What to Check on the Showroom Floor

You can learn more about a piece of furniture in five minutes of handling than from any description. Lift a corner, open every drawer, sit in every seat, look underneath and at the back. This checklist explains what to do with each type of piece, what a good result feels like, and which questions to put to the salesperson before you sign.

Start with the whole piece

Stand back and look at the piece at eye level. The lines should be straight, doors and drawers should sit evenly in their openings, and the gaps around them should be consistent. Then put both hands on the top and push gently side to side and front to back. A well-built table, dresser or bookcase should feel solid; a sway or a creak means the joints are loose or the back panel is doing too much of the work.

Lift one corner a few inches off the floor if the piece allows it. On a sturdy frame, the opposite leg on the same side should lift almost at the same time. If the corner rises while the other legs stay planted, the frame is flexing. Check that all legs touch the floor evenly on a flat surface; a rocking piece may only need a glide adjusted, but ask before you assume.

Sofas and upholstered chairs

Sit in every seat position, including the ends and the middle of a sofa, and stay there long enough to notice whether you sink unevenly. Press down on the arms and the top of the back. You should not feel the frame's edges through the padding, and nothing should creak or shift. Ask what the frame is made of and how the joints are fastened; the glossary explains terms such as kiln-dried and corner-blocked.

Unzip a seat cushion if the cover allows it and look at the core. Ask what the fill is and whether the covers are removable and can be cleaned. Look at the seams: stitching should be straight and even, and patterns on striped or checked fabric should line up across cushions and panels. Run your hand along the welting and the bottom edge. Turn a cushion over to see whether it is finished on both sides, which lets you flip it to spread wear.

Find out how the seat is supported. Ask whether it uses springs, webbing or another system, and press down on the deck beneath the cushions. It should spring back evenly without a hollow spot. If the store has a sample of the fabric, ask about its cleaning code and whether it was tested for abrasion; if the salesperson does not know, ask them to check rather than guess.

Dressers, chests and other case goods

Pull every drawer all the way out. It should run smoothly and stop before it falls out, and it should not drop sharply at the end of its travel. Look at the drawer front where it meets the sides; joints that interlock, such as dovetails, hold up better than fronts that are only stapled or glued on. Check the drawer bottom: a thin panel that flexes when pressed will sag under weight.

Look at the back panel and the underside. A thin hardboard back held on with a few staples adds little strength. Open doors and check that hinges are firmly fixed and the doors close flush. If the piece is a dresser or chest of drawers, look for a tip restraint kit in the box and a label about the federal stability standard. Our guide to dresser tip-over safety explains what that label means and how to anchor the unit at home.

Tables and desks

Push down on each corner of the table top, then lean on the middle. The top should not flex, and the legs should stay planted. Look underneath for how the legs attach: a frame with corner blocks or metal brackets bolted through is sturdier than legs held on with a single screw. If the table extends, open and close it yourself and check that the leaf sits level with the rest of the top.

For a desk, pull out the keyboard tray or drawers with some weight in your hand to see whether they sag. Check the height against your chair. For any wood or wood-look surface, ask whether it is solid wood, veneer or a printed laminate, since that affects how you can repair a scratch later.

Beds and frames

Ask to see the slat system or the frame without the mattress. Count the slats, check the spacing and look for a centre support rail with legs on larger sizes. Shake the headboard; it should be firmly attached to the frame. Check whether the bed needs a box spring or foundation, since that changes the total height and the cost. If the frame ships in parts, ask how many boxes it comes in and how heavy the largest one is.

Questions to ask before you sign

Ask for the written warranty and read what it covers, for how long and who pays for labour. Ask whether the piece on the floor is the one you will receive or whether a new one comes from a warehouse, and what condition and finish to expect. Ask about the return policy for this specific item, the delivery window and the delivery charge. For upholstered pieces, ask how long a custom fabric order takes. Write the answers down, and ask the salesperson to add anything important to the sales order.