Before buying furniture for a NYC apartment, check two separate fits: the piece must work in the room and it must travel through the entire delivery route. The building entrance, elevator or stair landing can matter as much as the living-room floor plan.
A little preparation also makes it easier to choose the right delivery service. Use this checklist when comparing sofas and sectionals, dining furniture or larger storage pieces, especially if you have a tight hallway or a building with scheduled deliveries.
1. Measure the room with the furniture in use
Measure the available floor area, then mark the proposed piece with painter’s tape. Include its full depth and any projecting arms, corners or handles. Open doors, drawers and cabinet fronts. Check the walking route rather than filling every available inch with furniture.
For dining furniture, test the layout with the chairs pulled out. For a sofa, check the route past the chaise or corner section. For an armoire or sideboard, allow room to open it and reach the contents. Draw the surrounding furniture on your plan so the dimensions make sense together.
2. Follow the whole route from the street
Walk the route a delivery team would use and record the narrowest usable opening at each stage. Include the street entrance, vestibule, lobby, hallway, service entrance if required, elevator or stairs, apartment door and final turn into the room.
Measure clear openings with doors open. Decorative trim, handrails, a door handle or an overhead fixture can reduce the usable space. At a corner, record the approach and the space beyond it. A wide apartment door does not resolve a narrow right-angle turn immediately inside.
| Location | Record |
|---|---|
| Building and apartment doors | Clear width, height and space on either side |
| Elevator | Door opening plus interior width, depth and height |
| Stairs and landings | Clear width, turning space, headroom and number of flights |
| Final room entrance | Door opening, approach angle and nearby obstructions |
Compare those notes with the delivered unit’s dimensions, including packaging where relevant. Ask for information that is missing. Do not assume a sofa’s legs come off, a tabletop separates from its base or a cabinet can travel on its side.
3. Ask the building about its delivery requirements
Check with your superintendent, management team or front desk before choosing a delivery date. Useful questions include:
- Which entrance and elevator must the delivery team use?
- Are delivery hours limited, and does the elevator need a reservation?
- Is a certificate of insurance required, and what exact wording or parties must it include?
- Are there protection requirements for floors, walls or elevator interiors?
- Are there access, vehicle or unloading restrictions the carrier should know about?
Send the answers to Maadson before arrangements are finalized. A building’s requirement does not establish that every carrier or service can meet it. Ask the team to confirm the requested arrangements and any additional charges rather than relying on an assumption.
4. Choose the delivery service deliberately
Standard delivery and an in-room service solve different needs. Read Maadson’s current Shipping Policy and check the services offered for your item and destination. Ask where the team will leave the item, whether the requested stair access is covered and who handles unpacking, assembly and packaging removal.
Do not interpret a free-shipping offer as a promise of free White Glove service. Confirm the final service, charges and building requirements before placing the order. If the delivery shown at checkout does not meet your access needs, contact Maadson for clarification.
5. Separate dispatch timing from arrival timing
Dispatch is when an item leaves its warehouse; arrival follows carrier transit and any final-delivery scheduling. A dispatch estimate should not be treated as a guaranteed appointment at your apartment.
If you are coordinating a move, tell the team your earliest receiving date and any fixed constraints before you order. Confirm the selected item’s availability and ask about timing for a mixed order rather than assuming all pieces travel together or arrive on the same date. Make plans for someone to receive the delivery and follow your building’s access process.
6. Use a showroom visit to resolve the questions photos cannot
Maadson’s Manhattan showroom is at 231 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011. A visit can help you assess a displayed piece’s scale, texture and sitting feel. Not every catalog item is on display, so call 212-206-1200 before visiting to confirm the specific item.
Bring your room sketch, delivery-route measurements and product shortlist. If you are choosing dining chairs, bring the table’s height and underside clearance. If you are comparing modular seating, bring the intended arrangement and a list of the selected pieces. The more specific the question, the easier it is to resolve before purchase.
Our showroom is in the heart of NYC’s West Chelsea art gallery district, near Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian, David Zwirner and Pace. Make a day of your visit with our West Chelsea gallery and neighborhood guide, including the High Line and local history.
Your final pre-order checklist
- The furniture fits the room with doors, storage and walking routes in use.
- The largest delivered piece has been compared with the entire access route.
- Building requirements have been shared and confirmed.
- The delivery service and final charges match your needs.
- Availability and timing have been discussed before you rely on a move-in date.
- You have read the current Return & Refund Policy, including any item-specific terms.
Start your shortlist in Maadson’s furniture and lighting collection. For questions about a particular piece or showroom availability, email help@maadson.com with its product link and the measurements you need checked.
Read more
A sectional describes a seating arrangement; modular describes how pieces form it. Learn how to compare configurations, check the footprint and verify exactly what is included in your order.
Make a Maadson showroom visit part of a Chelsea art day. Explore the galleries around 231 10th Avenue, the High Line’s railway past and the public art hidden in plain sight.