8 Surprising Items You Should Never Buy Online, According to Interior Designers

Chairs

If you order chairs or stools online, it can be hard to tell how good the quality is—and if they're comfortable to sit on. It's important to test out seating before purchasing to see if the design fits your body, while also fitting your aesthetic.

"Maybe you prefer a sleek, low-profile style, or perhaps you prefer the support of more substantial armrests and a high back," says Valerie Cardozo, fonder and principal of CARV Projects. "A quick in-person 'sit test' is the only way to truly gauge your desired comfort level, leaving no surprise come delivery day!"

Wallpaper

Online, wallpaper can easily be skewed by color and scale to look a certain way. In, person you can see exactly what the paper looks like. Furthermore, since wallpaper is difficult to install or remove, you need to be absolutely sure it's the right pattern and color.

"It can function almost as a large-scale art installation, so it's crucial to get the scale, color, and overall design exactly right," says interior designer Ghislaine Viñas. "Unlike paint, wallpaper isn’t easy to change once insulated, so testing a sample in your home is important."

Large Mirrors

A statement mirror looks impressive and can make the room feel larger, but buying one online and having it shipped can be problematic. "They might look perfect online, but some can distort your space," says Cardozo. "Full-length or oversized mirrors, in particular, can have subtle warping if the glass isn’t high quality. If you’re investing in a large-scale mirror, we recommend checking it out in person."

Flooring

Not all flooring is made the same, and scale is everything. Tiles may show a certain pattern online, and digital renderings can give you a sense of what it might look like in your house, but without getting a sense of the tile size, it may end up being too big or too small for your space. Similarly, in person you may notice recurring patterns that don't look natural when installed en masse.

"Wood grains, finishes, and textures all bring unique character to a space, and online images can make it hard to gauge these details accurately," says Cardozo. "Viewing samples in person lets you appreciate the true color and texture of the wood, helping you visualize how it will harmonize with other elements in your space."

Greenery and Plants

"Plants can transform a space, bringing in life, color, and texture—but their impact is all about scale and shape," says Cardozo. "Different types of greenery come in various sizes and forms, so seeing them in person allows you to gauge whether a particular plant complements your space."

Buying plants online also means you can't easily discern whether it's healthy or not before it arrives at your door. The bigger they are, the harder it can be to return plants bought online, and their size may mean they suffer from further shipping stress.

Sofas

A couch may look comfy online, but it can turn out to be a nightmare in person. After all, photos can't show you what foam or inner materials feel like, or how your body will feel after sitting on it for a period of time.

"Everyone has such personal preferences on how a piece sits, but I think we can all agree that we don't want the cushions to be as stiff as a brick!" says interior designer Megan Molten. "Good upholstery makes all the difference and should last for years; therefore, I encourage shoppers to visit a quality design showroom or to work directly with an interior designer."

Textiles

How a piece feels isn't just the material underneath the fabric—it's also the fabric itself. "Comfort is highly subjective, and what feels perfect for one person might not suit another," says Viñas.

Textiles also help pull together a room through texture, pattern, and sheen. "These tactile details can dramatically influence how a room feels, and online images rarely capture them accurately," says Cardozo. "We suggest ordering physical samples to get a true sense of what you’re committing to."

Paint

Like wallpaper, interior paint is something you need to see in person to make sure it's the right color. On your walls, the hue you chose may look totally different than the swatch, especially depending on how many coats you use.

"Screen settings, lighting, and even camera angles can play tricks on your eyes, especially with paint colors," says Cardozo. "We’ve learned through experience that those virtual color swatches aren't always accurate. We recommend reviewing wall finishes in situ, allowing you to experience how light and surroundings impact the color at different times of day."

To test a paint color, try taping two white notecards to your wall, and paint one with two coats of paint and the other with three. Observe how the light in the room changes the color, and if the color is close to what you're imagining both during the day and at night.