Furniture. You have to have it in your home, but do you have to spend a fortune to buy it? Not if you know the tricks to getting great deals on furniture! These nine hints and tricks will help you fill your home with beautiful furniture while sticking to your budget.
1. Know What You Need.
When you get to the furniture store, it’s easy to get excited and start looking at things that you don’t really need. Resist the temptation to overspend and completely redecorate by taking a careful inventory of your needs.
Ask yourself what furniture you want to replace and why? Where do you need new furniture in your home? Are you absolutely certain that you need it? Remember–furniture can be functional, but it also can make a home feel crowded. Make sure that whatever you’re considering buying is something that will truly benefit your home.
Also, take the time to figure out how much space you have, so that you can focus on furnishings that are the right size.
2. Shop in Your Home.
Before you start to shop, evaluate what you already own. Do you have any items that you could repurpose or restore? Sometimes, a coat of paint on a table or new upholstery on a sofa is all it takes to reinvent a piece. Doing the work yourself can be a fun and rewarding project, not to mention a less expensive endeavor than buying something brand new.
3. Don’t Forget Taxes and Delivery.
When you look at the price tag on a piece of furniture, don’t forget that what you will actually pay is more than what you see posted there. Make sure to take taxes into consideration as well as the delivery fee. Don’t assume that free delivery is included with the price of the furniture. At many stores, this is considered an added service. There may be one fee for delivering the furniture to your door and another for actually placing it in the room where it goes. Disposing of your old furniture for you may cost extra as well.
4. Shop Online.
Shopping online for furniture can add up to big savings. Because online furniture stores do not have the overhead of running a brick and mortar location, they can often charge less than conventional furniture stores. You’ll sometimes find the same furniture online that is at your local shop for cheaper! Just make sure you take a look at the store’s policy if you’re buying furniture that you haven’t seen in person. This way, you’ll be able to send it back if it isn’t just what you wanted. Some great online furniture stores to check for deals include:
– Honeypot Furniture
– Chilternoakfurniture
– Vidaxl
– Roseland Furniture
– Furniture Village
– Out & Out
– Bensons for Beds
– Big Furniture Warehouse
– Bedstar
5. Hit the Flea Market.
Before you buy brand new, be sure to see what’s available at flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops, second hand stores and bazaars. Often times, you can find gently used furniture that looks brand new or has a chic vintage vibe. Just make sure to give the furniture a thorough cleaning before you bring it into your home.
6. Check Out the Local Options.
There may be great deals to have in your local area. Independent furniture stores often discount their prices in order to compete with larger retailers. You can also check out Craigslist and other online classified sites to find people close to you who are trying to sell furniture. It’s even possible to find furniture that people are giving away for free provided you can come and pick it up. Even if you have to hire a truck to get the job done, you’re likely to still come out ahead of where you would be if you paid full price at a store.
7. Take Advantage of Special Offers.
Even when stores are running sales, there are often additional ways to save money that you don’t want to miss out on. At brick and mortar stores, look for coupons that you can print out online and bring into the store for additional savings. Find out if you can get a discount for opening a charge account, or if there is a deal on financing that would save you money on credit card interest.
If you’re shopping online, make sure to check to see if the store you’re intending to buy from is running any voucher code or discount code programs. Promotional codes can entitle you to perks like free delivery, to deals on certain pieces of furniture, or to discounts off the price of your entire order.
Also, look out for deals like student discounts or free delivery on orders over a certain amount. With the latter, sometimes buying an inexpensive cushion or throw blanket can put you over the threshold and end up eliminating the price of expensive shipping.
8. Shop at the Right Time.
Many people don’t realize that, like clothing, furniture styles can change from season to season, too. Shopping at the end of the month can often mean finding discontinued styles that are being discounted to make room for new merchandise. At the end of the month, you may also be able to talk a salesperson into a discount if you’re motivated to buy. That’s because stores often have monthly sales quotas that they need to meet.
9. Price Match.
Did you see something similar at another store for less money? Let the brick and mortar store or online store know! Many furniture stores will price match their competitors rather than miss the opportunity for a sale. Also, don’t be afraid to tell a brick and mortar store about a lower online price or vice versa. The worse that will happen is that they’ll say no. In the best case scenario, you might get a great deal!
There you have it–nine secrets to getting deals on furniture. Now, you’re ready to shop and save!