When Are the Biggest Furniture Sales of the Year?

Timing furniture purchases effectively can lead to considerable savings. Retailers frequently offer discounts due to predictable inventory cycles, the arrival of new collections, and strategic promotional events. Understanding these patterns allows consumers to acquire furniture at more favorable prices throughout the year.

Annual Sale Cycles

The furniture industry operates on a biannual cycle, with new indoor furniture collections arriving in showrooms during February and August. To accommodate these designs, retailers clear out existing inventory in the months immediately preceding these new arrivals. This creates opportunities for consumers to find discounts on previous season’s styles, usually in January and July. Prices for indoor furniture can drop significantly during these periods.

Late winter and early spring are ideal for indoor furniture purchases, as stores make room for spring collections. Late summer and early fall present another window for deals on indoor pieces, coinciding with the clearance of summer stock. Outdoor furniture follows a similar pattern, with deals found between August and October as stores transition out of warmer seasons.

Major Holiday Sales

National holidays are associated with furniture sales, aligning with consumer spending and long weekends. Presidents’ Day in February is one of the year’s first major sales events, featuring deep discounts on mattresses and bedroom furniture as retailers clear old inventory. Shoppers can expect financing deals during this period.

Memorial Day in May kicks off summer sales, providing good opportunities for indoor furniture and serving as a prime time to purchase patio and outdoor furniture. Labor Day in early September is another end-of-summer sale event, offering discounts across a wide range of furniture categories. The post-Thanksgiving period, encompassing Black Friday and Cyber Monday, brings competitive sales across all furniture categories, with savings potentially reaching 50 percent or more.

Special Sale Occasions

Beyond annual cycles and major holidays, other opportunities arise for discounted furniture.

Floor Model Sales

Floor model sales involve purchasing display items at reduced prices, which may have minor cosmetic wear from showroom use.

Warehouse Sales

Warehouse sales clear out excess inventory, discontinued product lines, or overstock items, often offering significant savings. Selection may be limited, and early arrival is beneficial.

Going-Out-of-Business Sales

Going-out-of-business sales provide deep discounts as stores liquidate their entire stock; these are typically final sales.

Online Events

Online events like Wayfair’s Way Day (usually April) and Amazon Prime Day (July) spur competitive sales across many retailers. These events offer substantial savings, prompting both online and brick-and-mortar stores to align their promotional pricing.

Preparing for Your Purchase

Before purchasing furniture, careful preparation ensures a successful experience. Measure your space, including the room’s width, length, and height, as well as doorways, hallways, and stairwells to ensure items will fit during delivery. Using painter’s tape to outline furniture placement on the floor can help visualize the layout.

Setting a budget is an important step, involving researching prices and prioritizing pieces. Factor in additional costs such as delivery fees or assembly charges.

Research different styles, materials, and types of furniture that align with your lifestyle and durability needs. Signing up for email newsletters from retailers can provide early notifications of sales and offers. Understanding the retailer’s return policy, including timeframes, restocking fees, and requirements for original packaging, is important.