The Ultimate Online Furniture Shopping Guide:Designer Tells All
Let’s talk online furniture shopping. Nowadays, you can buy just about anything online—furniture, underwear, even mattresses. Who would have thought? Buying things online has obviously become normalized, and most people actually prefer it (myself included).
That said, buying furniture online can be risky, especially when the items are expensive. As a designer, I’ve learned a few things over the years about sourcing and buying furniture online, and I want to share my process with you—tips and tricks to make sure you’re buying the right pieces. Because let’s be honest…no one wants to be stuck returning a bulky sofa. Repacking and lugging furniture to the post office? No, thank you.
So, read on for my tried-and-true method for buying furniture online like a pro.
AVOID COSTLY (AND UGLY) DESIGN MISTAKES
Step 1: Know What You’re Looking For
You know what they say—don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. The same applies to furniture: don’t shop blind.
You wouldn’t believe how many clients of mine have bought furniture on a whim. Maybe it was on sale, maybe it looked cool, but often, it didn’t fit or serve their needs. The biggest mistake I see is spontaneous furniture purchases. Before you shop, you need to do the legwork: plan and measure your space.
Start by grabbing a tape measure and mapping out your space. Then, use a tool to create a to-scale floor plan. Need a tool? Check out Planner5D, see my full review here: Read: I Tested The Best AI Interior Design Phone App
Once you have your floor plan, plan out each piece of furniture, so you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for in terms of size and layout.
At this stage, it’s also time to identify your style. This step can take time, and I’ll link some resources to help with that, but the key takeaway is: knowing your style narrows down your options and makes shopping so much easier.
Read: Interior Design Styles Simplified: What’s Your Style?
Need an AI Interior Design Tool to help with determine your style? Read: The Best and Worst Interior Design AI,A Designer’s Review
Step 2: Come Up With a Realistic Budget
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to figure out how much you’re willing (and able) to spend.
Your budget will influence where you shop. Furniture prices vary wildly, so here’s what I suggest: go to a site like Wayfair and randomly add furniture pieces to your cart (don’t worry about the style for now). The goal of this exercise is to get a rough idea of how much low to mid-range furniture actually costs.
A lot of people don’t have a clue what a sofa or dining table should cost—this step helps you set expectations.
Once you’ve established a baseline budget, if you’re looking to upgrade to higher-quality pieces, consider adding 20–40% more to that number. That should give you a realistic range.
And if your dream setup is way beyond your budget? That’s when you may need to scale back, get creative, or explore secondhand options.
Bottom line: Know how much you’re able and willing to spend before you start shopping. It’ll save you time, money, and a lot of stress.
Step 3: Start Online Furniture Browsing
Okay, now comes the fun part: online furniture window shopping (my personal fave).
With your floor plan, style, and budget in hand, you can start browsing with purpose. The point here is to get a sense of what’s out there, and start identifying potential pieces.
Tips for Sourcing Furniture Online
Shopping online can feel like a gamble—but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to shop smart:
- Always check the dimensions. You’d be shocked how many people skip this. Don’t rely on photos—measurements are key. Cross-check with your floor plan.
- See if the vendor offers AR (augmented reality). Many sites now let you visualize the piece in your room via your phone. Read: I Tried The Newest and Hottest Interior Design AR Tech
- Read reviews—and check user-uploaded photos. They give a more realistic view of how the product looks in real life.
- Look at materials. Know what you’re buying before you pay for it. Is it solid wood or MDF? Polyester or linen?
- Request fabric samples (if applicable). Many retailers offer this for free or a small fee.
- Preview the assembly instructions. If it’s complex, factor in the time and effort it will take (or the cost of hiring help).
- Avoid final sale items unless you’re absolutely sure it’s the right fit.
Where to Buy Furniture Online
By now, you’ve done the work—measured, planned, defined your style, created a budget, and browsed like a pro. So… where should you actually shop?
Lucky for you, I’ve put together a list of my favourite online furniture retailers—places I trust, and often recommend to clients. Whether you’re just window shopping or ready to buy, these retailers are a great starting point.
AllModern is a great step-up from Wayfair.
Birch Lane is classic.
ARHAUS is luxe, sophisticated and stellar.
Jayson Home for unique pieces.
Joss & Main is another classic.
Wayfair for budget pieces.
Castlery has absolutely stunning contemporary pieces.
For more, read: The Coolest Home Brands You Must See
Why I Prefer Online Furniture Shopping
If you haven’t figured it out by now—I’m a huge fan of online furniture shopping.
As an interior designer who primarily works online, my clients are often located all over the place. I can’t walk into a store with them, but thanks to the digital age, I don’t need to. I can source the perfect pieces online, and my clients can purchase them from wherever they are.
Honestly, I’ve made a name for myself helping people furnish their homes remotely, and I love it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, and want to avoid costly (and ugly) mistakes, consider working with an online interior designer. It makes the process easier, smarter, and more stylish.
But ultimately, online furniture shopping makes the furnishing process quicker, more efficient, and easier than ever before. Yes, I love getting out into the world and seeing furniture in real life—there’s something special about that. However, most of the time, I find I can discover so much more right at my fingertips.
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