When shopping for furniture, most people tend to focus on how a piece looks, how well it fits a space, and whether it’s within budget. But what if you used all five senses to guide your decisions? Engaging sight, touch, smell, hearing, and even taste (yes, taste—though not in the way you think) can elevate your furniture-buying experience to a whole new level. Here’s how you can tap into each sense to make smarter, more satisfying choices for your home.

1. Sight: The Obvious First Step

It goes without saying that the first interaction with any piece of furniture is visual. The color, shape, size, and style are what initially draw you in. Sight allows you to determine whether a piece matches your personal aesthetic and your existing decor. But it’s important to go beyond surface-level attraction.

Look closely at details like seams, stitching, wood grain, and finish quality. Are the legs even? Are the materials well-matched? Is the proportion right for your space? When assessing larger purchases, such as living room sets, this becomes even more crucial. A sofa might look appealing in a showroom under commercial lighting, but how will it look under the softer lighting at home? Bring a sample of your wall color or flooring if you can, and ask to see swatches of fabric or finish. It can prevent costly mismatches later.

2. Touch: Feeling the Quality

Once your eyes are satisfied, it’s time to use your hands. Touch is perhaps the second most natural way we assess furniture, and it can tell you things your eyes can’t.

Run your hands across the fabric or leather. Does it feel soft, rough, or plasticky? Good-quality upholstery feels comfortable and sturdy. Press into the cushions—are they too soft, too firm, or just right? A well-made seat will offer support without bottoming out. If you’re checking out wooden pieces, feel the edges and surfaces. Smooth finishes and joined corners are signs of care in craftsmanship.

Don’t forget to open drawers, lift tabletops, and move pieces around. A dresser drawer that sticks now will still stick once it’s in your home. A living room coffee table should feel stable and well-balanced. Feeling the heft of a piece can also give clues about the materials used. Solid wood feels more substantial than laminate or particle board.

3. Smell: The Forgotten Sense

This might sound odd at first, but yes—smell matters when buying furniture. In fact, it can be a key indicator of quality and safety. Many new furniture pieces emit odors due to the materials and finishes used. This is known as off-gassing, and while a faint new-wood smell or light varnish scent is normal, strong chemical odors can be a red flag.

Cheap adhesives, synthetic foams, and low-grade finishes often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that linger. These fumes can cause headaches or allergies and may not dissipate quickly. If you’re inspecting a piece and the smell is overpowering, think twice. Especially in enclosed areas like bedrooms or small apartments, smell can become a long-term concern.

On the flip side, natural wood furniture often carries a pleasant, woody scent—especially when untreated or finished with natural oils. Leather has a distinct, earthy smell that can lend a warm richness to a room. When choosing a new sofa or loveseat, don’t be afraid to get up close and literally take a whiff. It might sound quirky, but your nose knows more than you think.

4. Hearing: Listen for Clues

Though not as commonly associated with furniture, hearing can still play an insightful role. Furniture should not squeak, creak, rattle, or groan excessively when moved or used. Sit on a chair or recline in a sectional—do you hear springs popping or joints cracking? These sounds can indicate poor assembly or cheap materials.

Even drawers and cabinet doors have their own audio cues. Smooth, quiet glides signal higher-end hardware, while rough or loud slides may point to shortcuts in construction. Hinges that snap loudly or wobble should raise concerns. In a showroom, background noise can mask these issues, so take the time to listen carefully.

And let’s not forget acoustics. Some materials absorb sound better than others. If you’re furnishing a space where sound quality matters—like a home theater or open-concept living room—a plush sofa and thick rug can improve acoustics by reducing echo and sound bounce.

5. Taste: Interpreted Through Lifestyle

No, you shouldn’t actually lick the furniture—but taste in this context relates to your lifestyle, personality, and how the piece fits into your daily routine. Your “taste” in furniture should reflect both your design preferences and your practical needs.

Ask yourself: does this piece align with how you live? For instance, if you entertain often, a modular living room set with ample seating and stain-resistant fabric might better match your lifestyle than a delicate antique sofa. If you prefer minimalist aesthetics but need storage, a sleek media console with hidden compartments may be your ideal blend of form and function.

Taste also encompasses emotional response. Do you feel joy when you see it? Can you imagine this furniture becoming part of your everyday comfort and memories? Furniture isn’t just about utility—it’s about creating a home.

Sensory Shopping is Smart Shopping

Furniture is a long-term investment. It’s something you live with daily, not just something to look at once in a while. By engaging all five senses when shopping, you’re more likely to choose pieces that not only look good but feel, sound, and even smell right.

Living room sets, for example, aren’t just about matching pieces—they’re about creating a sensory environment that invites relaxation and connection. A couch that feels soft to the touch, doesn’t creak when you sit, and smells like real leather contributes more to your home than one that merely looks good on the sales floor.

So next time you walk into a showroom, don’t be shy. See it, touch it, smell it, listen to it—and imagine how it fits into the taste of your life. You’re not just buying furniture—you’re creating your space, one sense at a time.