The do's and don'ts of furniture shopping

Furniture shopping can be a little intimidating. Even in the most organized of furniture stores, the vast sea of sofas, side-tables, artwork, beds, mattresses and the like can be a bit daunting — even if you know what you’re looking for. Maybe especially if you know what you’re looking for. I’ve known many folks who have wandered in, taken one look, and wandered right back out again, without finding anything that they needed. However, armed with a few tricks of the trade, furniture shopping can be a lot more fun, and a whole lot more productive.

Do know what you are looking for. If you walk into a furniture store with a clear idea of the type of piece you are looking for, say, a king size bed, then go straight to that department first. After you have seen what they have on offer, you can wander and browse to your heart’s content. However, if you start off by wandering and browsing, overwhelm can easily set in and derail you from your mission. So, start with what you need first.

Don’t walk in, get distracted by all the pretty things and forget what you came in for. Yes, it’s fun to see all the new things on offer, but if you have a mission, then stick with it. Make sure you look at all the specific options in your category that are available, take pictures, ask questions, etc. Then you can move on and browse while you think things over.

Do measure your space before you leave the house, and then bring a tape measure with you to the store. Do not purchase a piece without measuring the spot that it will fill. This is a big no-no. If you need furniture for a whole room, then take a measurement of the room, write it down, and bring it with you. If you are just looking for a table, It does not need to be fancy, or to scale, but just a quick measure will see you time, money and headaches.

Don’t purchase anything without measuring first. My dad was a great carpenter, and one of his favorite quotes was from Norm Abrams, who said “measure twice, cut once.” The same goes for furniture. “Measure twice, order once.”. You don’t want to be saddled with something that doesn’t fit the space you intended it for. If you forgot to measure, don’t panic, simply ask for the item to be placed on hold while you go home to do so.

Do take advantage of the sales staff. They have the knowledge to help you by answering any questions you might have. Oftentimes, they also have historical information about how a certain fabric performs, or how a finish wears. I frequently ask the opinion of the sales person that I am working with regarding a certain piece. What’s more, they may be able to direct you to a piece that might be better suited to your needs, but only if you tell them what you are looking for.

Don’t assume that the staff are all just high-pressure sales people. At Sandpoint Furniture, the sales staff is friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. They will not pressure you into buying something that you do not need or what. Their business model and ethics just don’t work that way. As a small-town business, they have thrived because of their reputation for service. Know that they are there to help you, and they can’t help you unless they know what you are looking for.

Do keep and open mind. Sometimes I have gone in to the store believing I wanted a certain type, size, color for a piece, and then fell in love with something completely different for the space. If you walk into the store thinking that you will only buy a brown fabric sofa with a rolled arm because that’s what you’ve always had, you may miss the gorgeous navy-blue Chesterfield that would completely transform your space.

Don’t believe that special ordered pieces are too costly/time-consuming/intimidating for you to consider. Though buyers do a great job or filling the showroom with lots of options, it’s not possible to cover every combination of fabrics and finishes. Sometimes waiting for the perfect piece that is customized just for you is well worth the wait and comparable in pricing to what’s on the showroom floor. Again, by allowing the sales staff to do their job and help you customize the sofa you like, or suggest a table that would better suit you space that is not already on the floor, you might end up with the perfect piece.

Good luck and happy shopping.