Furniture Inventory Guide for Insurance Claims and Policy Coverage
Furniture plays a key role in shaping the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your home, but it also represents a significant financial investment. In the event of damage, loss, or theft due to natural disasters or accidents, it's crucial to have proper documentation of your furniture for insurance claims.
Some pieces of furniture, particularly high-end or custom-made items, can also appreciate in value over time, making it essential to ensure that your insurance policy reflects their worth.
What Is Insurable Furniture?
Furniture refers to the movable objects intended to support human activities like seating, sleeping, and dining. From simple utilitarian designs to high-end custom pieces, all types of furniture should be covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy, especially if their loss or damage would represent a substantial financial hit.
Common furniture items include chairs, tables, sofas, desks, and bed frames, as well as specialized items like antiques, custom Upholstery, and unique or luxury pieces.
Importance of Appraisals for Furniture
While most furniture depreciates over time, certain high-end, antique, or custom-made pieces can retain or even increase in value. Having your more valuable items appraised helps establish their market value and ensures that your insurance policy provides adequate coverage.
Keep in mind, we cover much of this in our Antiques article but an appraisal can also be critical for items made from rare materials or featuring unique craftsmanship, as these pieces may be irreplaceable in a standard claims process.
Depreciation and Furniture
Unlike fine art or collectibles, most types of furniture experience depreciation, especially mass-produced items made from common materials and we calculate this automatically for you. Depreciation can vary based on materials used, original brand / quality and just general use.
Conversely, antique or custom furniture may appreciate over time, depending on the rarity, materials, and craftsmanship involved. Specialized policies or endorsements (riders) may be needed to ensure these high-end pieces are insured at their current value.
Ensuring Proper Insurance Coverage for Furniture
Specialized Insurance Riders: High-end, antique, or custom furniture may require additional insurance beyond standard homeowners' policies. Consider adding riders to ensure these items are covered for their full value.
Agreed Value Coverage: Opt for agreed value coverage, especially for custom or rare furniture. This allows you and your insurance company to agree on the value of the piece upfront, ensuring full compensation in the event of a Claim.
Document and Photograph: Maintain a detailed inventory of your furniture (Loti provides all of these tools), including high-quality photographs, purchase receipts, and any appraisal or restoration documents. This ensures that your insurance provider has clear documentation to assess the value of your furniture in case of damage or loss.
Regular Appraisals: For unique or high-end pieces, regular appraisals (every 3-5 years) ensure that your insurance coverage reflects the current market value of your furniture collection.
Quick List of Furniture by Category
Here’s a categorized inventory guide for various types of furniture, from children's furnishings to high-end custom pieces. This guide will help you document and organize your furniture for insurance purposes and the examples line up with the categories presented in Loti’s services. The names and titles are simply provided as thought starters.
Children's Furniture
Children’s furniture is designed for both comfort and functionality, but it can also include heirloom or high-end items that carry significant financial or sentimental value.
Bunk beds
Changing tables
Children’s dressers
Cribs (convertible or standard)
Kids’ activity tables
High chairs
Playpens
Toy chests
Toddler beds
Rocking chairs
Child-sized recliners
Child-safe bookshelves
Themed bed frames (princess, race car, etc.)
Kids’ bean bags
Convertible baby furniture
Desks & Tables
Desks and tables are essential furniture pieces in most homes. While mass-produced items may depreciate over time, high-end or custom-made desks and tables can be significant Assets.
Dining tables (solid wood, extendable, etc.)
Custom-made conference tables
Executive office desks
Farmhouse-style dining tables
Kitchen island tables
Coffee tables (glass, wood, chrome)
Side tables or accent tables
Fold-out desks
Modular desks
Laptop desks with built-in storage
Dressing tables or vanities
Rustic wooden tables
Glass-top dining tables
Mid-Century Modern desks
Lamp Shades
Though often overlooked, lamp shades can range from simple to luxurious, particularly when made from custom materials or featuring intricate designs. We categorize them under furniture since they are largely intertwined with lamps and larger pieces in a room.
Silk lamp shades
Stained glass Tiffany-style lamp shades
Pleated lamp shades
Drum lamp shades
Custom Linen lamp shades
Chandelier lamp shades
Beaded or fringe lamp shades
Bamboo or wicker lamp shades
Paper lamp shades (Japanese or contemporary)
Embroidered fabric shades
Crystal-embellished lamp shades
Porcelain lamp shades
Leather or faux leather lamp shades
Hand-painted decorative lamp shades
Lamps
Lamps serve both a functional and decorative role in the home, and high-end or antique lamps can hold considerable value (which should be accounted for under Antiques in our system).
Antique brass table lamps
Art Deco floor lamps
Victorian oil lamps (converted to electric)
Modern arc floor lamps
Mid-century modern tripod lamps
Crystal table lamps
Stained glass Tiffany-style lamps
Industrial-style desk lamps
Contemporary LED floor lamps
Rustic wooden table lamps
Porcelain or ceramic decorative lamps
Sculptural or novelty lamps
Vintage milk glass lamps
Brass banker’s lamps
Adjustable Task Lighting
Mattresses & Box Springs
Although mattresses and box springs depreciate over time, high-end or custom-made items may retain their value longer, especially if maintained in good condition.
Memory foam mattresses
Hybrid mattresses (foam and spring)
Custom-made orthopedic mattresses
Pillow-top mattresses
Organic latex mattresses
Adjustable bed frames with box springs
Futon mattresses
Box springs with reinforced support
Split king mattresses
Gel memory foam mattresses
Waterbeds with box springs
Tempur-Pedic mattresses
Air mattresses with box springs
Custom-size box springs (for antique beds)
Luxury mattress toppers
Office Furniture
Office furniture varies from basic pieces to high-end executive furniture. Custom office pieces, ergonomic designs, and antique desks can hold considerable value.
Adjustable standing desks
Executive office chairs (leather or ergonomic)
L-shaped desks with built-in storage
Modular cubicles
Glass-top office desks
File cabinets (wood or metal)
Conference room tables
Ergonomic office chairs
Rolling desk chairs
Bookcases and shelving units
Task chairs with lumbar support
Secretary desks (antique)
Modular computer desks
Meeting tables with built-in charging stations
Office workstations with privacy panels
TV Mounts
TV mounts provide a modern solution for mounting flat-screen televisions. Some mounts can be valuable depending on materials and features.
Motorized TV wall mounts
Full-motion articulating wall mounts
Tilt TV wall mounts
Fixed-position TV mounts
Swivel TV stands with integrated mount
Heavy-duty wall mounts for large screens
Corner wall mounts
Ceiling mounts for flat-screen TVs
Recessed wall TV mounts
Low-profile flat mounts
Universal TV stands with mount
Motorized pop-up TV cabinets
Pull-down fireplace TV mounts
Ceiling projector mounts
Heavy-duty rolling TV carts
Unique / High-End Furniture
Unique and high-end furniture pieces often command higher values and are typically custom-made, featuring rare materials, expert craftsmanship, or designer labels.
Custom leather sectional sofas
Designer Italian dining tables
Hand-carved wooden bed frames
Limited-edition Eames lounge chairs
Custom-upholstered wingback chairs
Art Deco bar carts
High-end modular shelving systems
Marble-topped coffee tables
Lucite dining chairs
Mid-century modern iconic pieces (Eames, Saarinen)
Antique Chippendale chairs
Custom bookcases with hidden compartments
Hand-painted armoires
Reclaimed Wood farmhouse tables
Vintage Bauhaus furniture
Upholstered Furniture
Upholstered furniture, from everyday sofas to high-end custom pieces, can be valuable based on material, design, and craftsmanship.
Chesterfield leather sofas
Custom-upholstered loveseats
Tufted velvet armchairs
Recliners with leather upholstery
Mid-century modern upholstered chairs
Slip-covered sectional sofas
Nailhead-trimmed upholstered beds
High-back wing chairs with custom upholstery
Modular upholstered sectionals
Swivel armchairs with leather or fabric
Upholstered daybeds
Antique upholstered fainting couches
Oversized fabric chaise lounges
Button-tufted ottomans
Upholstered dining chairs
Wood, Chrome, or Plastic Furniture
Furniture made from wood, chrome, or plastic can vary in value depending on its craftsmanship, design, and materials.
Solid oak dining tables
Teakwood outdoor furniture
Polished chrome bar stools
Walnut credenzas
Chrome and glass coffee tables
Lucite chairs
Scandinavian Birch wood chairs
Mid-century modern Plywood lounge chairs
Bamboo and rattan furniture
Reclaimed wood bed frames
Chrome wire shelving units
Plastic molded Eames chairs
Mahogany sideboards
Maple wood rocking chairs
Contemporary acrylic tables
Key Considerations for Furniture Collection Management
Environmental Protection: Protect wooden and upholstered furniture from environmental damage, such as moisture, sunlight, and pests. Use climate-controlled spaces and UV-resistant window treatments for furniture preservation.
Security: Consider installing security systems in storage or display areas for high-end or antique furniture pieces. These measures help protect valuable items from theft.
Transport and Installation: For large or delicate pieces, hire professional movers experienced in handling valuable furniture. This reduces the risk of damage during transportation or installation.
Insurance Updates: Keep your inventory up-to-date by adding new furniture purchases or appraisals for valuable items. This ensures your insurance coverage accurately reflects the current value of your furniture collection.
Wrap-Up: Protecting Your Furniture Collection
Furniture, whether everyday items or high-end, custom-made pieces, represents a significant investment. Organizing your inventory in the event of a large insurance claim or to ensure you are properly insured is a critical part of the process. Combined with our articles on a variety of rooms, these thought starters are here to help you through those efforts.