Curating a well-styled, functional home is not an easy thing to do! It takes a lot of thought, time and effort – and that’s even with the blessing of the internet. Homewares shopping has come a long way with the help of the online shopping boom, and now you can literally furnish your entire house or apartment without stepping foot out of your day, which is pretty impressive.
However, as with all online shopping, you have to be cautious and sensible. Sure, something looks like an amazing deal – but guess what, if it seems too good to be true, that’s because it probably is. Follow these tips to make online homewares shopping easier and far more successful.
Take a good look at your space
The never-ending stream of beautiful, aesthetically perfect pictures on all your social media platforms is not enough to go off of when you’re shopping for your homewares. You need to look away from the screen and at your actual space if you’re going to get it right. Take precise measurements, look at the theme that you might already have going on, consider your desired colour palette and have a good think about your lifestyle. Once you have a full game plan including an exact budget, dimensions, floor plans and style inspiration, you’re good to hop back online and start your search.
Do your research
Time to do some serious homework! You need to be meticulous about your researching when it comes to investing in homewares online. Because you can’t physically see the items that you’re purchasing, you need to have some idea of how it works and whether it’s right for you. Research should include reading online reviews, searching for snaps of the item in question in various blog posts or social media profiles, and asking your social circle for opinions or experiences with certain brands or specific items. You need to look into every product that you’re shopping for, it’s time-consuming but well worth your while in the end.
Pay attention to the fine print
Again, because you can’t see, feel or test your homewares, you need to scrutinise the fine print. This means looking at exact dimensions, material compositions and shipping methods. It is very easy to get over excited by an item and not take the time to look at what it’s made of or how it’s going to get to you, avoid being burned by shoddy quality or extortionate shipping costs by doing some light reading, you won’t regret it. This even goes for smaller, seemingly simple pieces like photo frames, candles, bedding and pillowcases.
Ask questions if you need to
You’re not totally alone when you’re shopping online. Be sure to advantage of helpful chatbots or customer service emails in order to have your questions properly answered. A good provider will be helpful and accommodating to any queries you have or additional information you might need. You can even call the customer service helpline if you feel you need to speak with someone before you go ahead and buy your homewares.
Shopping for furniture and homewares online doesn’t have to be worrisome! By following these simple yet effective pointers, you’ll be investing in quality, gorgeous homewares that will last you a long time to come. If you’re really struggling, you can always order some fabric swatches or keep an eye on the exchange/return policy for a little peace of mind before you actually see your items.
