Top 5 Interior Designer Tips Online Furniture Shopping

Top 5 Designer Tips  – Online Shopping for Your Home

I must admit the reality of my job is that a BIG portion of it is shopping.

As a designer and lover of all things home and home decorating I shop ALL -OF -THE -TIME.   I may not be looking for anything in particular, but shopping is my thing.  Thank goodness for me, it truly is all part of my job.   Admittedly these days it is much easier for just about anyone to find just about anything they could reasonably want by simply searching the internet.

The funny thing is though, I still get calls, emails, and texts from friends and family who know what they want but don’t have the first idea where to look when they want something in particular.  Or they are completely overwhelmed by the choices they have.

The process of online shopping although it may seem oh so easy, is, in reality, work and you need to be very careful.   Scale, proportion, and color are all difficult to judge online and even more difficult for most to visualize in their own space.

My first thought was to create a  post of online shopping ideas for home.  BUT Before I  create a list of websites to visit and catalogs to check out I think it’s only appropriate that I preface that with a list of my suggested do’s and don’ts of online and catalog purchasing.  A checklist if you will to hopefully minimize any mistakes and costly returns.

I can tell you FOR SURE that ordering, following up, tracking, receiving, and dealing with damages, incorrect orders and every other miscellaneous thing that comes up during the process IS the most Difficult and Annoying portion of the purchase.   However, it is probably the BIG and most important part of the process.  Ordering is just the first step.

Expect that there will be problems.  There always are.  There always will be.  And if by some slim chance you get through with no issues – consider yourself fortunate!

The photo above almost everything in the room was purchased through online catalogs

Here are some of my designer tips and good practices for internet shopping and ordering for the home.

1.  Make sure you can return it!

Not only do you want to have the security of being able to return any items that don’t work.  You need to know How much it will cost to return it.  There may be a restocking or repackaging fee.  It may only be returnable freight (for larger furniture items) and you will have to schedule for a freight truck to come and pick it up.

This leads to the second rule

2.  Know what your freight/shipping costs are.

Today – there is NO TELLING how much your freight costs will be.  Recent shortages of almost everything including lumber have affected shipping costs.  Gas prices are also a giant factor in shipping rates.

3.  Know ALL the details required for delivery.

Will the delivery driver bring the item inside the house?  Will the driver use a dolly across your paver driveway.  Will they take away the garbage?  Will it require a loading dock?  Will an 18-wheeler fit down your street.  Will the item come packaged, crated, or blanket wrapped?  Will it fit through your door, elevator, or up your stairs?

4. Check – Double Check and then Triple check the dimensions.

Everything is misleading in photos.  Check the size of everything.

My 6’ 4” brother sent me a great sofa he was considering purchasing.  When I looked, it was an overall size of 60” x 22” x 30” which is a love seat, he wouldn’t have even fit in this tiny little love seat.  He never even thought to look.

Many websites today have image comparisons that will show another item for reference.  But pretty pictures can be and are deceiving.

Check – Double check – and Check the size one more time for good measure.  Read every detail the vendor provides about the item so you are not surprised when it arrives.

It has happened to me so many times!  Once I purchased an outdoor sofa for my house and it was delivered and it was only 12’ high.  Even I make mistakes?

5. Make sure you know what KD means.

If you don’t know – KD – stands for Knock Down.  Which in plain English means you’re going to be putting the thing together.   If everything in life went as well in real life as we planned, it would be a carefree and easy experience.  However, I can barely put two sticks together!  With Directions.  When I see KD – I run the opposite direction – or hire someone to do it for me.  The advantage to KD is it is usually cheaper because the freight and shipping will be less because it can be packaged nicely in a standard size box.  But Beware.

I  know it sounds dreadful but my philosophy, in general, is to Hope for the Best and Plan for the Worst.

Expect that there will be problems. There always are.

And if by some slim chance you get through with no issues – consider yourself fortunate!

Now that you are ready to shop till you drop for home decor and furniture.

Here are some of my favorite Furniture Web Shopping Sites.

Most are higher-end products, but if you are an internet sleuth or shopper you can always find something similar somewhere else for less.

Perigold

This is the high-end version of Wayfair.  The Perigold site has tons of high-end vendors and the pricing is appropriate for the level of product they have.  I was impressed with the white glove delivery they provided.  I ordered lamps and they were on time, called prior to arriving, unpacked and even put a light bulb in, placed the lamps, and plugged them in.  It turned out I didn’t keep them, and the return pick-up service was just as professional and convenient.

Perigold carries Designer Brands, many that I order from frequently.

Just a few of the furniture brands on Perigold

A great source for high-end traditional pieces as well as contemporary furniture and styles you won’t find anywhere else. Below are a few of my favorites.  Scroll through the images below and click on any of them for more info and pricing.

 Living Room

Bedroom

Additional Furniture Brands I am a fan of are

Century – Bernhardt – Hooker – Four Hands – Hickory White – Jamie Young – Lexington – Caracole – Vanguard

In addition to Furniture Perigold has major lighting, accessory, and outdoor furniture brands.

A few of my favorite Lighting Brands are below.

Click the name to browse their products.

Arteriors – Curry and Company – Regina Andrew – Visual Comfort

Every one of these brands is a designer’s GO-To for decorative lighting.

Williams Sonoma Home

I really like the products on William Sonoma Home, they are more in line with high-end designer pieces and the shop by look section features well-known designers.

Below are a few of my favorite WSH pieces scroll through and click for more information

Ballard Design

Ballard is a “what you see is what you get” catalog store.  The prices reflect the product.  I wouldn’t suggest furnishing your whole house here, but with a few items here and there you can’t beat their prices.  I do think some are overpriced for what you get.  Shop carefully.

Here are a few items I like

Wayfair.com

This is the over-the-top anything you are looking for – they have it site.  This is a great shopping opportunity for Fast Furniture.  Like the counterpart Fast Fashion, Fast Furniture is not meant to last.  It’s economically priced and you get what you pay for.    Could it be too good to be true to find a barstool for $89.00?  When you buy an $89.00 bar stool – you get an $89.00 bar stool! Don’t expect it to be something more than what it is.

Wisteria

2021 UPDATE – Wisteria closed and has recently opened again.  They are building up their catalog and I am hopeful to see the same unique quality products they had before.

I really love the unique products Wisteria has.  I think the pricing is appropriate and fair.  They have a great selection of products you don’t find in every other catalog.

Serena & Lily

I love the look of Serena & Lily and with their success of late – so does everyone else!  A Cute beachy vibe for sure.  I’ve only ordered linens from them but have visited a couple of stores and it is a fun store.  I worry though with their popularity soon too many people will recognize their exclusive products and well do you remember the “Friends” episode about Pottery Barn?  If you don’t and want to Google it and get a good laugh.

Some of my favorite Serena & Lily Pieces are below.  Click for more info.

Rejuvenation

I have been ordering from Rejuvenation since way back in the day!  A long time ago it was where to find unique lighting but has now grown to include rugs, furniture, and antiques.  They have gone through some changes over the years, but are still a go-to for me for an industrial vintage vibe.  Prices are across the board, some are good some are high, but a well-trusted source.

A few favorites are below just click for more info.

West Elm

I am a fan.  I cannot lie.  Again, it’s not anything I would use through an entire house.  But I think the accessories are current, priced well, and cute.  I’ve never left without anything.  Prices are great for what you get.

A few of my selections are below

 Love the West Elm Lighting!  I may just get one of these for my house!

Crate & Barrell

Love it.  Who doesn’t love an everything in one spot store?  They have everything but not much furniture stays current season after season.  I have used pieces of C&B in several of my projects and would use them to this day if still available.

The chandelier in this Dining Room was from Crate & Barrell, I loved it and used it several times before they discontinued it.

Here’s a sample of some of their good stuff – click for more info.

I LOVE the raffia desk!

CB2

Crate & Barrell’s more contemporary cousin.  Same thoughts here but love their look.  It’s more modern and has more of a NY City loft vibe but you can find all kinds of good stuff here.  CB 2 is one of my favorite catalogs.

Here’s a sample of some of their good stuff – click for more info.

Neiman Marcus

I was originally surprised to find so many furniture pieces on Nieman Marcus site.  I would have to say I have a 50/50- love/hate feeling about the pieces they offer.  Some are great and some I can not even imagine who would Ever want or buy some of the pieces they offer.  But still, a good place to look for bones pieces and a great place to get a feeling for pricing if you haven’t been shopping for furniture in a while – it can be a reality check.

One of my favorite sites for myself is Overstock.com   I have ordered a few items for clients from here and my own personal bed (that I still love, love, love) is a four-poster chrome bed with an upholstered headboard is from here.   At the time I paid $800.00 for it.  With that said, shipping is free to you.  Return shipping if it doesn’t work out is not free.

I cannot stress how important making sure you are certain you like any item you are ordering online.  You could easily end up paying double for something if you don’t like it and must pay shipping fees.

So, my friends here’s to happy shopping.  I will have more to add in the future I am sure.