Designer Showroom vs. Retail Furniture: What's Best for You?

When you enter a designer furniture showroom, a whole new world of possibility opens! A typical consumer buys directly from retail stores like RH, Potterybarn, etc. When you shop retail, the choices are limited. Your neighbors may have the same sofa as you! 

However, interior designers have access to by appointment only showrooms for the design trades. These showrooms are a fantastic resource, and they can source a much more comprehensive array of fabrics and furnishings for a custom-designed look.

Today, I’m sharing 3 reasons you should check out designer showrooms over retail furniture options. Keep reading!

1. Select Customized Showroom Furniture 

Often clients request visiting trade showrooms to see and sit on upholstery items to ensure they like them before purchasing. They can choose the cushion firmness, and there are countless options of fabric selections. You can be sure to find the perfect size needed due to the number of choices available.

2. Showroom Furniture is High Quality 

The quality of furnishings displayed in trade-only showrooms are superior to retail offerings. For example, many of the upholstery items we source are from small, family-owned businesses in North Carolina, where they focus on craftsmanship and quality. As a result, each piece is made with great care and skilled attention to detail. 

The cushion fills tend to be durable, and the furniture pieces are built like a tank to stand the test of time. In contrast, many retail stores such as West Elm source their product overseas and can be considered "fast furniture" that does not last.

3. Designer Showrooms Include Stress-Free Installation

Working with an interior designer to source upholstery makes it easy! In addition to taking the guesswork out of sourcing, we handle all of the logistics of having it shipped, tracked, received, and installed. This is a smooth experience, especially in contrast to ordering through large retail chains where the delivery can be unreliable and potentially require many hours on the phone dealing with installation issues.

It is a joy to guide our clients through the experience of sourcing custom furniture through us!

Cheers,

Mimi