QUALITY CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST
You need this.
You cannot tell the $300 sofa from the $1,200 sofa in photos. This checklist gives you 15 physical checkpoints you can run in-store in under 2 minutes to separate furniture that lasts from furniture that falls apart.
Drop your email and we'll send the printable straight to your inbox. No spam, only the file plus a few smart follow-ups.
We render apartments for a living. We make the printables we wish renters had.
Rendered by Design creates city-specific home design guides, room lookbooks, and budget tools for first-apartment renters in NYC, Austin, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, and beyond. Every resource on this site is built from real design work we do every day.
Meet RbDWithout it, you'll forget half the list.
- A $400 dresser drawer breaks after 3 months because the joints were stapled, not dovetailed
- You buy a sofa online and the cushions flatten in 6 weeks because the fill is low-density foam
- The dining table wobbles within a year because the legs are bolt-on, not tenon
- You cannot tell particle board from plywood from the listing photos
What's Inside
- ✓ 15 physical checkpoints organized by furniture type: seating, storage, tables, beds
- ✓ In-store test instructions (what to push, pull, lift, and flip)
- ✓ Online-only red flags: what to look for in listing photos and reviews
- ✓ Material quality tiers: solid wood > plywood > MDF > particle board, and when each is acceptable
How It Works
Save the checklist to your phone before going to the store
Run the 5 relevant checkpoints for the furniture type you are shopping
If 3+ checkpoints fail, walk away regardless of price
For online purchases, use the red-flag section to filter listings before adding to cart
Choose Your Adventure
All four other RbD printables. Pick the one you need next.
Shop the Look
Pieces from the RbD retailer index. Use the printable as your shopping checklist.
FTC: Some links below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only feature pieces we'd put in a real RbD render.
Your Room Plan
Every product, room, layout, and budget breakdown, done for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really free?
Yes. PDF arrives by email in under five minutes. No credit card.
Can I use this at IKEA?
Yes. IKEA furniture ranges from excellent (KALLAX, HEMNES) to disposable (LACK). The checklist helps you tell which is which without relying on price alone.
Does this work for secondhand furniture?
Especially well. The physical checkpoints are more useful on used pieces because you can see real wear, not just spec sheets.
What format?
PDF, 2 pages, US letter. Save to phone for in-store use.