The message alert that reads ‘package delivered’ to an online shopper is what the smell of morning coffee is to any caffeine lover. Though online shopping gives you the excitement of having your package arrive at your doorstep, without having to drive in circles around town for it, having home décor come in the brown box might be a risky bargain. Home décor as described is a play of colours, tones, hues, textures, of used and unused spaces that are tangible, a paradox to what online can offer.
Unlike smaller buys such as scarves or wallets or electronics, home décor can be decently sized up, depending on what you are getting. Home décor such as furniture are often louder choices to your daily landscape and might need some careful consideration before the ‘add to cart’ button can be pushed impulsively. The biggest win online companies have over us is the fact that a purchase is a button away and that is very tempting for a customer, which is what makes us so impulsive. This impulsive nature can be retraced to make the best use of technology and what it has to offer. Keeping a note of these pointers might help you make the best use of the online shopping technology.
First and foremost, the classic case of the enticing photographs that are often tagged along with the product at hand. It is great that the piece you would like to add to your home décor collection looks lovely on the attached photograph. However, it might be helpful to realize that these photographs are to be used only to gain a general idea of the object or its presence in a space just as any other online merchandise. When it comes to home décor, colours matter a lot, for which enticing, filter-washed photographs are often nothing but deceptive. Make sure to make a note of the colour in the descriptions provided by the seller before you fall for the photograph that is trying to sell it.
Another aspect that would help understand the product you are dealing with better is the size description. Make sure you get an exact sense of the dimensions and the units they have provided of the object. Another detail that can help you is the description of the materials used as well as finishes applied. Material is the general material used to make the object as a whole whereas finishes are the over skin touches that may make the object appear in a certain desired way, but not fully the material of finish.
Having said all of the above, the fact remains that the comfort of your home to shop at stores all over the world with designer brands and affordable choices and the opportunity to compare from online stores are indeed blessings. Not to mention that online stores do offer the best one can ask for in terms of deals and price comparisons, for which, making the best of what is available may help. I personally like to check the price online and then go into a store, double check the prototype piece, come back and order online to get the best price, running the risk of a slight color alteration but not compromising a whole lot. Most online stores do accept returns these days.
The Trupthi Panickor is an architect who is passionate about the spaces she designs as well as dances in.
