FURNITURE · BUYING GUIDE
Make room for the right fit
Furniture has to fit your room, your routine, and the route into your home. A photograph is useful for style, but measurements and delivery terms decide whether a piece will work in practice. Start with the job the furniture needs to do and a clear drawing of the space you can give it.
Measure the whole journey
Record the item’s width, depth, and height in the configuration you will use. Include space for drawers, doors, reclining parts, and chairs being pulled out. Mark the footprint on the floor with paper or removable tape so you can judge movement around it.
Check doors, stairs, lifts, landings, corridors, and tight turns along the delivery route. Look for the packed dimensions and whether the item arrives assembled, partly assembled, or in several boxes. A product fitting in the final room does not prove its package can reach that room.
Compare useful interior measurements too. A cabinet’s outer size does not tell you whether a particular appliance, document box, or collection fits inside. For seating, check the stated seat dimensions and adjustment range. Comfort is personal, so treat photographs and style descriptions as limited information.
Read the materials and assembly details
Look for the actual frame, surface, covering, and hardware description. “Wood effect” and solid wood describe different things; a colour name alone says little about a surface. Read care instructions and any stated load or use limits rather than making assumptions from the appearance.
Check what assembly involves, which tools are supplied, and whether another person or a paid assembly service is recommended by the seller. Include enough room to unpack and build the item. Keep packaging until you understand the delivery, assembly, and return requirements.
Record exactly what the price includes. Handles, cushions, shelves, fixings, or matching pieces shown in a photograph may be optional. Compare the same model, size, finish, and included parts across listings. Ask the retailer about any missing specification that would change your decision.
Know delivery and the exit plan
Confirm whether delivery is to a collection point, the entrance, or a room inside your home. Check stairs, assembly, packaging removal, and appointment charges where applicable. Add the known fees and taxes in the same currency, leaving any unconfirmed charge as unknown until the retailer explains it.
Read cancellation and return rules before ordering. Find out who arranges collection, who pays, what condition is required, and whether assembly affects eligibility. Check how to report damage or missing parts and keep the order confirmation. A clear return plan matters especially when a package is too large to carry to an ordinary drop-off point.