Furniture Shopping Red Flags To Avoid (& What To Look For Instead)

The furniture industry has made large changes to keep up with modern consumer demands. Many people only expect furniture to last a few short years, and some companies spend less on materials and precise craftsmanship to make higher profits. Even though these changes are well known to the general public, it can be hard to spot substandard furniture. The more you know about furniture craftsmanship and design, the easier it is to recognize inferior features.

It may be tempting to buy a $100 dupe of a coffee table that's sold at another retailer for over $500. However, deals that are too good to be true are usually just that. "Fast furniture" is on the rise, and it's something you should consider before buying home goods at Temu and other unbelievably low-priced sellers. 

However, if you want to ensure you're buying furniture that's built to last, there are some red flags you should look for when shopping. Some signs of poor quality are obvious while others are more sneaky and hard to spot. In many cases, you have to see furniture in person and have a detailed product manual to assess its quality. So, learn how to spot these common red flags, and how to find better-quality furniture instead.

Furniture is often constructed from multiple pieces of wood joined together at the corners and other points. These are often the most vulnerable parts of a piece because if one of these joints fails, the integrity of the furniture suffers. So, carefully inspect these seems to see how well the pieces are connected. Are they joined together with haphazardly-applied globs of glue? Or, are thin screws being used to keep the points secure? Another sign of less-than-solid construction is seams that don't fit snugly together, leaving gaps between the pieces.

If you're looking for top-notch quality, keep an eye out for solidly constructed corners, which are more reliable long-term than cheaper methods. Interior Designer Tyka Pryde Edwards told Business Insider, "Instead, I look for sturdy joinery techniques, like dovetails or mortise-and-tenon joints, that are common in high-quality pieces." Dovetail joints are when two wood pieces are cut in the shape of castle battlements and slotted together with adhesive glue. Mortise-and-tenon joints are connected by inserting one wood piece into another and tightly securing them together. When you move, sit, or press against furniture with these joinery techniques, they shouldn't creak or bend under your weight.

Shoddy manufacturing doesn't just look sloppy, it impedes functionality. Doors and drawers that are crooked, have gaps, or rattle when they move are all signs they're shabbily crafted. You shouldn't struggle to pull them open or have to jiggle them back into place. These issues are often a result of improper alignment of the roller, slides, and hinges. It's also possible that drawer slides or hinges have become misshapen or bent, which is more common with less durable drawer slide materials. 

The good news is that fixing broken cabinet hinges is easier than you think and even drawer sliders can be replaced. The bad news is that if furniture comes with cheap hardware, you might be fixing it much sooner than expected. Avoid plastic drawer slides, which have many of the same problems as other plastic hardware. When used in drawers, they don't last long and their rollers are easily stuck. Test drawers and doors before making a purchase. Make sure they open and close smoothly without getting stuck or scratching other surfaces.

It's a good idea to test out a chair or table before purchasing it. If the legs rock with normal usage, it could be a multitude of issues. For example, the hardware and fasteners may have loosened and stripped the wood. This is a sign that the piece is made of a weak material like medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard that is easily torn by metal hardware. 

A well-made chair doesn't noticeably wobble, creak, or shift under your weight. It shouldn't rock easily, and the legs should stay flush with the ground when you sit down and stand up. Tables should have the same requirements. Even minimalistic hairpin legs are solid when made out of solid metal, connected to other quality materials, and angled and spaced correctly. Test the legs the same way you'd test any other piece of furniture. Press your hands against the top and make sure it doesn't creak or shift under the pressure. 

Bubbles and streaks in a wood finish indicate poor bonding, careless installation, and an improper final seal. There are various potential causes behind a poor top coat finish. Air bubbles form when layers are painted too quickly in succession, without having time to dry. Other tiny bubbles with trapped dirt inside are literally sealed pieces of debris and dust. Poor brushing technique and excessive varnish can also cause these issues, indicating inferior overall craftsmanship.

You'll have to use your sight and sense of touch to avoid furniture with poor finishes. Examine the furniture from different angles, looking for unintentional bubbling and streaking in the wood. Run your hand across the top to feel for uneven patches on the outside and inside sections. 

If you get a good deal on a piece with a bubbling topcoat, you can refurbish the wood furniture using various home improvement supplies. Solid wood and MDF can be sanded and refinished, enabling you to upgrade a mediocre product to have a little more quality. Keep in mind this won't improve shoddy hardware or strengthen the overall structure of the wooden item. It only improves the aesthetics and surface-level durability. 

Be careful when searching for solid wood furniture. Many wood-looking furniture products aren't authentic hardwood and are instead made of MDF, a commonly used particleboard. This material does have some benefits. For example, it isn't as prone to shrinking and expanding in temperature changes. However, it also has weaker structural integrity and is prone to splintering where screws are used to connect joints. 

You can differentiate between faux and authentic wood by looking for specific physical characteristics. Faux wood often has a synthetic grain pattern. It repeats and doesn't have the random knots and scarring you would see in lumber from a real tree. If veneer is used, it will often stop on the backside of furniture and transition to a different material. Solid wood furniture will also have variations and inconsistent patterns that go over the edges of the wood block. The wood pattern will continue on the backside and underside of furniture and may be unfinished compared to the rest of the piece. 

Sectionals, sofas, and chairs with luxurious upholstery can be deceiving. If the piece doesn't have a quality suspension, it won't distribute weight correctly. Take a look at what kind of suspension is used by looking under the cushions. Webbing systems (featuring criss-crossing straps) are cheap and can't support the seating capacity of a large couch or sectional. The only time webbing is acceptable is for smaller seating, such as armchairs and dining chairs. 

Instead, look for more sturdy suspension options made of heavy gauge metal. "Now, the gold standard for high-quality sofas is eight-way, hand-tied springs. This is the most durable and comfortable suspension system that you can buy," interior designer Melissa Welsh explains on YouTube. She also notes that sinuous springs are another popular option. These are more common in mid-range price points where you aren't as likely to find hand-tied springs. This system features snake-shaped pieces of metal that are placed in even rows to support the cushions. If you're considering a sofa with this more budget-friendly feature, look for thicker springs with tighter curves that will offer more support. 

The price difference is the first sign that you're dealing with faux leather instead of genuine leather. Authentic animal hide costs $20 to $50 per yard more than imitations. Even if you don't see the price, you can make an educated guess by looking at the physical characteristics. Faux and bonded leather are thinner and have smooth or repeating embossed designs without imperfections. These synthetic materials also have a chemical or fish-like smell, and bonded leather often has clean-cut edges that reveal its synthetic makeup. Beware of the standalone word "leather" in product names. This is sometimes done to mislead people into thinking a product is better quality when it's actually a leatherette or pleather material.

Faux leather isn't always a bad choice. When manufacturers are upfront about the material being vinyl, PVC, PU, or bonded leather, it could be worth the lower price point, especially if the other components are quality. However, if you're searching for a real leather, detect its authenticity using your sense of smell. It should have a strong leather scent. There should be visible pores and imperfections, and it will wrinkle when you press down. The upholstery will feel thick but pliable since it's an animal hide, not a machine-made material. The product description should also indicate the authenticity by using terms like "100% genuine leather," "full-grain leather," or "top-grain leather."

If you're investing in a Persian, Oriental, or hand-knotted wool rug, you want to be sure you're getting the best quality for your budget. One of the most important indicators is the knots per square inch (KPSI). The higher the KPSI, the denser the rug, and the more detailed and durable they are. Typically, anything over 120 is a sign of good quality. However, this number isn't always listed on rug specifications. So, you may have to determine how densely woven the rug is with your own observation. 

If you weave your fingers through the fibers, are you able to detect areas where light peeks through? Even low-pile rugs should have enough knots to avoid bald spots and gaps. If you're considering a very expensive rug or comparing two high-end options, you may want to get into the nitty gritty and determine the KPSI yourself. Take a ruler with you shopping and use it to find a square inch on the back of the rug. Use a magnifying glass and carefully count the knots along the inch in both directions. Then, multiply the two numbers together to determine the KPSI.

A helpful tip for finding the best large mirror is to avoid the most budget-friendly option. Many full-size mirrors under $20 aren't quality designs. Thin glass may end up peeling over time, and the silver layer may start to chip off, leaving marks behind. If you come across a low-quality mirror, you'll likely notice warping as you move around in the reflection. If so, test the mirror by holding a ruler against the glass. If the ruler appears warped and the measurements are unevenly spaced, you can tell the mirror isn't flat. A custom mirror company owner, Gio Jimenez, told GQ, "Distortions tend to happen more with acrylic and Plexiglass." So with this in mind, avoid mirror products made of those two materials.

Identify a good mirror the same way you spot a poorly designed one. Perform the ruler test and move around in the reflection to gauge how much distortion there is. Thicker glass, at least a quarter-inch deep, is more likely to be warp-free. And even if you select a mirror with thicker glass, it can still start to curve over time, especially if it's propped on the floor or a shelf. So, look for one that has a solid backing surface, like wood or metal, to give it the additional support it needs to stay straight.

A manufacturer's warranty is a company's guarantee that they'll refund, repair, or replace defective furniture products. This promise gives customers a safety cushion and shows brand accountability. While many companies have warranties and return policies, you must check the terms and conditions as sometimes, "lifetime" or "limited" plans" aren't what they seem.

The term "lifetime warranty" has a positive connotation, but customers must read the fine print. The "lifetime" part isn't always about your lifespan. It can refer to the product's expected lifetime, which is up to the manufacturer's discretion. It could also refer to how long the product is on the market or owned by the original purchaser. "Limited" warranties require even more scrutinization since they often only apply to specific parts of a product, not the entire thing. They could omit certain defects and not include labor costs if repairs are necessary. 

Before purchasing furniture, thoroughly read the warranty information. Look for terms like "full lifetime warranty," which ensures customers don't need to stress if their purchase is not up to standards. You should also consider other factors that imply the company has a fair return policy. Check out testimonials through disputes and reviews on sites like Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot. Also, stick to third-party retailers that have good return policies, like Costco, which has many reliable furniture brands worth buying.