About 30% Say They’re Glad They Consulted a Professional or Wish They Had When Buying Furniture. Top Questions Focus on Durability, Budget-Friendly Selection, and Material Features

When Choosing a Sofa, Do You Regret Deciding Alone? The Option of Relying on Professionals

Large furniture items like sofas and tables, used daily, greatly influence lifestyle satisfaction.

That’s why people want to choose them carefully. However, it’s also true that judging durability, size, and material quality on your own can be quite difficult.

At such times, have you ever wanted to consult a staff member with specialized knowledge?

How many people have actually had such an experience?

Therefore, this time, we conducted a joint survey with TRES THE SOFA TAILOR targeting 500 men and women nationwide, asking whether they would like to consult a professional when choosing furniture.

※When quoting content from this press release, please follow these guidelines:

・Clearly state the source as "a survey by NEXER Group Inc. and TRES THE SOFA TAILOR (Tres the Sofa Tailor)"

・Include a link to TRES THE SOFA TAILOR (Tres the Sofa Tailor) (https://tres-sofa.jp/)

Survey Overview: "Would You Consult a Professional When Choosing Furniture?"

Survey Method: Online questionnaire

Survey Period: June 19, 2026 – June 26, 2026

Respondents: Men and women nationwide

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: When purchasing furniture (especially large items like sofas), how carefully do you choose?

Question 2: When selecting furniture (especially large items like sofas), have you ever wanted to consult a staff member with specialized knowledge?

Question 3: Please explain your reason.

Question 4: Have you ever felt that consulting a professional was helpful or that you wished you had consulted one when choosing furniture?

Question 5: When choosing furniture on your own, what points make you feel uncertain or hesitant? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 6: If you could consult a furniture specialist, what would you like to ask? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 7: What would you most like to ask, and why?

※Percentages are rounded to two decimal places, so totals may not add up to exactly 100%.

79.6% Say They Choose Large Furniture "Carefully"

First, we asked how carefully people choose furniture (especially large items like sofas) when purchasing.

The results showed that 42.8% answered "very carefully," and 36.8% answered "somewhat carefully," totaling 79.6% who choose carefully. In contrast, 13.0% answered "not at all carefully," and 7.4% answered "not very carefully."

Large furniture is often used for many years once placed, and replacing it isn’t easy.

That’s probably why so many people approach the decision so carefully.

35.8% Say They've "Had the Experience of Wanting to Consult" a Specialist When Choosing Furniture

Next, we asked whether people have ever wanted to consult a staff member with specialized knowledge when choosing furniture (especially large items like sofas).

The results showed that 8.8% answered "many times," and 27.0% answered "occasionally," totaling 35.8% who have had the experience of wanting to consult.

Meanwhile, 32.6% answered "never," and 31.6% answered "rarely."

The results show a near-even split between those who want to consult and those who prefer to choose independently.

Attitudes toward furniture selection vary significantly among individuals.

We also collected some reasons, a few of which are shared below.

Respondents who answered "many times":

・Because I want to buy high-quality items. (Female, 20s)

・Since it’s an expensive purchase, I want to hear a professional’s opinion on durability before deciding. (Female, 40s)

・Even after spending hundreds of thousands of yen, many sofa cushions weaken within a year, so I’d rather consult someone with specialized knowledge than a regular store employee. (Female, 30s)

Respondents who answered "occasionally":

・Because it’s an expensive purchase and disposal is difficult, I can’t afford to make a mistake. (Female, 20s)

・Because I’m unsure what to choose. (Female, 30s)

・To confirm whether it fits my room layout and can be delivered through the entrance. I want to know benefits and drawbacks I might overlook. (Female, 30s)

Respondents who answered "rarely":

・Because I want to buy something with a design I personally like. (Female, 20s)

・Because I trust my own intuition. (Male, 30s)

・Because I only care about size. (Male, 30s)

Respondents who answered "never":

・Because I prefer to choose on my own. (Male, 20s)

・Because I enjoy taking my time to choose carefully by myself. (Male, 40s)

・Because I don’t particularly enjoy being served and can’t browse at my own pace. (Male, 50s)

Looking at the detailed reasons, those who answered "many times" or "occasionally" want to avoid mistakes and make satisfying choices by referring to professional opinions.

Additionally, comments like "since it’s expensive, I want to hear a professional’s opinion on durability" suggest that people are especially cautious when purchasing high-priced furniture like sofas.

On the other hand, those who answered "rarely" or "never" mentioned enjoying the process of choosing independently and valuing their own feelings and time.

It’s clear that people’s approaches to furniture selection differ—some prioritize expert advice, while others value personal intuition and time.

29.4% Say They’ve Felt Either "Glad They Consulted" or "Wished They Had Consulted" a Professional

Next, we asked whether respondents have ever felt that consulting a professional was helpful or that they wished they had consulted one when choosing furniture.

The results showed that 12.2% had felt it was helpful, and 10.4% had felt they wished they had consulted. Additionally, 6.8% had experienced both, totaling 29.4% who have had some form of reflection or realization regarding professional consultation.

Meanwhile, 70.6% had no such experience, forming the majority.

These results suggest that consulting specialists leads to more satisfying decisions. At the same time, regardless of whether they consulted, many people proceed with furniture selection by organizing information in their own way.

Thus, incorporating expert knowledge when needed appears to be one effective way to broaden decision-making options.

42.0% Cite "Durability for Long-Term Use" as Their Main Concern When Choosing Alone

Next, we asked about uncertainties or hesitations when choosing furniture independently.

The most common response was "whether it has durability for long-term use," at 42.0%.

This was followed by "whether it fits the room size" at 38.0%, "whether the material and quality match the price" at 31.4%, and "whether comfort and usability match expectations" at 29.6%.

Durability, size, quality, comfort, and usability