Buying Furniture from Readers Interiors: Your Questions Answered
Buying a new sofa, bed or piece of furniture is something you want to get right. At Readers Interiors, we're here to make the process straightforward, from choosing the right style and fabric to checking access and delivering your new furniture safely to your home.
We're an independent, family-run furniture store in Newport, Isle of Wight, with a showroom where you can see and try our furniture in person. Our team can help you choose the right furniture for your room, answer questions about fabrics and finishes, and make sure your new furniture will fit into your home.
Here are some of the questions we're asked most often.
Do you deliver furniture throughout the Isle of Wight?
Yes. Delivery is free for customers throughout the Isle of Wight.
Whether you're in Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor, Freshwater or elsewhere on the Island, we can arrange delivery of your new furniture.
Our delivery service is carried out by our own experienced team, who understand the practicalities of delivering furniture to Island homes.
Delivery and professional assembly are free for Isle of Wight customers.
Is furniture assembly included?
Yes. Professional assembly is included with our Isle of Wight delivery service.
Some larger pieces regularly require in-room assembly (such as beds, wardrobes and dining tables), our delivery team will assemble it for you as part of the service.
We can also remove the packaging, leaving you with your new furniture ready to use rather than cardboard and protective packaging to deal with.
Can I take sofa fabric samples home?
Yes. We offer free fabric samples from our sofa collections.
Choosing a sofa fabric in a showroom can be difficult because the lighting and surroundings are different from those in your home.
That's why we encourage you to take fabric samples home and look at them in your own room.
You can see how the colour works with your flooring, walls, curtains and existing furniture, and look at the fabric in both natural and artificial light.
Our sofa collections offer a wide choice of fabrics, so if you're unsure which one will work best, our team can help you compare the options.
Can I try the sofas before I buy?
Absolutely! One of the biggest advantages of buying from a local furniture showroom is being able to sit on a sofa before making a decision.
Our Newport sofa showroom has over 25 sofa and chair models on display, including different styles, sizes and configurations.
You can sit down, try different seating positions and compare the comfort and feel of different sofas.
We can also talk you through the available fabrics, configurations and options for the models you're interested in.
There's no appointment needed.
Can you help me choose the right sofa?
Yes. Choosing a sofa isn't just about finding one that looks good.
We'll help you think about:
- The size of your room
- How many people need to use the sofa
- Whether you need a standard, corner or modular sofa
- The amount of space available
- Your preferred seating position and comfort
- Fabric and colour
- Existing furniture and décor
- How the sofa will need to enter your home
- Whether you need additional pieces such as a footstool or armchair
If you're unsure what size or style will work, bring your room measurements with you when you visit us, our team can help you work through the options.
I'm worried my new sofa won't fit through the door. Can you help?
Yes. Access is an important part of buying a large piece of furniture, and we can help you check it before you order.
A sofa can fit perfectly against a wall but still be impossible to get through the front door, or around a tight corner.
Before ordering a larger piece of furniture, we'll discuss access with you and help identify anything that could cause a problem.
It's much better to identify an access problem before your furniture arrives than on delivery day!
It's worth considering:
- The width and height of your front door and internal doors
- Hallways / Narrow passages / Tight corners / Stairs
- Low ceilings
- Lift access, where applicable
- Access to the property
If you're still unsure, we are more than happy for our delivery team to visit your property to check the access prior to you confirming your order.
What measurements should I take before buying a sofa?
For a sofa, we recommend measuring more than just the space where you want it to sit.
Start with:
1. The available wall space - Measure the width of the area where the sofa will go.
2. The overall room - Consider how much space the sofa will leave for walking around the room and opening doors.
3. Doorways - Measure the width and height of the doors the sofa will need to pass through.
4. Hallways and corridors - Check the narrowest points, particularly where the sofa may need to turn.
5. Stairs - If the furniture needs to go upstairs, check the width of the staircase and any tight turns or landings.
6. Other obstacles - Look at radiators, windows, doors, fireplaces and other fixed features that could affect where the furniture can go.
If you bring your measurements to our Newport showroom, we'll be happy to help you work out which options are likely to suit your room.
Can I order furniture that isn't currently on display?
Yes! We offer a great deal of further furniture and bed ranges than seen in-store... you can still get these via our high standard of customer care and delivery service.
Our showroom gives you the opportunity to see and try a selection of our furniture, but it doesn't mean that everything we can order has to be physically on the shop floor.
This can be particularly useful if you have seen a particular range, finish, fabric or configuration that isn't currently displayed.
Speak to our team and we'll check the available options for you.
Can I choose a different fabric or finish?
Many of our upholstered furniture ranges are available in a choice of fabrics.
Our team can show you the available options and provide fabric samples where available, allowing you to compare colours and textures at home before making your decision.
For wooden furniture, availability of different finishes, colours and options varies between ranges.
If you have a particular colour, fabric or finish in mind, ask us before ordering and we'll check what is available for the furniture you're interested in.
What happens when I place an order?
We'll take you through the details of your furniture before the order is placed, including the model, size, configuration, fabric or finish and any relevant options.
We'll also discuss delivery and any access considerations where appropriate.
Once your order has been placed, we'll keep you informed about the expected delivery arrangements.
Once your item has arrived in our warehouse on the Isle of Wight, we will call you to book a convenient delivery slot.
If you have any questions about your order during the process, you can speak directly to our team.
What happens if my project gets delayed?
We are usually the last people to deliver following decorating projects or a home move - so we understand we need to be flexible. If your item has arrived on the Isle of Wight, and you are not quite ready, let us know and we can hold off delivery until the right time.
What should I consider when choosing a mattress?
A mattress is a very personal purchase, and comfort can vary considerably from one person to another.
When choosing a mattress, its helps to consider:
- Your preferred firmness
- Your usual sleeping position
- Whether you're buying for one person or two
- The size of your bed
- Whether you need additional storage underneath your bed
- How the mattress feels when you lie on it
We have a selection of mattresses in-store, and we recommend trying mattresses in person where possible.
Our team can talk you through the different options and help you compare the choices available.
Can I choose storage with my bed?
Our divan options are available with storage solutions, including drawer and ottoman storage.
Storage can be particularly useful in bedrooms where floor and cupboard space is limited.
If you're considering a storage bed, think about how much space you have around the bed and whether drawers will be able to open fully.
For an ottoman-style bed, consider whether there is enough clearance around the bed to lift the base comfortably.
We'll help you choose an option that works with your bedroom and the way you use the space.
How should I look after my new furniture?
Looking after your furniture properly can help it stay looking its best for longer.
Upholstered furniture
Regularly vacuum your sofa or chair using a suitable upholstery attachment to remove dust and loose debris.
For spills, deal with them promptly and follow the manufacturer's care instructions for the particular fabric.
Don't use household cleaning products on upholstery unless they are specifically recommended for that fabric.
Care instructions are delivered with your furniture, keep them somewhere safe so you can refer back to them.
Wooden furniture
Dust wooden furniture regularly with a soft, clean cloth.
Avoid placing very hot or wet items directly onto wooden surfaces, and use suitable coasters, mats or protective coverings where appropriate.
Keep wooden furniture away from prolonged exposure to excessive heat or direct sunlight where possible, as this can affect the finish over time.
Always follow the manufacturer's specific care instructions for your furniture.
Mattresses
Use the mattress according to the manufacturer's instructions and ensure it is supported by a suitable bed base.
Some mattresses have specific requirements regarding rotation or turning, so check the instructions supplied with your mattress.
Why buy furniture from an independent local store?
Buying furniture locally means you can see and try products before committing to a purchase, while having our experienced team available to help you throughout the process.
At Readers Interiors, we offer:
- A Newport furniture showroom where you can see furniture in person
- Over 25 sofa and chair models on display
- 140 sofa fabrics to choose from across our collections
- Free fabric samples to take home
- Free Isle of Wight delivery
- Free professional assembly
- Packaging removal
- Help with measuring and access considerations
- A local team who can answer questions before and after your purchase
We're a family-run independent business and have been serving customers from our Newport store for years.
Visit Readers Interiors in Newport
If you're thinking about buying a new sofa, dining table, bedroom furniture, bed or mattress, we'd love you to visit us and see the furniture for yourself.
You can sit on our sofas, compare fabrics, try mattresses, look at furniture finishes and talk through your requirements with our team.
Readers Interiors
33 South Street
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1JE
Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30am–5pm. No appointment is needed.
Get directions and find out more about visiting Readers Interiors
Looking for a particular type of furniture?
Explore our furniture collections:
Sofas & Chairs
Explore sofas, corner sofas, modular sofas, sofa beds and armchairs, with a wide choice of fabrics.
Furniture for Every Room
Browse dining, living and bedroom furniture at Readers Interiors.
Beds & Mattresses
Explore divan beds, mattresses and bedroom storage options.
