How To Develop An Online Furniture Store App: Cost & Features

The rise of ecommerce has impacted almost every sector, and furniture is no exception. Selecting furniture and decor for your home can often feel overwhelming, especially when navigating through multiple stores to find the perfect pieces. 

Customers typically prefer to experience the comfort and quality of sofas and furniture in person. However, online furniture businesses have gained consumer trust over the past decade by offering the products of their dreams right at their fingertips. 

Shoppers can explore a wide range of brands from the comfort of their homes via the furniture mobile application, eliminating the need to visit the store. Moreover, customers can easily replace or return items if they encounter any issues with what they purchase. 

Therefore, the furniture market worldwide is a 765 billion dollar industry. The revenue is only going to surge upward in the coming years. This immense market potential presents a significant opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses alike. 

This online trading of decor and furniture has not only proven to be a game-changer for customers, but it has also increased the sales of various furniture businesses that customers never heard of before.

Furniture mobile apps provided a golden opportunity for furniture store owners to showcase their products to a larger audience. Resulting in massively increased sales that these businesses could not have achieved otherwise.

If you want to develop an online furniture store app, then this blog is for you. We will discuss the process of online furniture store app development, its cost, and the essential features that influence its functionality and success.

What Is Online Furniture Store App Development?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of furniture mobile app development, first understand what is a furniture app. 

An online furniture store app is a platform where furniture is bought and sold. With mobile applications for furniture, users can easily browse and purchase with their mobile phones. 

Technological advancements have made it easy for users to shop for home decor or furniture without visiting the store. With augmented reality, users can place furniture in real-time and decide on the look of the product, making decisions accordingly. 

This process not only simplifies the buying process but also enhances user experience. However, the development process is simple. It usually involves market research, UI/UX designing, backend development, and testing phases before making an official launch. 

If you are into interior design or dream of building your own online furniture store, now is the high time to invest in online furniture store app development. Building an app for selling furniture is easy when you have an expert mobile app development partner by your side. 

So, before you invest in one, understand why investing in this niche is a profitable venture.

Why Invest In Furniture Store Mobile App Development?

Investing in online furniture store app development expands your user base, increases revenue, and improves your customer experience. A mobile app is not only good for your business but also helps you build a strong online presence that helps you sustain in this competitive market. 

So before second thoughts come to your mind, explore the stats and trends of the furniture industry and start your online furniture store mobile app development with confidence. 

• Statista report shows that the furniture market worldwide is projected to generate a revenue of US $765 billion in 2024. 
• From 2024 to 2029, the market is expected to grow by 3.9 percent annually. 
• Furniture retail is a promising ecommerce segment forecasted to generate more than 430 billion US dollars in revenue by 2029.
• Another report shows that the United States is leading in the furniture market worldwide. 

The stats reflect the rise in the online furniture business in the coming years, which has proven to be a profitable venture for businesses investing in this niche. By choosing to build an online furniture shop, you can tap into the growing demand for furniture online apps and stay ahead of the competition. 

With the best apps for furniture shopping, you can provide customers with a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience that not only drives sales but increases customer loyalty. 

We hope you understand that investing in home furniture store development is not just a trend; it’s a strategic move toward future growth and success. 

With this being said, let’s move on to the next section and understand why your business needs an online furniture store app. 

Why Does Your Furniture Business Need An Online Store App?

Whether you build a website or mobile app for your furniture business, the convenience it brings to users is conventional. They can easily browse products, place orders, and make secure transactions. 

It is well said that a properly designed app can be an effective marketing and sales tool. A furniture app can be beneficial for your business in several ways. Here is how:

1. Expand user base

Nowadays, competition has increased, and to make your online presence, you need to provide unique services to the customers. It’s not easy to attract a wide range of users in brick-and-mortar stores, but with an online furniture app, you can expand your user base and target them globally. 

2. Increase sales

Furniture apps can reach a wide range of users globally, and they can easily access a variety of products via mobile apps. A study shows that online businesses can generate more sales than offline stores. Therefore, creating a mobile furniture app reaches users globally and significantly increases revenue. 

3. Improved customer experience

The furniture mobile app provides convenience to users and an enhanced personalized shopping experience. With features like augmented reality, users can visualize how a piece of furniture will look in their homes before making a purchase. Also, AI-powered recommendation systems analyze user preferences and suggest perfect products for their home. So, it not only increases sales but also improves customer experience. 

4. Create brand awareness

Developing a furniture-buying app allows businesses to increase brand visibility and awareness. By integrating social sharing features, users can easily share their favorite items or purchases with friends and family on social media platforms, effectively promoting your brand. 

5. Enhance customer loyalty

When your furniture app is well-designed, it provides users with a seamless shopping experience. Features like loyalty programs, exclusive discounts, and personalized offers encourage users to return to the app for furniture purchases. This not only incentivizes repeat business but also strengthens the relationship between the brand and its customers. 

6. Increased visibility

Having a dedicated furniture app increases your brand’s visibility in the crowded online marketplace. Users searching for apps to buy furniture online are more likely to discover your app, especially if it is optimized for app stores with relevant keywords. This process will increase visibility and can drive more traffic to your app. 

7. Streamlined order and inventory management

A furniture app simplifies order and inventory management for businesses. With real-time tracking and updates, businesses can efficiently manage stock levels, ensuring that popular items are always available. Automated order processing reduces the chances of errors, leading to improved customer satisfaction. 

Most Sought-After Furniture Categories On Furniture Stores & Apps

Furniture can be of many different kinds, but people need different types of furniture for their homes. If they are planning to move to a new home or are just redecorating their house, then they will most likely pick a few items from the furniture categories below. So, keeping item stock of these furniture categories will prove quite beneficial for an online furniture store.

• Chairs and sofas
• Armchairs and recliners
• Dressers and wardrobes
• Bookcases and shelving units
• Couches and futons
• Dining and coffee tables
• TV stands and media furniture

Popular Furniture Store Mobile Apps Across The Globe

Williams-Sonoma, Pepperfry, IKEA, Overstock, Taskers, Ashley HomeStore, La-z-boy, WayFair are some of the popular online furniture stores and apps in the world.

General Features Of Furniture Mobile App

To create a successful furniture mobile app, you need to integrate essential features so that users can easily navigate your app. Let’s take a deep dive into the essential features of the user panel, owner panel, and admin panel: 

1. User Panel Features

Feature	Usage
Product Browsing	This feature helps users view a wide range of furniture products, categorized by type for living room, bedroom, dining room, etc.
Product Search	Users can easily search for specific products using keywords or filters (e.g., price range, material, style) with this feature.
Product Details	This feature allows users to view detailed product information, including high-quality images, descriptions, materials, dimensions, and pricing.
Wishlist	Users can save products to a wishlist for future reference or purchase with this feature.
Cart	This is an essential feature that allows users to add products to a shopping cart, view itemized lists, and calculate total cost.
Checkout	With this feature, users can securely checkout using various payment methods, whether it’s credit cards, digital wallets, etc.
Order Tracking	After placing the order, users can easily track the status of orders from placement to delivery.
Reviews and Ratings	With this feature, users can rate and review products and services. This feature is helpful in creating trust for new users.
Customer Support	This feature is a must for users who want to contact customer support for assistance with orders, returns, or inquiries.
Push Notifications	Users can receive notifications about sales, promotions, and order updates with this feature.

2. Furniture Store Owner Panel Features

Feature	Usage
Product Management	With this feature, store owners can add, edit, and delete products, as well as manage inventory levels, pricing, and descriptions.
Order Management	This feature allows the owner to process and fulfill orders, track shipments, and manage returns.
Customer Management	With this feature, the owner can view customer information, order history, and preferences.
Analytics and Reporting	A must-have feature so that store owners can track sales, customer behavior, and other key metrics to optimize business strategies.
Inventory Management	This feature is essential for monitoring inventory levels, setting reorder points, and managing stockouts.
Marketing Tools	Created and managed marketing campaigns, including email marketing, social media promotions, and SMS notifications.
Payment Processing	This feature facilitates the payment process; you need to integrate with various payment gateways to process transactions securely.
Shipping and Logistics	This feature allows store owners to manage shipping and logistics partners, track shipments, and generate shipping labels.

3. Admin Panel Features

Feature	Usage
User Management	With this feature, the admin can easily manage user accounts, roles, and permissions.
Content Management	This feature allows the admin to manage website content, including blog posts, articles, and news updates.
Security Settings	With this feature, the admin can configure security settings to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access.
Analytics and Reporting	This feature accesses detailed analytics and reports on website traffic, user behavior, and sales performance.
System Settings	This feature allows the admin to configure system settings, such as email notifications, payment gateways, and shipping options.
Backup and Restore	With this feature, the admin can perform regular backups of the system and database to prevent data loss.
Manage CSM	This feature is a must as it allows the admin to manage CSM.

Advanced Features Of Furniture Shopping App

Advanced features enhance the functionality of the furniture shopping apps and improve the user experience at the same time. Let’s check out the advanced features of the furniture shopping app. 

1. Social Sign-up/Login

This is the first feature that users will encounter upon entering the app. You will have to provide a username and password to access the app. However, nowadays, apps have started to allow their users to log in to the app through their social media accounts, which proves super beneficial as users don’t need to remember their usernames and passwords.

2. Chatbot support

Upon entering the app, you will be greeted face-to-face by a chatbot that will guide you through the app and answer all of your queries related to the app.

3. Push Notifications

Push notifications act as a timely reminder for users as they keep them updated on all the latest trends in the furniture world. Notifications are a tool that reminds users about all the latest collections that have been added to the furniture store or a particular set that they asked the store to bring.

4. Smart Search

The users should be allowed to search for the item of their dreams by using the images of that item. Users don’t like to type the name and details of the item; instead, they prefer saying the item’s name through voice command, and that feature needs to be included in the app.

5. In-App Camera

If a camera is included in the app, then the customers will be able to click the pictures of the furniture items to have a look at them later on. Users can also make a video of the furniture set to get a complete 360 view of the furniture set.

6. Effective CRM System

CRM is short for Customer Relationship Management, and it deals with the exchanges that a business has with its customers. The greater the amount of customer-related data it contains, the better the CRM System will be able to provide an understanding of these processes.

7. Efficient Content Management System

A content management system is an application that is used by the apps to manage their web content and, in the process, allows multiple contributors to create, edit, and publish. In other words, a CMS system is used to manage the creation and modification of digital content.

8. Multiple Payment options

Flexibility in payment is a great way of making the users feel at home. A variety of payment options like credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and PayPal will make the process of buying stuff a lot easier for customers.

9. Loyalty programs

Loyalty programs come in the form of discounts, special offers, and several other benefits, but they are only for those who have been associated with the app for a pretty long time and maintained a great rapport with it.

10. Real-time dashboards and analytics

With the help of real-time dashboards, you will be able to analyze, track, and report on the company’s data in real-time through interactive data visualizations. These are pretty helpful in providing the most relevant operational reporting data and make it effortless for you to maintain data on a consistent basis.

11. Multi-lingual and Currency Support

Furniture apps are used by customers that are spread over different continents of the world, so if the app contains the option of receiving payment in various currencies, then the task of paying for the purchase will become quite easy for the customers. This high-quality gesture will not be forgotten by the users, and they will be bound to return to the app.

12. Tax Management

This feature within an app is vital as it is pretty helpful in minimizing tax liability. The prime motive of having tax management is to ensure tax efficiency.

13. Order management integration

The order management integration feature is tasked with tracking sales, orders, inventory, and fulfillment. What it does is allow people, processes, and partnerships to be paramount for the ordered products to reach customers.

14. PIM Integration

PIM is referred to as Personal Information Manager, and as anyone can guess by its name, it functions as a personal organizer. PIM has a hold on all the product information within an enterprise, and with that, it provides a 360-degree view of the product data.

15. Marketing and Promotion tools

There are various marketing and promotion tools involved in getting an app on the map but the major ones among them are advertising, public relations, sales promotion, direct marketing, and referencing.

Development Process Of Furniture Mobile App Store

Are you planning to build an online furniture application for your business and need help determining where to start? Here is the step-by-step process of furniture mobile app development. Take a look.

1. Market research and competitor analysis

To start with the furniture store app development, you need to conduct market research and competitor analysis to understand the latest trends and market gaps. 

This process will give you an idea of your target audience and strategies competitors are leveraging. You can improvise and implement those in your furniture mobile application to provide users with unique and better services than existing ones. 

2. Define app features and functionality.

Once you have a clear understanding of the market, the next step is to define the features and functionality of your app. You can consider what your target audience needs and what will set your app apart. 

This may include features like social login, personalized recommendations, AR for virtual furniture placement, and seamless payment modes. 

3. Create UI/UX design mockups.

Now, ask your team of UI/UX designers to create an engaging and captivating UI/UX design for your furniture mobile app by keeping the user experience in mind. Make sure your app is easy to navigate and has a streamlined user experience. 

The designing process starts with wireframes and mockups that are useful for stakeholders and clients to understand. After getting approval on design prototypes, they will create a lucrative front end of the app. 

4. Develop backend and frontend infrastructure.

With the designs in place, the next step is to develop the backend and front-end infrastructure. In the backend process, the servers, databases, and APIs manage data and ensure smooth functionality. 

Both the front and back end go hand in hand. The front end is where users interact with the furniture app, so it’s essential to implement responsive design principles to ensure compatibility across various devices. 

5. Integrate product catalog and payment gateway.

Integrating a product catalog and a secure payment gateway is essential to enhance your app’s functionality. With the product category feature, users can easily explore the list of various products and make a purchase.

While on the other hand, users can make a successful purchase using multiple payment methods. Robust payment gateways that facilitate a smooth checkout process will reduce cart abandonment rates.  

6. Implement AR for virtual furniture placement.

This is the most crucial feature for furniture mobile applications. Incorporating this AR allows users to visualize how furniture will look in their homes before making a purchase. 

This feature not only enhances user shopping experience but helps them to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to an increase in revenue generation. 

7. Test app functionality and fix issues

Once you are done with the development process, the app will go through the testing phase, which is essential to ensure that your app functions properly. 

The team of QA and developers will perform various testing on the app, such as usability, performance, and security testing, to identify and fix any bugs and issues. 

8. Launch the app and promote

Once the testing is completed and issues are resolved, it’s time to launch your app to the market. But before that, you need to promote it through various channels, such as social media, email marketing, and in-app advertisements, to reach your target audience effectively. 

The market is quite competitive, so you need to encourage users to download and explore your app. For this, your marketing strategy should be strong and emphasize the unique features and benefits of the app. 

9. Maintenance and updates

Lastly, update your mobile app regularly to maintain its security and functionality. This will help your app to thrive in this competitive market and secure your app from potential malware and threat actors.

Estimated Cost For Developing An Online Furniture Store

The cost of developing an online furniture store ranges from $20,000 to $2,00,000. Various factors affect the cost of online furniture store app development, such as the complexity of the app, the developer’s location, the chosen platform and features, and functionality. 

If you have budget constraints, you can always go with the MVP approach. This will help you validate your idea, and you can start full-fledged mobile app development with more confidence. However, there are a number of variables involved in creating an online furniture store. These variables are,

• Number of pages
• The design theme
• Marketing support
• Branding elements
• Maintenance and technical support after the work on the website is done
• Usage of advanced modules like chatbots and advanced ecommerce solutions.

A basic app with minimal features would cost you less than moderate features. With advanced features, the cost is high in comparison to basic and moderate features. 
So, before you make a decision to invest in the furniture app, you must consult with an experienced mobile app development company to get a better understanding. Still, if you want to know more, check out the blog on the cost of furniture app development.

AR-Powered Furniture Store Apps For More Conversion

Creating an augmented reality-powered online furniture app will take your online furniture business to the next level. Augmented technology helps business owners visualize everything from data to people, which leads to users seeing everything from all possible angles. Augmented reality is virtual reality combined with the real world.

Through augmented reality, retailers are able to showcase their products to customers in a virtual manner. This enables the customers to actually test how the product will look in their homes or offices, and this will provide them with a competitive advantage over others. Augmented reality applications have provided totally new insight into marketing furniture. Through AR, the company can use animations to test how a piece of furniture fits in, and that gives a gaming approach to the furniture business, along with providing necessary product information and super attractive 3D experiences to the customers.

Also Read: How To Develop AR Shopping App Like IKEA?

Tech Stack Required For Developing An Online Furniture Store App

You can easily build an online furniture store by selecting the right set of tools and technology. These tools not only enhance user experience but, at the same time, provide robust security. 

Component	Technology Options
For Front-End
Framework	React Native, Flutter
UI/UX Design	Figma, Adobe XD
For Back-End
Programming Language	Node.js, Python (Django/Flask)
Database	MongoDB, PostgreSQL
Cloud Platform	AWS, GCP, Azure
Additional Tools and Services
Payment Gateways	Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay
SMS/Email Services	Twilio, SendGrid
Analytics	Google Analytics
Security	Auth0, Firebase Authentication
Payments	Braintree & PayPal, E-wallets, Stripes

Use Of Cloud Platforms For Hasslefree Functioning

The use of cloud platforms for hassle-free functioning is evidence that these services not only enhance productivity but also empower developers. To innovate and deliver high-quality applications that meet user demands for smooth and efficient performance. Here are three major cloud platforms you can use for furniture store apps:

1. BaaS

BaaS is Backend-as-a-service, one of the cloud platforms that helps the app work like a charm. It enables developers to focus on the front end of their applications and leverage backend services without even maintaining them.

The BaaS vendors provide pre-written software for activities that take place on servers, such as user authentication, remote updating, database management, and push notifications.

2. MBaaS

MBaaS Mobile-Backend-as-a-service is simply BaaS intended especially for building mobile apps. While some sources consider BaaS and MBaaS to be interchangeable items, BaaS services don’t necessarily have to be used just for mobile applications. However, it is capable of providing what the users require, and that is smooth functioning.

Development Team Required For Furniture Shopping Mobile App

Here is a short list of members that will be needed in your mobile app development team to complete the furniture app project.

• Project Manager
• Delivery Manager
• Front-end Developers
• Android/ios Developers
• QA Testers
• UX/UI Designers
• Back-end Developers

How To Monetise A Furniture Store App?

Once you have successfully established your store, focus on the monetization strategies to drive revenues and ensure the long-term success of your app. Here are some monetization models that can help you achieve financial growth while enhancing customer satisfaction: 

1. In-app purchases

In-app purchases are the best way to monetize your furniture store app, especially when you offer guaranteed rewards for purchases. Consider implementing a system where customers can earn gifts or discounts based on their spending. This approach not only delights your customers but also encourages them to make more purchases, leading to increased app traffic and higher sales figures. 

By creating limited-time offers or exclusive in-app deals, you can create a sense of urgency that allows users to engage more frequently with your app. 

2. Coupons and freebies

Customer engagement begins the moment users sign up for your app. To foster a welcoming atmosphere, consider offering a welcome gift or discount coupon upon registration. 

Additionally, you can create opportunities for customers to participate in lucky draws or receive special discounts based on their purchase value. This strategy not only incentivizes new users to explore your offering but also cultivates loyalty among existing customers, encouraging repeat visits and purchases. 

3. Contests and competitions

Another great way to monetize is hosting contests to engage your audience while driving sales. You can create competitions that encourage users to participate and generate excitement around your brand. 

For instance, you might organize a photo contest where customers showcase their furniture setups, with winners receiving store credit or exclusive discounts. This will boost customer engagement and create a sense of community around your brand. 

4. In-app advertising 

This is the most common method of monetizing free apps. You can place relevant ads within your app and generate additional amounts without compromising the user experience. 

Ensure that the ads are aligned with your furniture store’s theme and do not disrupt the overall functionality and aesthetics of your app. Consider using targeted advertising to maximize relevance, which can lead to higher click-through rates and increased revenue. 

5. Affiliate marketing 

Another effective strategy for monetizing your furniture store app. When you partner with brands that complement your offerings, you can promote their products within your app and earn a commission on sales generated through your referrals. 

This approach will add to revenue streams and enhance the value you provide to your users by introducing them to the relevant products. To succeed in affiliate marketing, focus on building a loyal user base and maintaining a strong reputation for your app.

Why Choose EmizenTech To Develop Your Online Furniture Store Mobile App?

In a saturated market filled with app development companies, selecting the right partner for your online furniture store mobile app is crucial. As a leading mobile app development company, EmizenTech stands out as a premier choice for several compelling reasons. 

We have a team of skilled developers with extensive experience in creating ecommerce applications. Our deep understanding of the furniture retail industry allows us to design and develop solutions that cater specifically to the unique needs of the furniture businesses. 

Every business is unique, which is why we offer custom mobile app development services and collaborate closely with you to understand your vision and goals. At EmizenTech, we prioritize security and are committed to providing value without compromising quality. 

If you have budget constraints, we offer competitive pricing models tailored to your budget and ensure that you receive a high-quality app that maximizes your return on investment. 

Our development approach allows for flexibility and transparency throughout the project. Whether you want to integrate augmented reality for virtual furniture placement or implement AI-driven recommendations, we provide you with cutting-edge mobile app solutions. 

Develop an online furniture store app with us and create a standout app in this competitive market that not only drives sales but also provides value to the customers.

Conclusion

The online furniture store app market is quite competitive, so to outshine your competitors, you need careful planning and a significant investment of time and resources to achieve success. 

Investing your energy in understanding market trends, user preferences, and effective marketing tactics will yield substantial benefits for your online furniture business. 

When you choose to develop an online furniture store app, you are creating a digital storefront for your business and expanding your user base. With innovative technologies and focusing on user-centric design, your app can stand out in a competitive market. 

Although, the key to success lies in continuous improvement and adaptation to changing consumer needs. With the right approach and experienced furniture store development services, you can pave the way to long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions