Shopping for furniture that suits both your style and budget is a tough, but not impossible, task. One strategy that can save money: Never pay full price for a piece.
There are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to buy sofas, chairs or a new patio set on sale. The same piece can swing hundreds of dollars in price within a few months, so timing your purchase really helps your budget go further.
Best time to buy furniture
The best time to buy depends on the type of furniture you’re after. Indoor furniture is a bargain in the winter or summer months, while the best outdoor furniture sales happen between the Fourth of July and Labor Day, although sales often linger until the end of September.
Indoor furniture: Winter, summer
When: The end of winter (January and February) or the end of summer (August and September). Holiday weekends — Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black Friday — also reliably bring promotions. The good news is that if you miss one sale window, you're only six to eight weeks out from the next deal.
Why: The furniture industry tends to operate on a biannual schedule. New styles of indoor furniture hit retail floors every spring and fall.
What to expect: Retailers will be discounting their old stock during these months to make room for the new styles.
Looking for custom furniture? The sale cycle doesn’t really apply so there’s no need to wait, says Jerry Epperson, a prominent consultant in home furnishings research.
“It’s not that much more expensive to get something made just for you,” he says. But since custom furniture is made on-demand, you won’t find the kind of discounts retailers apply when they need to move their older pre-made stock.
» MORE: The best time to buy everything
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Outdoor furniture: Summer, fall
When: Between the Fourth of July and end of September, with the steepest markdowns after Labor Day.
Why: New outdoor furniture usually hits retail floors between mid-March and mid-April, and stores are looking to clear out their stock by August.
What to expect: Discounts widen as the season winds down, but the selection narrows. In other words: Buying in July means you'll pay more, but you'll also have more choices. Waiting until September means you'll likely get the best prices on what is left. Use late summer and early fall to take advantage of clearance sales when demand for outdoor stuff drops.
5 tips for shopping furniture sales
- Take your time. Furniture can be expensive, so be patient if you can't find that perfect sofa at the right price right now.
- Expect sales often. If the frequent advertising you see and hear is any indication, there’s almost always a furniture sale forthcoming. If what you’re looking for isn’t discounted yet, it might be soon. Take a look online every couple of weeks, and tell your salesperson you’re only buying the bedroom set when it goes on sale.
- Consider used furniture. While a 15-year-old couch may not appeal to you, older items made of solid wood might. Online marketplaces, flea markets and yard sales are good places for vintage furniture finds. It won’t hurt to look.
- Ask about floor models and models being phased out. Showroom samples are frequently marked down well below the list price. Ask about which items are being discontinued because you could get a deal.
- Negotiate in person: It might be tempting to buy furniture online, but there are some perks to shopping in person. In-store furniture prices might be more flexible, especially if you're working with a salesperson who can waive delivery fees, add in a protection plan for free or match a competitor's price.
» Find even more ways to save money
Writer Lisa Mulka contributed to this story.
