Here are the Best Times to Buy Living Room & Patio Furniture

Whether you’re planning to move to a new home or giving your current home a spruce-up, you may wonder what the best time is to hit the showroom floors and buy new furniture. Thinking about the timing of your purchase is smart because the “when” of buying new furniture can make a big difference in what you pay.

Our Addition Financial members ask us for advice about buying furniture sometimes. We’re happy to be able to tell them the best times to buy living room furniture or patio furniture. Here’s what you need to know.

The Best Time to Buy Living Room Furniture

Furniture manufacturers adhere to seasons when they release new designs. New interior furniture, including living room furniture, arrives at showrooms in February and August every year.

Unless you’re someone who’s committed to buying the very latest design, you can save a lot of money by shopping in the month immediately before a new shipment arrives. In other words, the best times to buy living room furniture happen in January and August, with a slight edge to January.

The reason that these are great times to buy new living room furniture is that salespeople and store owners will be eager to sell last season’s stock to make way for new shipments and new designs. Their eagerness can translate into bargains for you.

Of course, January may not be the ideal time for you to buy if you have no furniture and need it in April. There are some other times that are advantageous for buying furniture too:

Any holiday weekend (think Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day)
Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving, usually the biggest retail day of the year)
Any time a local furniture store has a sale (anniversary sales, warehouse sales and sample sales)

Keeping your eyes open for sales can help you pin down a good deal on living room furniture at any time of year.

The Best Time to Buy Patio Furniture

If January and August are the best times to buy living room furniture, are they also the best times to buy patio furniture? The short answer is no, but let’s look at the explanation.

Most people shop for new patio furniture just before the warmest weather of the year arrives – think April, May and June. At those times, prices for patio furniture are at their highest. It’s not the ideal environment for bargain hunting.

The best times to buy patio furniture are the times when people are preparing to store their patio furniture for the winter months. Peak buying times end in July and by August, furniture retailers are eager to get rid of what’s left to make room for more interior furniture.

In our opinion, August, September and October are the best months to buy patio furniture. You may find that you’re able to score a bargain with some careful shopping and haggling.

As was the case with living room furniture, remember to ask about package deals. You may be able to get a new patio dining set and lounge chairs for far less than you’d pay during the peak months.

The same rules about sale shopping apply here, too. Holiday weekends and sales represent an opportunity to get your furniture at bargain prices.

Tips for Buying Living Room and Patio Furniture

Now, let’s look at some tips to help you get new patio or living room furniture at the lowest possible price.

Research furniture and prices online before you walk into a showroom. It’s always a good idea to know what the prices are and which designs you like before you get there.
If you can pay with cash, let the salesperson know that. Sometimes, cash customers get better package deals than credit customers.
Ask if the store will consider selling floor models. They’re often deeply discounted and, at most, only gently used.
Ask if there’s wiggle room in the price. Some stores won’t budge on their listed prices but you won’t know if you don’t ask.
Ask about package deals if you’re buying a lot. Many retailers will offer a discount to big-ticket customers.
If you decide to look at store financing, make sure to read the fine print. Many financing options offer a 0% APR if you pay for your furniture within a set time frame. It’s essential to understand what you’re getting before you agree to financing.

You’ll get the best deal if you walk onto the showroom floor informed about what you want and with a clear grasp of your budget.

The best times to buy living room and patio furniture are the times when you’re most likely to get a bargain. If you stick to what we’ve outlined here, you’ll get the furniture you want at a price you can afford.

Are you saving up for new furniture? Click here to learn how Addition Financial’s savings accounts can help!