There’s no better way to breathe new life into your home than by investing in some new luxury furniture, and some carefully chosen statement pieces, along with some aesthetically pleasing storage solutions, can make all the difference to the overall look and feel of any room.
But while shopping for high-end furniture once meant heading to browse in an exclusive bricks-and-mortar showroom or attend a private consultation with a designer and make the decision there and then, it has changed drastically over recent years, the most significant – and perhaps obvious – change of all being the move into the online world.
The continuing move into the digital age and, with it, the ongoing acceleration of e-commerce, has seen the purchasing of luxury furniture become more accessible than ever before, allowing you to simply open your laptop or pick up your smartphone, log on, and find what you want in just a few minutes.
Without the space restrictions of a physical shop or showroom, it’s possible to peruse a vast selection of products, read reviews and compare prices in a short space of time, and because opening hours and travel to and from high-end designer furniture stores are no longer considerations we have to make when shopping, the job can be done anywhere, anytime the mood to makeover your home strikes.
With quick and efficient delivery, your prized new investments could be taking pride of place in your home within just a day or two – with the exception of bespoke, tailor-made pieces, which continue to be made to order, especially for you. Still, even for the latter there’s a quick turnaround compared to that of just ten years ago when shopping for furniture online, and you’ll save time on the ordering, making the entire process faster and smoother than ever before.
If you’re looking for some standout new pieces of furniture to give your home the aesthetic upgrade you’ve been craving, then here are some tips for finding your perfect matches online.
Explore your options
The beauty of shopping for luxury furniture online is that you have options. In fact, there are so many that it can feel a little overwhelming at first – but by knowing some of the names and brands you like the look of and that have a good reputation, you can give yourself a head start. Look specifically for websites and ecommerce stores that specialise in luxury furnishings, and if you’ve never purchased from them before then read ratings and reviews to get an idea of how reliable they are and whether the quality of the items it sells lives up to expectations.
Choose timeless classics
Luxury furnishings are investment pieces, and although the upfront cost can be sizable, they are designed to stand the test of time. With this in mind, it’s wise to choose classic, timeless pieces that never go out of style – and by opting for minimalistic yet elegant furnishings that will work with a range of different design aesthetics, you’ll be able to continue enjoying them in your home even if you opt to change up the surrounding décor later on and give the room they are housed in a quick refresh.
Visualise – virtually
Shopping online means you no longer have to imagine how a piece of furniture will look in your living room or bedroom in your mind’s eye – because that’s where augmented reality comes in. This clever technology means it’s now possible to create a 3D rendering of how it will actually look, and even take a virtual tour of the space so that you can assess it from all angles – taking the guesswork out of luxury furniture shopping and allowing you to feel certain about the pieces you ultimately choose to buy.
Request samples
One thing that can make shopping for furniture online feel trickier is the uncertainty around how fabrics really look and feel. There’s nothing quite like being able to pop into a bricks-and-mortar store and sit on a sofa or chair or touch the material – but the next best thing when taking the online route is that you can request fabric samples before you buy and have them sent directly to your home. Between this, and the augmented reality tools we’ve touched upon, you can get a realistic idea of every aspect of your soft furnishings, so that there are no surprises when the goods are delivered.
Signed, sealed, delivered
Luxury furniture is expensive and meticulously made, which means that, often, it can require specialist handling and delivery. Often, this includes assembly in your home, so be sure to check the specifics of this before placing your order to ensure that the process will be a smooth one from start to finish, and that your investment pieces will be handled with care. It’s also worth checking whether this is included in the upfront cost, as while this is usually the case, there are some exceptions.
