The frame: what you cannot see matters most
Most furniture problems start inside. In sofas and upholstered chairs the frame should be kiln-dried solid wood or strong plywood, not cheap pressed board. Ask for the frame material in writing, then lift the piece by one end: if it twists or clicks, the frame is weak.
Turn a chair over or look under the sofa if you can. Inside corners should be reinforced with wooden corner blocks that are glued and fixed, not held by staples alone. Staples are fine for attaching fabric, not for carrying load.
On tables and cabinets, look at the legs and where they meet the frame: a leg held by a single screw in a thin panel soon wobbles, while one set into a solid wooden rail with corner braces stays firm for years. On tall wardrobes, check that the back is a properly fixed panel, not thin card; the back is what stops the carcass from racking.
Joints and assembly
A joint is where two parts meet, and it is the first thing to loosen over time.
- Mortise and tenon: a tongue from one part glued into a socket in the other, one of the strongest joints for chair and table legs.
- Glued dowels: good when tight-fitting and used in sufficient number.
- Dovetails: a clear sign of quality at drawer corners.
- Screws alone with no glue or interlocking joint: they work loose with daily movement, especially in chairs.
Inspect joints by eye: there should be no gaps, no dried glue runs on the surface, and the two parts should meet flush without a step.
Drawers, doors and hinges
- Pull each drawer all the way out: it should glide quietly without side wobble, and full-extension runners let you reach the back.
- Check the drawer bottom: ideally it sits in a groove in the sides rather than being stapled underneath.
- Run your hand along the inside edges: they should be smoothed and finished, not rough.
- Doors: gaps between neighbouring doors are even, and closed doors sit in one plane.
- Hinges: adjustable, closing softly without slamming, with no rust or play.
Upholstery: seams, tension and pattern
- Seams are straight with even stitches, no loose threads or puckering.
- Piping runs straight and meets neatly at corners.
- Fabric is evenly tensioned, with no slack on the back or ripples on the arms.
- Patterns line up across cushions and are centred on back and seat.
- On velvet the pile runs the same direction on every part, otherwise the colour looks different.
- On tufted upholstery, buttons are pulled to an even depth and lined up neatly.
Inspecting the finish under light
Check surfaces with a raking light, such as a phone torch held at a low angle; it reveals what direct light hides.
- No bubbles, runs or trapped dust specks.
- Colour is consistent across every piece in a set and matches the approved sample.
- Backs and undersides are sealed; wood left bare on one side moves more with humidity.
- On gilding: no missing patches or unintended base coat showing through.
Weight and stability
Weight alone does not prove quality, since MDF is naturally heavy. But a very light chair that wobbles when you sit is a sign of a weak frame.
- Set the piece on a level floor and try rocking it from the corners: it should not tip back and forth.
- Sit on a chair and shift side to side: no creaks and no movement in the legs.
- Tables: press on the edge of the top; the base should not lean or shake.
- Wardrobes and tall units should come with wall-fixing hardware, especially in homes with children.
- Adjustable feet are a valuable feature on uneven floors.
Delivery checklist
Do not sign for a delivery before inspecting it; issues recorded at handover are far easier to resolve.
- Match the number of pieces and parts against the order.
- Compare colour, fabric and finish with the approved samples in daylight.
- Check every surface and corner for transport scratches or breaks.
- Open every drawer and door, and sit on every seat.
- Confirm each piece is stable once installed in its final position.
- Photograph any issue and write it on the delivery receipt before signing.
- Keep the care instructions and any spare parts or adjustment keys.
At Arti Design, delivery and installation are handled by the company's own team, and size, fabric, colour and finish are approved with samples before production, so the delivery check becomes a clear comparison against what was agreed.
