15 Questions to Ask Before Buying Furniture (2026)

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I once bought a “solid wood” dining table online for $1,200. When it arrived, the top was a veneer over particleboard. The legs wobbled within three months. The company’s return policy required me to ship it back at my expense, which cost more than the refund was worth. Lesson learned the hard way.

The furniture market in 2026 is saturated with products that look great in photos but fall apart in practice. Knowing the right furniture buying questions separates a piece that lasts 20 years from one that hits the curb in 18 months. Whether you’re furnishing a first apartment or replacing a living room set, these 15 questions will save you from expensive regret and help you invest in pieces that actually hold up.

Before You Shop

Furniture is one of the few purchases where preparation directly determines whether you’ll love or hate what shows up at your door.

Measure your space, including doorways, hallways, and stairwells. The number one reason for furniture returns is “it doesn’t fit.” Measure the room where it’ll go, the path it’ll travel to get there, and every doorway and turn along the way. A beautiful sectional that won’t fit through your apartment stairwell is useless.
Define your style and how you actually live. A white linen sofa looks stunning in a showroom. It looks like a crime scene after six months with kids and a dog. Be honest about your lifestyle, and pick materials and colors that work with it, not against it.
Set a realistic budget per piece, not per room. Quality furniture costs more upfront but lasts 5 to 10 times longer than cheap alternatives. A $1,500 sofa that lasts 12 years costs $125/year. A $500 sofa you replace every 3 years costs $167/year and always looks worn.
Research brands and read verified buyer reviews. Ignore the staged photos. Read the 3-star reviews, which tend to be the most honest. Look for recurring complaints about quality, delivery damage, and customer service.
Order fabric or finish samples before committing. Most reputable furniture companies offer free or low-cost swatches. Colors look different on screens than in your home’s lighting. A $5 sample prevents a $2,000 mistake.

Materials and Construction Questions

1. What is the frame made of, and how is it joined?

The frame is the skeleton of every piece of furniture. It determines how long the piece will last, period. Kiln-dried hardwood (oak, maple, ash, beech) is the gold standard for frames. Engineered wood, plywood, and MDF are acceptable for some applications but not for structural components that bear weight.

Avoid frames made of pine, particleboard, or stapled softwood. They warp, crack, and loosen under normal use. When it comes to joints, look for dowel, mortise-and-tenon, or corner-block construction. These methods create strong, lasting connections. Staples and glue alone are a sign of mass-produced furniture that prioritizes cost over durability.

If you’re in a showroom, flip the piece over or ask to see the underside. Quality manufacturers aren’t shy about showing their construction. If a salesperson can’t tell you what the frame is made of, that’s your answer.

2. What is the upholstery material, and how does it hold up to daily use?

The fabric or leather on a sofa, chair, or headboard takes the most abuse. Understanding what you’re getting prevents heartbreak.

Top-grain leather develops a patina over time and lasts 15 to 25 years with care. It costs $2,000 to $5,000+ for a sofa. Bonded leather (ground-up leather scraps glued to fabric) peels and cracks within 2 to 5 years. It’s cheap for a reason.

For fabric, look at the rub count (Martindale or Wyzenbeek test). Residential furniture should have a minimum of 15,000 double rubs. Heavy-use pieces (family room sofas, dining chairs) need 25,000+. Performance fabrics from brands like Crypton, Sunbrella, and Revolution are stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and worth the upcharge if you have kids or pets.

3. What type of cushion fill is used, and will it hold its shape?

Cushion fill determines how comfortable the piece feels on day one and on day 1,000. There are three main categories.

High-resilience (HR) foam with a density of 1.8+ pounds per cubic foot is the best option for seat cushions. It holds its shape for years and provides consistent support. Low-density foam (under 1.5 lbs/ft3) compresses within a year and never recovers.

Down and feather fill feels luxurious but requires regular fluffing and develops a “sat in” look. A down-wrapped foam core offers the best of both worlds: the support of foam with the soft feel of down.

Polyester fiberfill is the cheapest option. It flattens quickly, lumps over time, and is a clear sign of budget construction. If the cushion fill isn’t specified, assume polyester and price accordingly.

4. Is this solid wood, veneer, or engineered wood?

These terms get thrown around loosely, and the difference in quality (and price) is enormous.

Solid wood means the entire piece is made from planks of real timber. It’s heavy, durable, and can be refinished multiple times over decades. It also expands and contracts with humidity, so quality construction accounts for wood movement.

Veneer is a thin layer of real wood glued over a substrate (plywood, MDF, or particleboard). Good veneer over quality plywood is perfectly acceptable and often more stable than solid wood. Cheap veneer over particleboard chips, peels, and can’t be repaired.

Engineered wood (MDF, particleboard, plywood) is manufactured. Plywood is strong and stable. MDF is dense and smooth but heavy and vulnerable to water damage. Particleboard is the lowest tier: lightweight, weak, and falls apart when exposed to moisture. The IKEA bookshelf that swells after a spill? Particleboard.

Comfort and Fit Questions

5. Have I sat on (or tested) this piece in person, or am I buying based on photos alone?

Buying furniture online is convenient and sometimes unavoidable. But comfort is subjective, and no photo or review can tell you how a sofa feels when you sit in it for 30 minutes.

If you can visit a showroom, do it. Sit in the piece the way you actually sit at home. Lean back. Put your feet up. Sit for at least 10 minutes, not 30 seconds. Check the seat depth (too deep and your feet dangle; too shallow and you feel like you’re sliding off), the back height, and the armrest position.

If you’re buying online, prioritize retailers with generous return policies (more on that below). And read reviews specifically from people with a similar body type and comfort preference as yours.

6. Are the dimensions right for my space AND my body?

A sofa can fit your living room and still be uncomfortable because the seat height is wrong for your legs or the seat depth doesn’t match your torso length.

Standard sofa seat height is 17 to 19 inches. If you’re taller, look for 19 to 21 inches. Standard seat depth is 20 to 22 inches. Deep seats (24+ inches) look great and feel great for lounging, but shorter people end up with their feet dangling and their back unsupported.

For dining tables, the standard height is 30 inches, with 12 inches of clearance between the table top and the seat of the chair. Measure this with your actual chairs. And always check clearance for legs under the table, especially if it has a pedestal or trestle base.

7. If custom options are available, what can I customize and what does it cost?

Many mid-range and high-end furniture companies offer customization: fabric selection, leg finish, cushion firmness, arm style, and sectional configuration. Custom options add 10% to 30% to the base price and 2 to 12 weeks to the delivery timeline.

The upside is furniture that fits your exact preferences and space. The downside is that custom orders are usually final sale, meaning no returns. If you’re customizing, be absolutely certain about your measurements, fabric choice, and configuration before you order. Request fabric samples, use painter’s tape to mark the dimensions on your floor, and take your time deciding.

Delivery and Returns Questions

8. What does delivery cost, and does it include setup and packaging removal?

Furniture delivery is not a standard service. It ranges from “we drop a box on your porch” to “we carry it inside, assemble it, place it in your room, and take all the packaging with us.” The price difference is significant.

Threshold delivery (to your front door or building lobby) is often free or $50 to $100. White-glove delivery (in-room placement, assembly, and packaging removal) costs $150 to $400+. Full-service delivery with old furniture removal adds another $50 to $150 per piece.

Clarify exactly what’s included before you order. “Free delivery” that drops a 200-pound sofa in a box at your curb isn’t really free when you realize you need two people and an hour to wrestle it upstairs.

9. What is the return policy, and who pays for return shipping?

This is the question that separates smart furniture shoppers from frustrated ones. Online furniture returns are complicated and expensive. A sofa that costs $50 to ship to you can cost $200 to $500 to return because of the size and weight.

Some retailers offer free returns (Wayfair has a reasonable return policy; Article and Crate & Barrel offer returns with varying fees). Others charge restocking fees of 10% to 25% plus return shipping. Custom orders are almost universally final sale.

Read the return policy before purchasing. Check the return window (usually 30 days from delivery, sometimes less). And inspect everything immediately on delivery, because most return clocks start ticking the day the item arrives, not the day you unbox it.

10. How long will delivery take, and will I be notified of delays?

In-stock furniture from large retailers typically ships in 1 to 4 weeks. Custom and made-to-order pieces can take 6 to 16 weeks, depending on the manufacturer and materials. Some high-end pieces take 4 to 6 months.

Delays happen. Supply chain issues, manufacturing backlogs, and shipping complications can push timelines further. Ask: “Is this item in stock and ready to ship, or is there a production lead time? What happens if there’s a delay? Will I be notified automatically?”

If you need furniture by a specific date (a move, a guest arriving, a new baby), add 2 to 4 weeks of buffer to whatever timeline the retailer quotes. Furniture delivery is one of the least reliable timelines in retail.

Warranty and Care Questions

11. What does the warranty cover, and for how long?

Furniture warranties vary dramatically. Budget furniture might come with a 90-day warranty (or none). Mid-range brands typically offer 1 to 5 years. High-end manufacturers often provide lifetime frame warranties with 5 to 10 years on cushions and fabric.

Read the fine print. Most warranties cover “manufacturing defects” but not “normal wear and tear.” A cushion that flattens after 3 years might be considered normal wear, not a defect. Pilling fabric? Normal wear. A frame that cracks under normal use? That’s a defect and should be covered.

Also check what the warranty actually provides. Repair? Replacement? Prorated refund? A “lifetime warranty” that offers a 10% credit toward a replacement in year 8 isn’t as valuable as it sounds.

12. How do I properly care for and clean this piece?

Every material has specific care requirements. Ignoring them voids warranties and shortens the lifespan of even high-quality furniture.

Leather needs conditioning every 6 to 12 months. Keep it away from direct sunlight and heat sources (which dry and crack it). Most stains can be wiped with a damp cloth; harsh cleaners strip the finish.

Performance fabrics can usually be cleaned with mild soap and water. Check the cleaning code on the tag: W means water-based cleaner, S means solvent-based, WS means either, and X means vacuum only (no liquid).

Wood furniture needs protection from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Use coasters, trivets, and placemats. Sticking felt furniture pads to the bottom of legs and feet protects both your floors and the furniture itself. A furniture polish or wax application every few months keeps the finish healthy.

Ask the salesperson or check the manufacturer’s website for specific care instructions. And follow them. A warranty claim will be denied if the manufacturer determines you used the wrong cleaning product.

Value and Long-Term Questions

13. What is the price-per-year cost of this piece?

This reframing changes how you evaluate furniture. A $3,000 sofa that lasts 15 years costs $200 per year. A $900 sofa that lasts 3 years costs $300 per year and looks worn for the last 12 months of each cycle.

Higher-quality furniture almost always has a lower cost per year. But you have to be realistic about how long you’ll actually keep a piece. If you move frequently, redecorate often, or your lifestyle is likely to change (growing family, downsizing), buying the absolute best might not make sense. Buy for the timeframe you actually plan to use it.

14. Will this piece hold its style, or is it trendy?

Trends cycle every 5 to 10 years. That curved boucle sofa that’s everywhere on Instagram right now will look dated in the same way chevron patterns and barn doors do today.

For expensive anchor pieces (sofas, dining tables, bed frames), classic silhouettes hold up longer. Straight lines, neutral colors, and timeless proportions don’t scream any particular decade. Express your current style through affordable, easy-to-swap items: throw pillows, rugs, art, and accent chairs.

If you genuinely love a trendy piece and understand that you might want to replace it in 5 years, go for it. Just budget accordingly and don’t spend $4,000 on something with a 5-year style lifespan.

15. Where is this furniture made, and does that matter for quality?

Country of origin isn’t an automatic indicator of quality, but it correlates with certain manufacturing standards and price points.

American and Canadian manufacturers (Ethan Allen, Stickley, Canadel) typically use higher-quality materials and more labor-intensive construction. Prices reflect this: $2,000 to $8,000+ for sofas, $1,500 to $5,000+ for dining sets. European manufacturers (particularly Italian and Scandinavian) are similar in quality and price.

Chinese and Vietnamese manufacturing covers the full spectrum from premium to disposable. Large retailers like Restoration Hardware and West Elm source from Asia at various quality levels. The key isn’t where it’s made, but whether the manufacturer is transparent about materials, construction methods, and quality control.

If a retailer can tell you exactly which factory made the piece, what materials they used, and how it was constructed, that’s a green flag regardless of country of origin. If they can’t answer those questions, proceed with caution.

What to Bring When Furniture Shopping

Room measurements, including doorways and hallways. A tape measure isn’t enough by itself. Write down the room dimensions, the path from front door to room, every doorway width, and any tight turns. Take a photo of each measurement.
Fabric and finish samples from your home. Paint swatches, pillow fabrics, flooring samples. Colors look completely different in showroom lighting versus your home. Matching “by memory” fails about 80% of the time.
A tape measure. You’ll need it in the showroom. Measure the actual piece (not just the tag dimensions, which are sometimes wrong) and compare to your room measurements on the spot.
Photos of your current room. Show the salesperson your space. They can suggest appropriate scale, style, and configuration. A good salesperson prevents more bad purchases than any amount of online research.
Your phone with a furniture AR app installed. Apps from IKEA (IKEA Place), Wayfair (View in Room), and others let you virtually place furniture in your space using augmented reality. It’s imperfect but helpful for scale.
A notebook or phone notes app. Record model names, dimensions, prices, fabric options, lead times, and delivery costs for every piece you’re considering. Comparing three sofas from memory two days later is a recipe for confusion.

Typical Cost Range and Factors

Here’s what furniture actually costs at each quality level in 2026.

Sofa/Sectional: Budget: $400 to $900 (IKEA, Wayfair basics). Lasts 2 to 4 years. Midrange: $1,200 to $3,000 (Article, West Elm, Crate & Barrel). Lasts 5 to 10 years. High-end: $3,000 to $8,000+ (Room & Board, Restoration Hardware, custom). Lasts 10 to 20+ years.

Dining Table: Budget: $200 to $600. Midrange: $800 to $2,000. High-end: $2,000 to $6,000+.

Bed Frame: Budget: $150 to $400. Midrange: $500 to $1,500. High-end: $1,500 to $5,000+.

Dresser: Budget: $200 to $500. Midrange: $800 to $2,000. High-end: $2,000 to $5,000+.

Accent Chair: Budget: $150 to $400. Midrange: $500 to $1,500. High-end: $1,500 to $4,000+.

Delivery: Threshold: free to $100. White-glove: $150 to $400. Removal of old furniture: $50 to $150 per piece.

Key Price Factors: Material is the biggest driver. Solid hardwood costs 2x to 4x more than engineered wood. Top-grain leather adds $500 to $2,000+ over fabric. Performance fabrics add $100 to $400 over standard options. Custom configurations add 10% to 30%.

Red Flags vs. Green Flags

Red Flag	Green Flag
”Solid wood” without specifying the species. If the listing says “solid wood” but won’t tell you it’s oak, maple, walnut, or another specific hardwood, it’s probably pine or rubberwood, which is softer, less durable, and significantly less valuable.	Specific wood species clearly listed. “Kiln-dried white oak frame” or “North American black walnut top” tells you exactly what you’re getting and shows the manufacturer is proud of their materials.
No information about frame construction or joinery. If the manufacturer or salesperson can’t explain how the frame is built, the construction is almost certainly stapled particleboard or softwood. Quality builders highlight their craftsmanship.	Detailed construction information available on request. Corner-blocked joints, kiln-dried hardwood frame, eight-way hand-tied springs, and high-density foam are specifics that indicate genuine quality.
Return policy that charges restocking fees AND return shipping on a $2,000 sofa. A $2,000 sofa with a 25% restocking fee and $300 return shipping means you’re out $800 if it doesn’t work. That policy exists to prevent returns, not to serve customers.	Generous return policy with free or reasonable return costs. Companies like Costco, Article, and some direct-to-consumer brands accept returns within 30 to 90 days with minimal fees because they’re confident in their products.
Delivery timeline is vague or keeps changing. “6 to 12 weeks” is already a wide range. If it stretches to 16 weeks without communication, that’s a company that doesn’t respect your time or manage its supply chain well.	Clear delivery timeline with proactive updates. The company gives you a specific window, notifies you of any changes, and provides tracking once the item ships.
No cleaning code or care instructions provided. A piece of furniture without care guidance is a manufacturer who doesn’t expect you to own it long enough to need cleaning.	Detailed care instructions included with the product. Cleaning codes, recommended products, and maintenance schedules show a manufacturer who builds furniture to last and wants you to maintain it properly.
Price seems impossibly low for the claimed materials. A “solid walnut” dining table for $600 is almost certainly not solid walnut. Walnut lumber alone costs $8 to $14 per board foot. A real solid walnut table requires 30 to 50+ board feet of lumber just for the top.	Price aligns with the materials and construction described. If the materials and build quality are genuinely high-end, the price should reflect it. Reasonable pricing for premium materials is a sign of honest representation.

Money-Saving Tips

Shop floor model sales and clearance events. Showroom floor models sell at 30% to 60% off retail. Yes, they’ve been sat on by shoppers, but the discount is significant, and the damage is usually minimal. Check for stains, loose joints, and fabric wear before buying.
Buy during major sale periods. Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday are the biggest furniture sale events. Discounts of 20% to 40% are common, even from premium retailers. Sign up for email lists to get early access.
Consider “internet brands” that skip the showroom markup. Companies like Article, Burrow, Albany Park, and Joybird sell directly online without the overhead of physical stores. Their $1,500 sofa is comparable to a $2,500 showroom sofa in quality, because you’re not paying for retail real estate.
Invest in anchor pieces, save on accessories. Spend more on the sofa, dining table, and bed frame. These get daily heavy use and need to last. Save money on end tables, bookshelves, lamps, and decorative items, which take less abuse and are easy to replace.
Buy secondhand for solid wood furniture. A used solid oak dining table for $400 on Facebook Marketplace might have cost $2,000 new and has another 30 years of life in it. Solid wood refinishes beautifully. Particle board does not. Focus your secondhand shopping on real wood pieces.
Skip the store-offered fabric protection. Retailers sell fabric protection plans for $100 to $300 per piece. You can buy a can of fabric protector spray for $10 to $20 and apply it yourself. Same protection, fraction of the cost.
Negotiate at independent furniture stores. Unlike chain retailers with fixed pricing, independent furniture stores often have 10% to 20% room in their margins. Asking “is there any flexibility on the price?” costs nothing, and you’d be surprised how often it works.
Wait for what you really want instead of buying a placeholder. A $500 “temporary” sofa that you replace in 2 years costs you $500 plus the full price of the sofa you actually wanted. If you can wait and save, buying the right piece once is always cheaper than buying the wrong piece twice.

Quick Reference Checklist

Glossary

Kiln-Dried Hardwood: Wood that has been dried in a kiln (controlled oven) to remove moisture. This process prevents warping, cracking, and shrinking after the furniture is built. Kiln-dried hardwood frames are the industry standard for quality furniture. Air-dried or green wood is prone to movement and is a sign of lower-quality construction.

Eight-Way Hand-Tied Springs: A suspension system in high-quality sofas where each spring is tied to its neighbors in eight directions using twine. This distributes weight evenly and provides consistent support across the entire seat. It’s labor-intensive and expensive, which is why cheaper sofas use sinuous (S-shaped) springs or webbing instead.

Martindale Rub Count: A standardized test that measures fabric durability. A machine rubs the fabric in a figure-eight pattern until it shows visible wear. Residential furniture should score at least 15,000 rubs. Heavy-use furniture needs 25,000+. Commercial furniture requires 50,000+.

Performance Fabric: Upholstery fabric engineered to resist stains, moisture, and fading. Brands like Crypton, Sunbrella, and Revolution use treatments or fiber technology that repels liquids and prevents stains from setting. Ideal for families with kids, pets, or anyone who actually uses their furniture.

Veneer: A thin slice of real wood (usually 1/40 to 1/16 inch thick) bonded to a substrate material. Quality veneer over plywood is a legitimate construction method used in fine furniture. Cheap veneer over particleboard is prone to peeling, chipping, and water damage.

Dovetail Joints: An interlocking joint pattern used in drawer construction. Dovetails indicate quality craftsmanship and create a strong connection without relying entirely on glue or fasteners. If you pull out a drawer and see dovetail joints, that’s a sign of a well-made piece.

Helpful Tools and Resources

Our Pick

Felt Furniture Pads (Assorted Pack)

Protects hardwood and tile floors from scratches and scuffs. A $7 to $12 assorted pack covers every chair, table, and sofa leg in the house. Replace them once a year to keep them effective.

Our Pick

Small Bubble Level

A wobbling table or leaning bookshelf is usually a leveling issue, not a defect. A $5 pocket level helps you diagnose the problem on the spot, whether it is the furniture or the floor, and adjust accordingly.

Our Pick

Fabric Protector Spray

Apply it to new upholstered furniture and it creates an invisible barrier against spills and stains. Costs $10 to $15 per can and saves you from the $100 to $300 "protection plan" the store pushes at checkout.

Our Pick

Furniture Assembly Tool Kit

Most flat-pack and some mid-range furniture requires assembly. A basic kit with Allen wrenches, a Phillips/flathead screwdriver, and a small ratchet covers 90% of furniture assembly jobs and beats fumbling with the tiny wrench in the box.

Apartment Therapy - Honest furniture reviews, brand comparisons, and buying guides from real users. Their annual “best sofa” and “best furniture brand” roundups are based on actual testing and reader feedback.
Wirecutter (NYT) - Rigorous, lab-tested furniture reviews. They buy products, test them in real homes for months, and publish detailed findings. Their sofa, mattress, and desk recommendations are particularly thorough.
IKEA Place App - Augmented reality app that lets you place virtual furniture in your room using your phone’s camera. Other retailers (Wayfair, Amazon) offer similar AR tools in their apps.
Havenly or Modsy - Online interior design services that pair you with a designer for $79 to $199 per room. Useful if you’re furnishing an entire space and want professional layout and style guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is expensive furniture always better quality?

Not always, but price and quality are strongly correlated. A $3,000 sofa from Room & Board uses better materials and construction than a $600 sofa from a discount retailer. That said, some mid-range direct-to-consumer brands (Article, Burrow, Floyd) deliver quality comparable to high-end retailers at 30% to 40% lower prices by skipping the showroom overhead.

How long should a good sofa last?

A well-made sofa with a hardwood frame and quality cushions should last 10 to 15 years with regular use. Budget sofas typically last 3 to 5 years before the frame loosens, cushions flatten, and fabric wears. The frame is the most important factor. Cushions and fabric can be replaced or reupholstered, but a broken frame means the piece is done.

Should I buy furniture online or in a store?

Both work, with different tradeoffs. In-store lets you test comfort, see materials in person, and avoid return shipping hassles. Online typically offers wider selection and lower prices (no retail overhead). The ideal approach: test similar pieces in a showroom for comfort and scale, then shop online for the best price and selection. Always check the return policy before buying online.

Is it worth buying secondhand furniture?

Absolutely, especially for solid wood pieces. A used solid oak table, dresser, or bookshelf can be refinished to look brand new. Avoid secondhand upholstered furniture unless you can verify it’s clean and free of pests (bed bugs are a real risk). Secondhand markets are also great for mid-century modern and vintage pieces that have already proven they can last decades.

What’s the best time of year to buy furniture?

Presidents’ Day weekend (February), Memorial Day weekend (May), and Labor Day weekend (September) are the three biggest furniture sale events. Black Friday and end-of-year clearance also offer strong discounts. January is another good month, as retailers clear out winter inventory. If you can time your purchase around these events, 20% to 40% savings are realistic.

Next Steps

Start with measurements. Print a floor plan or use a free tool like RoomSketcher to map your space. Add doorway widths and hallway dimensions. This step prevents the most common and most frustrating furniture buying mistake.

Next, decide on your budget per piece and prioritize the items you’ll use most heavily. Your sofa, bed, and dining table deserve the biggest share of the budget because they take the most abuse and have the most impact on your daily comfort.

Then, use the checklist above to evaluate each piece you’re considering. Don’t skip the construction and materials questions. The answers will tell you more about the piece’s longevity than any photo or marketing description ever will.

Finally, be patient. The right piece at the right price is worth waiting for. A “good enough” purchase that you replace in two years costs more than a “perfect” purchase that lasts ten. If your budget doesn’t stretch to the quality level you want, consider buying one great piece now and adding the rest over time. A well-built sofa with a secondhand coffee table looks better (and lasts longer) than a matching set of cheap everything.