7 Smart Reasons to Shop at a Designer Showroom

One of the biggest perks of working with an interior designer is having access to a Designer Showroom. We source custom furnishings from many to-the-trade product lines that you, as a consumer, cannot directly access. 

While not all interior designers will take their clients directly into designer showrooms, we love inviting our local San Antonio clients to come with us! (It’s our “Shop the Showroom” option available with Custom Interior Design.) 

We’ve found that this is an invaluable, enjoyable experience for our clients with several long-term advantages. If you’re considering furnishing a room or full home in the coming year, this one’s a must-read…

1. Tailored Options for Easy Decision-Making

If you have ever walked into a furniture store — or worse, browsed online — you know that the sheer variety of options are infinite. Unless you are looking for something specific, it is easy to get overwhelmed or to make mistakes. Maybe it’s too small, too large, not the right style, or made from materials you didn’t realize were poor quality until it fell apart a year later. (Ouch.)

Shopping with us at a designer showroom eliminates all of these problems. We know our product lines well and have years of experience working with different vendors. We’ve seen the craftsmanship firsthand & know just where to look to find what you want in your home. This saves you time (& potential remorse), as we navigate trusted lines that are within your budget and style goals. 

This creates a tailored, custom shopping experience, eliminates the noise, and only puts the best options in front of you. & when we do present you with the options, that brings us to my next point…

2. See & Feel Samples for Quality Assurance

There is a HUGE quality difference between showroom options and retail furniture. When you get to see and feel these fabrics and pieces in person, the difference is unmistakable. This makes investing in your desired furniture much easier, because you have the peace of mind that they will weather the seasons of life. 

However, keep in mind that you won’t find your exact piece of furniture in the showroom — the whole point is that we get to customize it for you! The showroom is a place where you get to verify that the vendors we’ve vetted for you are high-quality, that the construction is sound, and that their customer service is top notch. 

3. Test the Comfort of Each Piece

In addition to verifying the quality of showroom furniture, you’ll also have the ability to test fabric samples and specific furniture lines for comfort. Although your exact piece probably won’t be on the showroom floor, if a vendor’s entire collection is comfortable, your customized piece will be, too. 

You’ll also have the chance to sit-test sofas and chairs to better understand your desired dimensions. While we can give you our educated opinion on whether a piece is comfortable or not, the truth is that comfort means different things to different people. I might love a deep couch that I can curl up on with my kids (& our Boxer named Poppy), but you might prefer a shallower one that you can dangle your legs off of. Comfort is personal. 

Being able to shop at a Designer Showroom allows you to experiment with different seat depths, back heights, cushion firmness, & fabrics so we can custom build the most comfortable piece for you. 

Oh, and believe it or not, showroom options aren’t always more expensive! (& if they are, there’s a good reason.) If you’re interested in ballparking your investment, you can use our Guide to Investing in Your Living Room Furnishings to get a general idea by item.

4. Customization for Your Unique Needs & Style

Shopping at a designer showroom gives you access to customization options you won’t find anywhere else. & selecting all the bits and pieces of your new piece of furniture is — there’s no other word for it — FUN! From the type/color of the arms and legs, to the way the seams are finished, these details make all the difference. 

For nearly any piece, we also have the option to specify performance fabrics (stain-proof, kid-proof, pet-proof!), and can procure lighting, wallpaper, and fabric, and case goods (cabinets, consoles, etc.) that you will not find elsewhere. These become special and unique to you, creating just the right finish for a home that feels fresh, relaxed, and deeply meaningful. Which is what home is all about.

5. Streamlined & Simplified Ordering

Believe it or not, this is one of the BEST reasons to Shop the Showroom with us. While the furniture is amazing, of course, what happens after you place your order is just as important — which, for you, requires nothing more than patience. We offer complete order management, which includes ordering, tracking, receiving, inspecting, and handling any damages!

As your orders arrive, we’ll also hold the pieces for you until the last item comes in, avoiding intermittent home deliveries and time spent waiting on delivery people. If you are an avid online shopper, you know that this process (especially resolving damages) is a major pain. Which brings us to my next point…

6. Real Human Support & a 2-Hour Delivery Window

Let me tell you a fun little story about a situation that happened to me recently after ordering a new fridge for my own family. The appliance was sent out to a third party delivery service, which called me 24 hours in advance to confirm a 12-hour delivery window. Then, the day of, they confirmed a 4-hour delivery window. But here’s the thing…

I work full-time, and staying home for a full-day with that short of notice simply isn’t possible. Secondly, I have kids to drive to and from school — and every time the delivery company tried to deliver the fridge (between 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm), it landed right around my kids’ pick-up/drop-off times. Every single time. 

Worse, I couldn’t speak to anyone but a call center in another state, and it took four attempts (four!) to deliver the piece, & that was after some very firm conversations. Had I missed that last delivery, the fridge would have been sent back to the manufacturer. 

Point of the story: Deliveries are highly inconvenient, especially if they are large & you have a life…which is everyone!

When you shop with us at our furniture Showroom, there is no more waiting around during the freight delivery window, no more time wasted as you plan for a damaged item pickup, and no more hours on the phone handling the return and replacement. Our showroom will offer a 2-hour window at your convenience, and we set the time up for you. No call centers. No full days off work. Then, here’s how delivery works…

7. White Glove Delivery & Clean-Up

When your last piece has arrived, you’ll receive a one-time white glove delivery. No boxes. No styrofoam sheets or peanuts floating around the house. No trash cans full of packing material. Just your pretty new furniture delivered when they say it will be. 

Our delivery team will then place everything, including your rugs, exactly as our plans dictate. If you opt to receive the order with myself or Kennedi present, just hand them over upon delivery and our delivery team will do the rest! This is the final stage in an entire process that is full of confidence, peace of mind, and an outcome you’re guaranteed to love. THIS is why we do it this way!

A quick note — some designer showrooms do allow public access, but it can be an overwhelming experience if you try it alone. When we’re your partner right from the start, we make it a personalized experience that cuts out the extra stuff and narrows the options down to what’s best for you & your family. 

Then, you get to decide what you love most, knowing that there are only right choices.

If you’re curious about the investment in showroom quality furniture vs. higher end retail options, download our Furnishings Investment Guide. It gives you a line by line look at how pieces compare based on price alone… & it just might just surprise you!

If you’re in San Antonio and ready to start this process for yourself, reach out to us here. We can’t wait to meet you.

Xoxo,
Shawna

Styleberry Creative Interiors specializes in fresh, relaxed design crafted in a meaningful way. With a team and process you can trust, we’ll help you create soul-soothing spaces that inspire you to unwind, connect, and finally… exhale. Our studio is based in downtown San Antonio, Texas and serves clients in the Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, and greater San Antonio Metropolitan areas, as well as Nationwide.