When Is the Best Time To Buy Furniture?
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Summary:
The best time to buy furniture — and get a good deal on it — typically depends on what type of furniture you’re looking for. In general, if you’re looking to buy outdoor furniture to spruce up your deck or patio, plan to shop in late summer to early fall. For indoor furniture, try shopping in late winter or early spring, when furniture retailers make way for new furniture styles. Certain holiday weekends can also be a good time to find excellent furniture sales.
Without a doubt, buying furniture for a change of decor can be fun and exciting. However, making furniture purchases can also be expensive and even a little stressful. That’s why if you’re thinking about going furniture shopping soon, you’ll want to be strategic about finding the best discounts on the items you’re looking to buy.
If you want to know when is the best time to buy furniture, keep reading to find out which months and seasons will garner you the best deals, as well as some useful furniture-buying tips.
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When is the best time to buy furniture?
The best time to buy furniture partly depends on your goals. For example, if you want the largest selection and the newest styles, the furniture industry usually drops its newest items into stores and online retailers in the spring and fall. However, prices will likely also be at their highest point during those times.
If, like most people, you don’t want to pay full price for a major purchase, you can find deals during other times of the year. For example, if you’re purchasing a house and need to buy living room furniture or other indoor furniture for your new home, try to either shop during the wintertime or wait for summer sales. On the other hand, if you’re in the market to buy furniture for an outdoor space, aim to shop during late summer or early fall to find good deals.
In addition, it’s always worth checking out furniture sales on holiday weekends — such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, or Presidents’ Day — to see if the items you have in mind are discounted. Tim Rafferty, owner of Rudolph’s Furniture, a family-owned furniture store, points out that heavy competition in the industry and customer trends make shopping during holidays a good time to get discounts on new furniture:
“In general, it seems that customers have become accustomed to waiting until some of the major holidays to purchase furniture. New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and Labor Day are probably the biggest. The furniture industry is very competitive, so most stores will offer some kind of special to keep up with the other guy.”
And don’t forget to try your luck on Black Friday (if you can handle the crowds) or Cyber Monday (when you can shop online furniture sales at a more relaxed pace). It’s also a good idea to keep track of Amazon’s Prime Day (usually held in July), when Amazon offers deals to boost the slower summer sales months and reach consumers who are starting to think about the back-to-school season.
In truth, though, furniture sales can happen at any time for a variety of reasons. If you already know what you want, simply keep an eye on local store prices and take advantage of any good deals you find on the furniture you plan to buy.
Pro Tip
To save money, exercise patience when considering a big furniture purchase. Follow your favorite furniture retailers on social media, sign up for mailing lists and email alerts from brick-and-mortar and online furniture stores, and keep your eyes open while you’re driving around town — the sooner you are aware of furniture sales, the quicker you can act on them!
Best time to buy patio furniture
As the weather warms up, furniture stores know that consumers are going to start thinking about buying outdoor furniture in preparation for summer. Therefore, patio furniture prices are usually at their highest point in springtime and early summer. This is also when you’ll find the largest selection of outdoor furniture.
If you want to save money on decorating your outdoor space, plan to shop outdoor furniture sales starting in August. For even steeper discounts (albeit with a limited selection), check out Labor Day sales or outdoor furniture deals throughout September and occasionally into October.
“Late summer to early autumn is when stores often reduce prices on garden and patio items, making it a good window for those,” says Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight. Kropovinsky adds that this is usually true even in warmer climates, where you might expect a high year-round demand to buy outdoor furniture.
“Even if the climate remains balmy throughout the year, it doesn’t imply that purchasing behaviors stay the same. In these climates, many inhabitants might still exhibit a mental transition in their buying patterns according to the time of year. [For example, the] start of academic sessions: As children get back to their studies, outdoor lounging areas could become less popular, leading some stores to reduce prices.”
Best time to buy office furniture
Office furniture, particularly home office furniture sales, have experienced a big uptick since the pandemic, as more and more people are working remotely — and therefore are fitting out their home offices with desks, ergonomic chairs, and filing cabinets. Luckily, there are several times of year when you may be able to get good deals on office furniture.
January is always a good time to start your search — for all types of furniture — as manufacturers prepare to introduce new styles and furniture stores seek to reduce their existing inventory to make room for new stock. Plus, as Kropovinsky points out, there are always big sales after the major holiday season has ended: “Post-celebration periods see several stores clearing their shelves for fresh assortments.”
Some industry experts suggest that tax time in April is another good time to find deals on office furniture, and Memorial Day sales may also offer up some good deals on home office furnishings. Additionally, shopping back-to-school sales starting in August can be a great way to find the best price on essential pieces for your home office.
Best time to buy indoor furniture
If you’re looking to purchase living room furniture, a new dining table, or any other indoor furniture, your best bet is to shop during the winter months or take advantage of summer holiday sales. January and February, for example, may have fewer choices available on the showroom floor (or the online equivalent) as stores make room for new stock, but you can definitely get some better deals.
February has two holidays — Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day — that are known for good deals on bedroom furniture. According to Kropovinsky, “Promotions around Valentine’s Day often mean better deals on mattresses and bed frames.”
Summer sales events are also a good time to buy indoor furniture for your living room, dining room, and other indoor areas of your home because that’s often a slower time for indoor furniture shopping. Look for great deals around summer holidays, such as the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Pro Tip
“Before you step into a store or click [the Buy button], do a bit of homework. Knowing the market, reading up on reviews, and having a clear idea of what you want can make the whole process smoother and more rewarding.” — Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight
When is the worst time to buy furniture?
Similar to buying a car, the worst time to go furniture shopping is when you really need furniture. If you can’t take the time to shop around or wait for the best deals, you could end up spending a lot more than you planned on large purchases that may be marked down in only a couple of months.
In addition, Kropovinsky hints that you may want to hold off on that big sale around the winter holiday season: “Contrary to what one might expect, right before holidays isn’t always great for deals. Retailers know many [consumers] are looking for last-minute items, and prices might reflect that.”
However, if money is no object and you want the greatest selection possible, your timeline for shopping for new furniture can look a bit different. Buying furniture as soon as the new styles hit retail floors will give you the largest selection of furniture items than you would find during other times of the year, such as when retailers are trying to purge their (more limited) existing inventory of old stock.
Tips for buying furniture
Aside from knowing the best times for furniture purchases, there are a few other factors to consider that could save you money on a big purchase like a patio set, a new sofa, or other furnishings for your home.
Try local, independent retailers
It may seem like you can get the best deals on home furnishings at superstores, but that’s not always the case, Rafferty points out.
“My advice to a consumer would be to shop smaller, independent stores, simply due to flexibility. Bigger box stores may be a little more rigid and have strict policies for their salespeople to follow. Whereas with independents, you usually are dealing with owners or family who have a little more authority to make things happen for the customer.”
Rafferty also adds, “Customers should take advantage of any interest-free financing deals. If purchasing multiple items, customers can politely ask if the salesperson can work with them. Often, they will receive a little price break or free delivery.”
Pro Tip
Many furniture shops provide either third-party interest-free financing for up to three years or an in-house “buy now, pay later” option. In either case, be sure to read the contract carefully so you’re aware of any hidden fees or penalties for late payments.You can also apply for a credit card with a 0% introductory period. Just be aware that if you don’t pay off the balance within that introductory period, you’ll be stuck with a high credit card interest rate.
Consider buying floor samples
As retail furniture shops make room for new furniture inventory, you may be able to score deals on floor models that, while not necessarily in perfect condition, are still in great shape. You can also look for discounts on returned (i.e., “open box”) furnishings, says Kropovinsky.
“Items that are slightly damaged or returned can be had for a song. Many stores are willing to let these go at a fraction of the original price.”
Shop during the week
Unless you’re shopping online, furniture stores tend to be busiest on the weekends, during which time you may find it hard to get a salesperson’s undivided attention. Because of this, Kropovinsky suggests furniture shopping during the week if you can manage it.
“Consider shopping during the weekdays when stores aren’t as packed. This can mean more attentive service and, sometimes, better deals.”
Shop at the end of the month
With some stores, it may not matter at what time during the month you shop — with the exception of furniture sales — but many retailers are more likely to give you a better deal toward the end of the month, says Rafferty.
“Some stores with commissioned sales reps may offer incentives toward the end of the month to help meet sales goals.”
Kropovinsky agrees: “As the month draws to a close, there might be additional bargains up for grabs. Store staff might have targets to hit, which could mean sweeter deals for you.”
Shop online retailers
Buying furniture often seems like more of an in-person, hands-on type of experience, but you can also find some excellent deals on quality furnishings through online stores, says Kropovinsky.
“While brick-and-mortar stores have their merits, don’t sideline online shops. They often have surprise sales or online-only discounts.”
Many online shops also have reasonable return policies if you’re not happy with your purchase, which can ease the fear of buyer’s remorse. Alternatively, if you’re not set on brand-new furnishings, you can shop online for used furniture on many garage sale–type websites or apps, such as Facebook Marketplace.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy furniture in-store or online?
While you can certainly get some good deals shopping online for home and office furnishings, it’s not necessarily cheaper than shopping at traditional retail stores. For example, you can’t exactly negotiate with an online store — the price is what it is.
Another problem you may run into when shopping online is not being happy with your purchase, only to find the return policy requires you to pay for shipping or a restocking fee. If you’re shopping online, carefully read the return policy before you click “Buy.”
Can you negotiate prices on home furnishings?
You may not think that furniture prices can be haggled, but that’s not always true. Even if some salespeople aren’t authorized to reduce the price of an item, you may still be able to score additional benefits, such as free delivery or a limited warranty.
Sales staff are trained to close the deal by any means possible, especially when they work on commission, so they may be willing to work with you to reach an agreement. This is particularly true if you are buying multiple items.
Key Takeaways
- In general, the best times to buy furniture are in the late winter months or during summer holiday sales events.
- The best time to buy furniture for your outdoor space is usually in late summer to early fall.
- You’ll most likely find the best discounts on indoor furnishings, such as living room or office furniture, from January to February or from July to August.
- The worst times to buy furniture are typically in the spring and fall, when manufacturers roll out the newest styles.
- You can also score some good deals on furnishings by purchasing floor models and returned items or by shopping online.
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