Shopping Finds
Measure before buying a sofa slipcover
A slipcover needs to accommodate the sofa's shape as well as its width. Measure the parts that determine where the fabric will stay put.
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Shopping Finds
Measurements, materials and details to check before adding something to the cart.
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Shopping Finds
What to check before ordering a washable rug
The word washable is only the beginning. Look at the whole cleaning process, from lifting the rug to drying it flat enough to use again.
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Shopping Finds
Choose baskets for the shelf instead of the photograph
The right basket should slide out, hold its intended contents and leave your hands somewhere to go. A shelf measurement alone will not tell you all of that.
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Shopping Finds
Calculate the curtain panels a window needs
Panel quantity depends on the rod, fabric and heading style. Work from the hanging arrangement instead of assuming every window takes a pair.
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Shopping Finds
Compare cushion covers and inserts as separate purchases
A styled pillow photograph can hide two separate products. Check the cover, insert and fastening before comparing prices or dimensions.
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Shopping Finds
Check a table lamp beyond its shade color
A lamp should put light where you need it, fit the surface and be easy to switch on. Its shade is only one part of the purchase.
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Shopping Finds
Measure dining chairs against the table you own
Seat height, arm clearance and leg placement all affect whether dining chairs fit. Use the table already in the room as the starting point.
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Shopping Finds
Read sheet sizes before choosing a fabric
Queen, king and deep pocket are not enough information on their own. Check the mattress and each piece in the sheet set before deciding on cotton, linen or another fabric.
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Shopping Finds
Choose towels by use rather than matching every piece
Bath towels, hand towels and kitchen towels do different jobs. Build a collection around those jobs before deciding whether every piece should match.
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Shopping Finds
Buy frames for prints with and without a mat
The frame's listed size usually refers to what it holds, not its outer footprint. Match the print, opening and wall space separately.
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Shopping Finds
Decide whether an entry bench has enough usable storage
Open the storage in your mind before buying the bench. The lid, doors and daily shoe pile all need space that the product's width does not reveal.
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Shopping Finds
Check the everyday trade-offs of a storage ottoman
A storage ottoman can hold blankets, support tired feet or act as an occasional surface. Check which of those roles its construction actually supports.
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