?
These questions help determine what level of durability you should consider.
Who Will Be Using the Furniture?
This question is more important than you think. Much like above, answering who will be using the furniture can help us determine what kind of materials or level of build quality is the best fit for you.
- Will it be used by your family on a regular basis, or by infrequent guests?
- Do you have pets or small children to consider?
- Is this piece for an elderly parent, or are you older yourself?
Having kids, elderly family members, or pets in the home all present special considerations with regard to stain resistance, cleanability, or accessibility.
When Do You Need It?
Are you shopping for an immediate replacement for old or broken furniture? Or are you slowly refurnishing your entire home over the coming months or years? It’s important to know and communicate your expectations upfront when it comes to delivery.
- What is your expected timeline for delivery?
- Are you willing to wait longer for a special order or custom order if it means getting the exact piece you want?
- Will you need to remove existing furniture before your new furniture comes?
- Have you considered which pickup/delivery option would work best for you?
Have You Set a Budget?
Lastly, let’s talk about money. It always helps to have a budget in mind.
- How much are you looking to spend?
- How are you planning on paying for your purchase? Cash? Credit card? Financing?
- If you’re financing, have you considered which term lengths and monthly payment amounts work for your budget?
Things You Should Do Before Furniture Shopping
Now that you’ve learned the questions you should ask yourself, it’s time to discuss the things you should do before furniture shopping.
- Measure and photograph any room where you’re considering new furniture
- Measure and photograph all furniture or décor items you’re looking to replace
- Take photos of any furniture, décor, fabrics, accents, pillows, flooring, lighting, etc. that you’re wanting to match or coordinate with your new furniture purchase
- Review your home’s floor plan, or use a tool like our Room Planner to sketch it out!
We love this last step, because the Room Planner tool helps remind shoppers of all the little details. Remember, as you’re planning your space, you need to consider things like doorways, windows, fireplaces, cabinets, light fixtures, artwork, flooring, carpet and rugs.
Things To Bring with You When Furniture Shopping
Here are a few items that are important to bring with you on your next furniture shopping trip:
- Photos of room, furniture and décor.
- Measurements of room and existing furniture.
- A way to take notes (notepad or smartphone)
- Measuring tape
However, if you had to guess which thing is most important to bring, what would it be? Nope, it’s none of the items we listed above, even though those things are all incredibly important.
The single most important thing to bring isn’t a something at all – it’s a someone! Whether it’s your spouse, your partner, a roommate, a parent, or even your adult children, it is critical to bring anyone who is part of your decision-making process. So don’t forget to plan your visit at a time when they can make it too!
Download & Bring Your Own Furniture Shopping Checklist!
We know that was a long list of things to consider. However, now you’re finally ready to go forth and shop with confidence the next time you’re looking for new furniture!
Since that was a ton of information to remember, be sure to download your own copy of our furniture shopping checklist before you go. We hope to see you soon at any of our North Georgia Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet locations!
