#### Contents 1. [Should I shop at a physical or online store?](#should-i-shop-at-a-physical-or-online-store-2) 2. [What to look for when choosing a furniture shop](#what-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-furniture-shop-2) - [Product quality](#product-quality-3) - [Product range](#product-range-3) - [Returns policy](#returns-policy-3) - [Customer feedback](#customer-feedback-3) - [Delivery](#delivery-3) - [Assembly](#assembly-3) - [Price](#price-3) - [Warranty](#warranty-3) 3. [Tips for when you shop](#tips-for-when-you-shop-2) ![A man and a woman walking through a home decor aisle in a furniture store.](https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/article-image/1ebc97a0-4873-5926-aee4-09fd592b3d35?width=826) ## Should I shop at a physical or online store? Choosing whether to shop online or at a brick and mortar furniture store depends on what you’re buying. If you’re shopping for something that needs to be comfortable, like a couch or mattress, then you won’t be able to discern its comfort online. We go through some pros and cons of both below. ### Physical furniture stores • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/furniture-shops?c824b361-1c51-4331-b196-98796a165a83%5B0%5D=204f3967-3788-41fe-ac65-c2b6f87a496a) Can see and feel products for yourself. Higher likelihood of items coming fully assembled or that they’ll be assembled by the delivery team. Often have access to more sales assistance. Sometimes limited selection on display. More time required to browse wares. ### Online furniture stores • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/furniture-shops?c824b361-1c51-4331-b196-98796a165a83%5B0%5D=c6ac8f10-f168-4399-a591-7da53b4a338e) Can purchase wares from the comfort of your home. Generally have wider selection of products. More likely to have products suited to all kinds of budgets. Easy to compare prices. Can’t test out a product prior to purchasing. Sometimes products look different to images online. You’ll more than likely have to assemble furniture yourself. ## What to look for when choosing a furniture shop ### Product quality You don’t necessarily need to fork out for the highest quality furniture, but you should be able to decide for yourself whether the price of something is worth the quality of construction and materials. For wood furniture, solid wood is generally the highest quality, while veneers are mid-grade and composite wood is of a lower quality. When shopping for upholstered pieces, indicators of high quality include a hardwood frame (as opposed to particle board) and assembly with dowels and screws (rather than glue, staples and nails). ### Product range Not many people have much spare time on their hands, which is why you might want to think about the product range of a furniture shop. If you want to kit out a whole room or house, then you may be more inclined to shop at a furniture store that has a wide selection of products so that you don’t have to visit multiple stores. Of course, if you’re after specific items, then a more specialised shop, such as an outdoor furniture store or a bedroom furniture store, may be a better option. ### Returns policy You should always read a retailer’s return policy before you make a purchase. Consider the following questions: - How long do you have to send it back for a refund? - Who will pay for the return delivery? - Will the store come and pick it up for you, or do you have to arrange the return yourself? ### Customer feedback Reading reviews that customers have left is a good way to figure out how reputable a furniture store is. Seeing what others have had to say about a store’s customer service, product quality, delivery times, and returns experience can help you figure out whether or not you would want to purchase from there. ### Delivery You should expect delivery fees, particularly if you’re ordering a large item such as a sofa. However, some retailers will offer free delivery if you spend over a certain amount or charge a flat rate regardless of how many products you buy. ### Assembly Check the item description to see whether assembly is required, and see whether it specifies how long assembly is estimated to take. Assembly could mean anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you place an order. ### Price You'll find that different furniture shops will stock different brands and products, and so prices can vary greatly. It’s easy to get carried away with finding the most beautiful piece of furniture for your space, but you need to think about your budget and which items you want to spend more or less money on. For example, a high-quality, comfortable mattress will help you have a restful sleep, which is priceless. Similarly, if you’re working from home regularly, you might want to invest in a supportive, ergonomic office chair to help prevent back and neck pain. Meanwhile, there may be some less used or less visible items - such as the odd side table or a shelf that will be tucked away in the pantry - that you may be happy to go to a cheaper store to purchase. ### Warranty After-sales service can be as important as your experience up until purchasing an item, and even more so if you have issues with your purchase. Even if a furniture store has an amazing reputation, this means little if their products aren’t backed by a lengthy warranty. Look for at least a 10-year warranty on larger pieces of furniture and expensive purchases. ![A female sales assistant showing a male customer fabric swatches while sitting on a sofa in a furniture shop.](https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/article-image/c1f9f23b-f852-5181-b1f6-f851905fccf0?width=826) ## Tips for when you shop ### Enquire about promotions If shopping in store, ask about any upcoming sales or promotions to see whether it’s worth waiting for a better price. If you’re shopping online, look for a promo code - some retailers will give you a discount for your first purchase from their site or when you sign up to their newsletter. ### Compare prices Sometimes you can also ask the sales representative at your preferred retailer to match or beat the price of an item that you’ve found cheaper elsewhere. ### Double check the measurements of what you're buying That’s right, whip out the measuring tape and compare the measurements of furniture against the space you have in your home for it. When ordering dining chairs with arms, ensure that the arms are low enough to fit under the dining table. ### Plan how you'll get the furniture inside your home Make sure that furniture can be delivered through your entry door and interior doors and hallways. If it’s too narrow a fit, then you may have to arrange for it to be delivered disassembled. ### Get fabric swatches, wood samples, and wallpaper samples if you can Some online retailers can mail you a fabric swatch of a product you’re considering buying. This can help you see whether it matches the decor in your home and what it looks like in your home’s own lighting. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.productreview.com.au/c/furniture-shops" }, "headline": "Best Furniture Shops", "description": "Read our guide to finding a furniture store that helps you come home with some gems.", "image": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/article-image/1ebc97a0-4873-5926-aee4-09fd592b3d35", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clara Von Dinklage" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "ProductReview.com.au", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/assets/public/og_logo_1a8a64.png" } }, "datePublished": "2022-09-09", "dateModified": "2024-02-05" }

Best Freedom Furniture Shops in Australian Capital Territory Canberra–Queanbeyan

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