Good furniture lasts for years, so a little planning before you buy pays off. Here's what to do before, during and after your visit.
Measure first
Measure the room, and note where the doors, windows, vents and outlets are. Then measure the way in: the front door, halls, stairs and any tight corners. For each piece you need, write down the width, depth and height you have room for, and leave space to walk around it: about 30 inches for a path, and around 18 inches between a sofa and a coffee table.
Know how you'll use it
A sofa for movie nights wants deep seats and soft cushions; one for a room where you entertain can sit firmer and more upright. A dining table that seats four most of the year may need leaves for the holidays. Pets, children and the sun from a window matter as much as the style.
Sit, open, lift
Sit on a sofa or chair the way you would at home, for a few minutes. Your feet should rest flat on the floor, and the seat should be deep enough for you; each piece's details give its seat height and depth. Open drawers all the way and close them again: they should run smoothly and stay square. Lift a corner of a chair or table a little: a well-made piece feels steady.
Look at how it's made
Ask what a piece is made of and how it's put together. Solid wood, and veneers over solid wood, are common in well-made dressers and tables, and joints like dovetails hold drawers together. For upholstery, ask about the frame and the cushions: loose cushions can be turned and fluffed. If a piece will see heavy use, choose a fabric made for it.
Ask how to care for it, too: how to clean the fabric, whether it can be treated against stains, and how to look after the wood. Leather softens and changes color a little with time, and some fabrics are made to be cleaned more easily than others.
Plan the delivery
Check whether a piece is in stock or a special order, and how long a special order takes from its maker. Ask how delivery and setup work, and whether your old furniture can be taken away.
Start with the largest piece
Furnishing a whole room? Choose the largest piece first, usually the sofa, the bed or the dining table, and choose the rest around it. It's easier to find a side table for a sofa than a sofa for a side table.
Bring your measurements and a few photos of the room when you visit, and ask us anything.
