Purchasing large ticket items like a sofa or sectional online might seem crazy to some. Touching, feeling and sitting have long been a crucial part of the in-person furniture buying process, but unfortunately, some things that may come along with tactile testing include pushy sales people and, even worse for your bottom line, inflated prices. Wait…why? Well, brick-and-mortar stores are expensive, and we mean that literally. The cost of rent and everything that comes along with a physical storefront typically gets passed on to the customer, showing up inconspicuously in that sofa’s price tag. Not feeling so comfortable now, hm?
Not to mention, while the world is still very much dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person shopping looks quite different these days. Ecommerce brands like us here at Apt2B have made it easy to update your home without actually ever having to leave it. Our motto? Stay inside, shop online (not our real motto, but one we stand by nonetheless).
A little about Apt2B: We’re an online-only Los Angeles-based furniture and decor company that specializes in built-by-hand, custom-made sofas, sectionals, sleepers and more. They’re expertly crafted right here in downtown LA, so we’re basically neighbors (give or take an hour in traffic).
Taylor Modular Sectional
What We Sell
Apt2B offers a curated selection of furniture and decor for the living room, dining room, bedroom and home office in mostly contemporary and mid-century inspired styles. You’ll find some traditional and transitional designs peppered throughout our catalog, as well, because we believe that a little mix-and-match never hurt anybody.
What Makes Our Sofas Special
1. We build our custom upholstery locally, right here in downtown Los Angeles. Why is this important? Glad you asked! Building locally, with locally sourced wood, means a few things: a smaller carbon footprint as there’s less overseas transport happening, supports the local economy by paying fair wages to those in our communities, and allows for greater control over quality standards (we can pop into the factory any time to monitor production and make sure it’s up to snuff).
2. We do not stock our made-in-the-USA custom upholstery. Meaning, everything is made-to-order, just for the person who ordered it. That gives us lots of flexibility with fabric choices—we offer 50+ textile options and free swatches—leg finishes, custom sectional configurations, sleeper sofa options, and even some custom detailing like length or depth extensions if requested. This also means that pieces aren’t sitting in a warehouse somewhere collecting dust and waiting to be purchased, which keeps costs down.
3. Our custom upholstery comes with a lifetime guarantee on frame and workmanship. No one does this if they don’t stand behind their product, after all. Should anything go wrong with the frame of your sofa for all of eternity, we’ll have it fixed at no cost to our customer.
4. We have the best customer service in the biz. We are real humans, right here in Los Angeles, answering your calls, your emails, your online chats. It’s not enough to have “good” customer service, we aim for exceptional (it’s actually what we’re known for). We’re kind of overachievers around here.
Avalon 2pc Sectional Sofa in Evergreen Velvet/Pecan and Midtown Dresser with Scute Table Lamp
How to Effectively Buy Furniture Online (Without Having Regrets)
1. Read all the reviews. And not just on individual pieces themselves, but also for the company. Take note of what people say about the delivery process, dealing with customer service, and how problems that arise were handled. Some websites don’t publish product reviews on-site (we’re not naming names…), so be sure to do your due diligence with Google searches and see what people have to say.
2. Take note of dimensions & measure VERY carefully. This is true even if you were buying furniture in person. Measure, measure, and measure again. Don’t forget to measure the doors and passageways your piece will travel through in your home to get to its final spot. No sense in fitting in your living room if it can’t get through the front hallway.
3. When in doubt, tape it out. This is an interior designer trick we’ve seen work time and time again. Once you have your piece’s dimensions (and don’t be afraid to ask the brand if you’re not seeing something you need listed, they can often dig for more), grab that trusty blue painter’s tape and mark things out so you can begin to visualize how something might fit.
4. Test measurements on existing furniture. One of the most important details of a sofa, for instance, is seat depth. Nothing worse than a too-narrow or too-deep seat for your liking. Test things like seat depth and floor-to-seat height on seating you already have (or even at a brick-and-mortar store on a similar piece…just for research purposes, of course).
5. Know your terms. Look for phrases like “solid wood” which denotes better quality and durability, ask about fabric double rub counts (25,000 is a great threshold for home upholstery), and find out about cushion filling. All-foam seat cushions are pretty low-maintenance and on bit on the firmer side, all-down is a bit high-maintenance but is super plush, and a combo is typically great for those looking for a happy medium.
6. Always, always, always order fabric swatches. (P.S. Ours are free!) This not only gives you an accurate look at color, but also how comfortable a fabric is against your skin, and how durable it will be to your lifestyle. Put those things through the wringer before committing. Spill everyday liquids and foods on the swatches and see how easily they clean up, test if they’re scratchy or supple, even rub them on your pet’s fur to check how easily that can be removed.
Be comfortable and in-the-know about return policies. Return policies vary from company to company, so don’t assume just because one direct-to-consumer brand offers free, year-long returns that they all do. Read details thoroughly, ask customer service teams questions if things are unclear, and be sure you’re comfortable with it all. The last thing you want is to order that $3,000 sectional, get it in your home, realize it was all a big mistake, and then you’re stuck with a final-sale, no-returns-accepted item.
Now that you’re armed with an arsenal of ecommerce know-how, you’re ready to stay inside and shop online. If you’re in the market for a new sofa, bed, dining set and beyond for your home, be sure to check out Apt2B.com for your decorating needs.
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