WHY GOLDILOCKS IS MISUNDERSTOOD
Have you bought something online and it didn't match the picture or what you were expecting?
We’ve all heard of Goldilocks and how she entered the bears’ house while they were away. She tested out their furniture, ate porridge and even broke a chair. While I understand it’s meant to be a cautionary tale of respecting privacy and not breaking into someone’s home, I think it also offers another cautionary tale. To try out furniture before you buy!
Despite internet shopping being popular and so accessible, I believe there are just some things that shouldn’t be bought sight unseen. Especially when you are buying something big and expensive, such as a sofa, chair or a mattress. Have you bought something online and it just didn’t match the picture or what you were expecting? I won’t buy shoes online as I just don’t know how they are going to feel or fit even though the size may be specified.
Seeing the product in real life allows you to:
1. Ask the supplier questions about the product. Where is it made? What are the materials? Is it custom made? Does it come in a range of colours and finishes?
2. Sit or lie on the product to see if it is comfortable and if it is the right size for you. Did you know that a sofa, for example, comes in different depths and heights as well as different types of foams and frames?
3. Understand how it’s been made, especially for Australian made and handcrafted pieces, where you can speak to the maker (and see the factory where it is constructed).
4. Appreciate the actual scale and size of the product, which is difficult to get on the screen. Have you bought a piece of furniture that looked too big or too small once you got it home? Or it couldn’t fit through the front door or in the room where it was meant to go?
5. Touch and feel the colour and texture. We all know that colours can be different on the screen compared to what they are like in real life. And texture too. I recently ordered a fabric sample for a sofa and the actual sample had a lot more colours than the picture showed. And then, colours can change depending on the light and environment.
Interior decorators can obtain samples of fabrics, woods and finishes so you can touch, try and see them in your home.
Interior decorators use suppliers we are familiar with and so are in a good position to know the quality and the finish of products.
As part of my services, I offer visits to my suppliers and shopping trips so you can try the furniture (without feeling rushed by a sales person). Buying furniture for your home is an important investment. You don’t buy a sofa as often as you may buy clothes, so you want to make a choice you are happy with!
To find out more about how I can help you with your furniture selection, schedule a free phone call. To receive helpful tips and inspiration direct to your email inbox, please sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter.
