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Time it right. Like clothes, furniture and other home goods are seasonal. New merchandise arrives in stores twice a year, and sales are pegged to clear out old inventory. Discounts start at 20% around Memorial Day and again around Veterans Day in November, according to Jackie Hirschhaut of the American Home Furnishings Alliance. The percentage off tends to increase as the weeks pass; you'll find the best bargains (up to 60% off) after July 4 and Christmas. Don't feel like waiting? Christine Edmonds, an interior design consultant at Trove Decor in Newtown, Pa., suggests you check out Room & Board (roomandboard.com). "It sells well-built, good-value, timeless pieces that mesh with just about any decor"--and the company generally keeps prices at the same reasonable level year-round. Use high-tech helpers. For flash sales on high-end home goods, check out onekingslane.com and gilthome.com. Follow your local Groupon and LivingSocial feeds for housewares sales near you. And never buy anything without Googling a promo code: You might score 10% off or free shipping--which, with heavy furniture, can really add up. Go vintage for certain pieces. Wood furniture built 40 or more years ago is often better quality than similarly priced new pieces, according to Edmonds. "The best bargains today are on dining tables and chairs--they're the first thing people get rid of when they downsize," says Carolyn Baker of Baker Auction and Estate Sale Services in Denver. "You can find nice sets for about $200 to $400 now." (Avoid upholstered items; the cost of replacing the fabric will ruin the deal.) Find estate sales near you at estatesales.net and auctions by searching NAAAuctions.com. Don't snub flea markets and yard sales. They may seem downscale, but these days many offer fantastic deals on vintage home goods such as silverware, lamps, and cabinets that need a little inexpensive TLC (polishing, rewiring, a coat of paint). Next month is the time to check out flea markets: Vendors start discounting before packing up in October, says Jennifer Litwin, author of The Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever. To find them, go to keysfleamarket.com; to find yard sales near you, download the app iGarageSale ($1.99, available for Android and iPhone). What You Don't Know Full-price furniture in stores is marked up as much as 70% over wholesale, says analyst Epperson. But since the average furniture buyer pays far less, there's plenty of wiggle room to negotiate on the showroom floor. | ||||||
| Last Updated ( Friday, 23 December 2011 ) | ||||||
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