Questions to Ask When Buying Furniture

The questions

Open any question to see why it works.

1. 1

   Is this in stock, or is it made to order?

   Upholstery lead times routinely run three to five months, and a special order is usually not cancellable once the fabric has been cut. Get the expected ship window in writing, along with what happens to your deposit if it slips.

2. 2

   What is the frame made of?

   For a sofa you want kiln-dried hardwood, and plywood is acceptable. Particleboard and stapled softwood are not. Kiln drying matters because green wood keeps moving in a heated room, and the joints loosen within a year or two.

3. 3

   How is the frame joined together?

   Corner blocks that are glued and screwed, dowels and mortise joints all last. Glue and staples alone do not. Ask to see a cutaway or a photograph of the frame, since makers who do this properly are usually pleased to show you.

4. 4

   Is this solid wood, veneer over plywood, or laminate over particleboard?

   All three sit in the same showroom at similar prices. Veneer over plywood is genuinely good and more stable than solid wood in a dry house, while printed laminate over particleboard cannot be repaired once a corner has swollen.

5. 5

   What is in the cushions, and what happens to them as they age?

   Foam density predicts sagging better than firmness does, and down-wrapped cushions feel softer but need fluffing every week. Ask what a replacement insert costs, because that is the cheapest way to make a tired sofa feel new later.

6. 6

   What is underneath the cushions?

   Eight-way hand-tied springs, sinuous springs and webbing are three different tiers of price and lifespan. Sit down hard on the front edge while you are there: you should not feel a bar under you or hear anything give.

7. 7

   What is the fabric, and how has it been rated for wear?

   Ask for the fiber content and the abrasion rating rather than a brand name. Performance fabrics resist stains but differ in how they pill, and leather labelled top grain is a different material from bonded leather, which peels within a few years.

8. 8

   Can I take a swatch home?

   Showroom lighting is warmer and much brighter than a living room at night. Seeing the fabric against your own floor and walls changes minds often enough that a store which refuses to lend a swatch is not doing you any favors.

9. 9

   What are the exact dimensions, including seat depth and arm height?

   Overall width and depth do not tell you whether you can actually sit back in it. Seat depth and back height decide comfort, and arm height decides whether the piece fits under a window sill or level with a side table.

10. 10

    What is the diagonal depth, and will it fit through my door?

    Delivery crews measure diagonal depth, which is the number that matters at a doorway, a stair turn or an elevator. Ask for it and measure your tightest point before you order anything large, because a returned delivery still costs you.

11. 11

    Does it come apart for delivery?

    Legs that unbolt, a back that detaches and sectional pieces are the difference between a sofa that arrives and one that goes back on the truck. Ask this specifically for anything going up a staircase or into a basement.

12. 12

    What does delivery include, and what does it cost?

    Threshold delivery leaves it at the door. Room of choice puts it where you want it. Full service unpacks, assembles, removes the packaging and sometimes takes away the old piece. The price gap between these is worth knowing before checkout.

13. 13

    What is the return policy if it arrives and I dislike it?

    Furniture returns often carry a restocking fee, a return delivery charge, or no return at all for custom orders. Ask how damage in transit is handled separately from simply changing your mind, because those are different processes.

14. 14

    What does the warranty cover, and for how long?

    Frames often carry a long or lifetime warranty, mechanisms and cushions much less, and fabric least of all. Ask who pays for labor and transport, since that is usually the expensive half of any warranty claim on something heavy.

15. 15

    Who makes it, and who do I call in three years for a part?

    Reclining mechanisms, drawer slides, casters and cushion inserts are the parts that fail. A manufacturer that sells parts to owners is a different proposition from a store brand that may not exist under the same name by then.

16. 16

    Is there a floor model, a cancelled order or a discontinued fabric at a lower price?

    Stock rooms hold discontinued colors, cancelled custom orders and floor models at real discounts, and none of it is advertised. Ask directly, then ask what condition the piece is in and whether it still carries any warranty.

17. 17

    What does the stain protection plan cover, and what voids it?

    These plans are sold at the register with a high margin and narrow terms. Ask for the actual document and look for exclusions on gradual soiling, pet damage, and any claim not reported within a few days of the spill.

18. 18

    If I finance this, what is the rate and what happens when the promotional period ends?

    Deferred interest offers can charge all the accrued interest retroactively if any balance remains at the end of the term. Ask for the rate, the exact payoff date, and what the monthly payment must be to clear it in time.

19. 19

    How should I care for this, and what should I never do?

    Rotating cushions, keeping wood out of direct sun and using the right cleaner affect lifespan more than the price you paid. The cleaning code letter on the tag tells you whether water is safe on the fabric, and it is easy to get wrong.

20. 20

    If I sat here for two hours, what would start to bother me?

    A salesperson who knows the floor can tell you which leather runs hot, which arms are too low to nap against, and which seats are too deep for a shorter person. Asking for the flaw gets a more honest answer than asking for the strength.