Expert Advice: When is the Best Time to Buy Furniture?

What is the Best Month to Buy Furniture?

You can find furniture deals at almost all times of the year. But some months will bring steeper discounts than others.

End of Winter (January/February) and Late Summer (July and August)

“To be honest there's always a sale of some sort in the furniture and furnishings industry,” says Sherri Monte, founder of Seattle-based interior design firm Elegant Simplicity.  “But when it comes to the interior of your home steepest sales often exist just before the launch of new furniture.”

So when do brands tend to introduce new furniture styles?

“The interior design world operates on a biannual launch of spring and fall which makes the months leading up to spring (January, February, and the first few weeks of March) and those leading up to fall (July, August, and the first few weeks of September) some of the best months to buy furniture for your home,” says Monte.

The months leading up to spring (January, February, and the first few weeks of March) and those leading up to fall (July, August, and the first few weeks of September) some of the best months to buy furniture for your home.

If you're looking to pick up some new living room or dining room furniture, Monte recommends keeping an eye on sales at the beginning of the year as brands start to clear out older lines before releasing new furniture items and styles.

July and December/January

“Starting in July, we see home furniture discounts ranging from 50% to 80% at the end-of-summer sales,” says consumer analyst Michael Bonebright of Dealnews.

“Furniture specials pop up again in December; these sales typically trickle into January. Those late winter sales happen because that's when new styles are coming in, so retailers will clearance-price the excess inventory,” explains Bonebright.

“Late winter sales happen because that's when new styles are coming in, so retailers will clearance-price the excess inventory.”

January to April

“The best time to shop for furniture would be between January to April,” says  Albert Lee, founder of Home Living Lab.

“During this period, most furniture would see a reduction in prices due to heavy discounts or attractive promotions put up by the retailers. This is because most furniture buyers would have completed their home decor during the spring and summer prior to the holiday seasons in winter.”

Over the New Year and early-spring months, retailers need to give shoppers a reason to pay attention—low prices—so that they can shift last year’s inventory ahead of upcoming new products.

“Retailers often offer great discounts and deals to clear their existing inventory,” says Lee. “This is a real steal for homeowners who are just looking for good functional furniture and do not mind that the furniture may be out of season.”

What Holiday is the Best to Buy Furniture?

President’s Day

Early in the year, many retailers offer discounts on furniture when new styles are coming in. So sales offer a great way to move old stock as the new styles come in. This means that Presidents Day (in February) is often one of the best holiday weekends to shop the sales and buy discounted furniture.

“With over a decade as an interior designer, we are big believers in the President's Day sales,” says Monte.

“More often than not, as spring rolls around retailers have just pushed through the slowest of their seasons (post-holidays), and specifically, the interior home furnishings market is faced with a big challenge: everyone is ready for winter to be over. The buyer's mind is on spring or summer and how they want to get their deck or patio set up so the interior furnishings market needs to persuade buyers to stay focused inside on a new sofa, a new dining table, or a new rug.”

"The buyer's mind is on spring or summer and how they want to get their deck or patio set up so the interior furnishings market needs to persuade buyers to stay focused inside."

Bonebright also recommends keeping an eye on President’s Day sales but also advises to wait for seasonal sales for the biggest discounts.

“Furniture is a seasonal item, so you're better off shopping clearance sales than holiday events. We do see home furniture deals around Presidents' Day, but discounts are better in January,” he explains.  

Other Holiday Furniture Buying Opportunities

Alongside President's Day, there are a number of major holidays throughout the year that are great for furniture shopping.

Memorial Day

Furniture retailers often have big discounts for Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), with many stretching their sales over a full week.

Fourth of July

Fourth of July is another big holiday for sales and discounted furniture purchases. This holiday marks the middle of summer so it can be a great time to find a deal on outdoor furniture from brands like Outer and Yardbird.

Back-to-School Sales

If you're looking for home office furniture pieces like desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and bookshelves, the best time of year for savings is in August and September, when furniture stores are clearing our before new lines come into stock.

Labor Day

Labor Day is the first Monday in September and celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers. Across Labor Day weekend, you'll often find furniture sales and great prices on all types of furniture.

Black Friday

The Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States is one of the biggest days of the year for sales — many brands will stretch deals over the weekend and into Cyber Monday.

Day Deals From Online Retailers

Amazon Prime Day

If you’re a Prime member, don’t miss the alerts leading up to Amazon’s biggest deal day of the year in July. Amazon even has their own furniture brands, Rivet and Stone & Beam, that boasts a wide range of competitively-priced traditional and modern furniture pieces. If you’re looking to save money on a new mid-century modern sectional, Prime day is a prime time to check out the Zon’s highly-rated furniture brands.

Wayfair Way Day

Massive online furniture retailer, Wayfair also hosts an annual shopping extravaganza called Way Day. The two-day event happens every April, and features deals up to 80% off. Way Day is a great time to spruce up your outdoor space, as many of the featured deals are on patio furniture.

Worst Time of Year to Buy Furniture

Spring and fall are when retailers get new stock and new designs in. They want  to have their retail floor space (or websites updated) by April and October every year.

If you’re shopping in the spring or fall (with the exception of sales like Way Day and Memorial Day), plan to pay full price.

Best Time To Buy Appliances

If you need a new washer and dryer, many of these same tips apply. Big retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy run sales during major holidays.

These retailers also sometimes run in-store flash sales at the end of the month to move inventory in order to meet a quota. And if you’re a savvy researcher and know when a brand is planning to release a new model, you can snag a deal on the old model if you’re in the store at the right time.

When to Buy Outdoor Furniture

But what about giving your patio or outdoor space a refresh, what's the best time of year to buy outdoor furniture?

“If you're shopping for patio furniture, you should start shopping in mid-March,” says  Bonebright.

“We typically see discounts of up to 60% off in the early spring, but April deals can take 80% off. If you want a larger selection, summer patio furniture sales typically have more stock. However, once we get into June and July, you'll see smaller discounts - starting from 30% off.”

If you want to wait for the early summer sales (when brands might have more stock on sale), Monte recommends shopping over the Fourth of July weekend: “Retailers know this holiday, in particular, is their big push to get outdoor furniture off the showroom or out of the warehouse,” she adds.    

3 Furniture Buying Tips

Whether you’re shopping for sales the perfect new sofa, a bed, or any type of furniture, furniture is always a big purchase. Even with markdowns, it can be expensive and once you’ve purchased your new piece or furniture set, it will play a key role in your home. So you want to get it right.

Here are three tips to help you:

1. Don’t Rush

“My number one piece of advice for shopping for furniture sales: don't buy the entire set or be in a hurry,” advises Monte.  

“Buying the entire bedroom set off the showroom floor only gets things done fast. But what you're left with is a bedroom that feels like a showroom. If you truly want a home that feels finished and like your own then it takes time and some elbow grease to process through how you live, what style furniture you want, and find what's actually available.”

"Buying the entire bedroom set off the showroom floor only gets things done fast. But what you're left with is a bedroom that feels like a showroom."

“If you know this going in, then you're less likely to see a great sale and decide to buy the bed, nightstands, and both dressers for your bedroom.”

2. Watch out for Shipping Fees

“Pay attention to shipping fees,” says Bonebright. “Many online retailers charge extra to ship heavy items like furniture.”

“If you need to use freight shipping or truck delivery, you'll pay a hefty flat fee from most stores. If you want white glove delivery service for fragile items, you can expect to pay a fee that's similar to freight shipping from most stores.”

3. Stick to Your Shopping List

“Have a shopping list and stick to it,” says Lee.

“During sales, the fear of missing out is very real and can be very powerful where you see discounts that are going at 80%. However, if you give in and simply snap up everything that seems to be a good deal, you are going to find yourself with a lot of junk that does not fit into your home at all.”

Lee recommends that before shopping any sales you should evaluate your furnishing needs, draw up a game plan, be disciplined and stick to it. “If you don't have confidence in yourself, find a buddy who will keep you in line,” he advises. “This will help to prevent overspending and a whole room of regrets when the sale is over.”