The Best Time to Buy a Couch

If you’re looking to upgrade your living room with a stylish new couch, timing is key. Buying furniture can be an expensive investment, especially if you’re in the market for one of your home's most-used pieces of furniture. And with furniture being a multimillion-dollar per year industry[2], knowing when the best time to buy a couch is crucial to finding a great price on the perfect piece.

When is the Best Time to Buy a Couch?

Couch sales hinge on two factors: The biannual release of new furniture and the fiscal year calendar.

Furniture is released biannually, with new collections hitting retailer inventories in February and August. This makes retailers eager to sell current inventory before these releases to make space for the newer models.

The second factor is the fiscal year calendar[1]. The fiscal year is divided into four quarters, which makes it easy for companies to track and compare sales revenue year-to-year. Depending on fiscal year revenue, a company can change its sales to either start the year off on a good foot or to finish its year or quarter strong.

Now, let’s take a look at the best holiday sales.

Presidents’ Day and Presidents’ Day Weekend

Presidents’ Day[5] falls on the 3rd Monday of February, creating a three-day weekend referred to as Presidents’ Day Weekend. It’s the second federal holiday that gives us an additional day off following M.L.K. Jr. Day, and it’s the first holiday that marks the start of a significant sales period.

With retailers gearing up to receive new couches for the upcoming Spring season, they’re eager to move old inventory to create more space. This makes the Presidents’ Day and Presidents’ Day Weekend sales a great time to offer discounts on last year’s releases.

If you’re shopping during this time, you can expect excellent deals on couches released during the previous August.

Memorial Day and Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May and marks the first significant sale that follows the release of new couches in February. Because of the timing, it is possible to find sales prices on new releases but don’t be surprised if new pieces aren’t on sale yet.

Patio furniture and outdoor couches will start to go on sale during Memorial Day Sales, but we’ll do a deep dive into this information over on the Best Time to Buy Patio Furniture page.

May also precedes the busiest moving months of the year. “June, July, and August are the most popular months to move,” says the experts at Move.org[3]. This trend can help shape Memorial Day sales as well as the upcoming summer sale.

July 4th and 4th of July Weekend

According to a report published by the Dataman Group Direct[4], new homeowners were far more likely to splurge on a new sofa for their new space than non-moving homeowners. And with the 4th of July falling in the middle of the most popular months to move on, you can expect to see deals on many different kinds of couches.

Labor Day and Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day and Labor Day Weekend fall on the first Monday of September, granting us a three-day weekend to “commemorate the end of summer.[7]” It’s one of the most significant sales events of the year and is one of the best times to buy a new couch.

New autumn furniture is released in August, so you shouldn’t expect to find sales on these couches. During Labor Day Weekend sales, it’s more likely you’ll find a great price on couches released back in February.

Wayfair's Way Day Sale - October

Wayfair's Way Day sale is a great time to buy couches at great prices because they are offering steep discounts on thousands of items. This includes couches, which are available for up to 80% off their original price. These discounts provide customers with the ability to purchase quality pieces for their homes at an affordable rate, making it the perfect time to buy a couch.

Additionally, there are plenty of financing options available during Way Day that make it easier for customers to pay in installments and make purchases with greater ease.

Black Friday and Black Friday Weekend

Black Friday shines as the ideal time to purchase a new couch, with retailers offering impressive discounts. As the end of the year looms, stores are eager to meet their annual sales targets and make room for new stock. Therefore, they significantly reduce the prices on their current inventory, including couches.

Take time to monitor advertisements from your favorite furniture stores, as they usually announce their Black Friday deals weeks ahead of Thanksgiving. This is a perfect opportunity to revamp your living room with a new couch at a significantly lower cost.

The Best Time to Buy Living Room Couches

Here’s how to score a great price on a living room couch: Keep an eye on the biannual release of new couches that takes place in February and August. This is the best way to take advantage of end-of-season sales and the marked-down prices of couches released during the previous season.

The best time to buy a couch released in August is during the Presidents’ Day sales in February, and the best time to buy a couch released in February is during the Labor Day sales in September.

While you might find a great deal on the perfect couch during the dates listed above, Presidents’ Day and Labor Day Weekend sales offer the lowest prices of the year for the latest couches.

Ready to read up on the best time to buy furniture in general? Head to our guide on when to buy furniture and mark your calendars.

Different Types of Couches

Adding the perfect couch to your home is a breeze when you know what style works for your space. Whether it’s a soft, plush modular couch or an edgier modern bench seat, couches come in all shapes and sizes, and exploring your options ahead of time will help you make a final decision.

Depending on who you ask, you’ll find the number of couch styles differs from person to person and retailer to retailer. Living Cozy features 18 different couch types[9], whereas Crate & Barrel features 10[11]. While they might not agree on the number of types, they typically agree on how the types are organized.

Couch types are typically organized based on the overall shape of the piece.

From there, most couch types can be purchased in different sizes, either full-sized or small. Here are the most popular couch types you’ll find on the market:

1. Modular Couches

Modular couches, or modular sectionals, are couches that come in individual pieces that can be arranged and rearranged to fit any space. Usually, each piece has a seat, backrests, and ottomans that are all the same general height and size. Modular couches are one of the most customizable pieces of furniture on the market.

2. Sectional Couches

Sectional couches are usually made up of two pieces that fit together to create two shapes—either an L or a large U shape. Sectionals usually include a traditional couch with an attachable or detachable chaise lounge seat. Whereas the modular couch has many configurations, sectionals usually only have one or two.

3. Bench Seat Sofas

Characterized by a single, seamless cushion that runs the length of the couch, bench seat sofas are a good option if you’re looking for a couch with clean lines. With no cracks between multiple cushions, bench seat sofas are extremely easy to clean.

4. Loveseats

Loveseats are great additions to small living spaces because they’re small. Originally designed to comfortably seat the many bulky skirts of women during the 17th century[12], today’s loveseats can comfortably fit two people.

5. Sleeper Sofas

Sleeper sofas are a great way to add a guest bedroom to a small house or apartment. The seating cushion is removable, revealing a foldable mattress that tucks up into the backrest of the couch. Once the mattress is pulled out, metal rods snap into place to support the full length of the extended bed.

Futon couches are another type of multi-use couches. Similar to sleeper sofas, futons can be unfolded to create a bed, but instead of removing the seating cushion, the mattress is folded to create the cushion you sit on and the backrest.

6. Chesterfields, Tuxedos, Lawsons, and more—Oh my!

From here, couch types can get complicated. They’re often broken down into categories defined by the size and style of their cushions, backs, and armrests.

These styles each have different names and unique histories. However, since most retailers have specific ways they organize their inventory, it’s unnecessary to learn the individual names of these couches. Most (if not all) retailers name their couch designs in-house, usually regardless of the style. These individual nomenclatures can make shopping for and purchasing the right couch tricky.

Pre-Made vs. Custom Couches—What’s the Difference?

Pre-made couches, or ready-made couches, are designed and made for mass production using standard sizing. These couches are extremely easy to buy, often being featured on e-commerce websites and in showrooms, and they tend to be less expensive than their counterpart, custom couches.

Pre-made couches are designed and made for mass production using standard sizing.

Custom couches are designed ahead of time, but they’re not built until purchased, usually to the specifications of the person purchasing. They’re made-to-order and can’t be purchased and brought home from a physical store, which means most custom couches are ordered online and delivered within a few weeks of the order being placed.

Custom couches are designed ahead of time, but they’re not built until purchased.

Fun Fact: Couches vs. Sofas - What’s the difference?

Did you know that the word ‘couch’ and ‘sofa’ technically refer to two different things?

The term ‘couch’ refers to a piece of furniture that is long enough for you to stretch out on but doesn't feature a back or armrests. A ‘sofa’ refers to a cushioned seat with a back and armrests. Using the two terms interchangeably is a common colloquialism, which means you won’t be corrected if you refer to a sofa as a couch and vice versa.

Top 5 Tips for Buying a New Couch

Finding the perfect couch for your home can be tricky, especially if you’ve never purchased one. While you might now know the best time to buy couches, there are a few things you can keep in mind to make the process easier and less stressful.

Here are the top 5 tips for buying a new couch.

1. Measure your space

Before you start exploring the different options, you should start by measuring the space where your new furniture will live. As you start measuring your space, there are a couple of additional questions you might want to consider:

• Do I want end tables on either side of the couch’s armrests?
• Do I want to leave enough space in front of the couch for a coffee table or an ottoman?
• Do I want to leave enough space behind the couch for a narrow table?

If you want to add furniture around your couch, you’ll want to account for those pieces in your measurements or shop for a couch that doesn’t take up the entire space you’re trying to furnish. Once you have the measurements in mind, you’ll be ready to start thinking about what couch and sofa options are available.

2. Figure out what you want from your couch

Another way to narrow your search is to ask yourself: What do you want out of your seating arrangement? You can answer this question by determining how you want your space and couch to function.

If you’re short on guest bedrooms and frequently host family and friends, you might want to consider a sleeper couch or a futon. If lounging around while you enjoy your favorite show is more your style, a sectional or modular couch might be the best, most comfortable option.

Measuring and determining the functionality of the space will help you when you’re ready to start researching different couch types.

3. Decide whether you want to buy online or in-person

One of the most important decisions you’ll make early in your shopping experience will be to decide if you want to shop in person at a store or online. If you want to test out your couch before you buy it, shopping in person is the way to go.

If you don’t need to test out your couch or want to order a custom-made one, shopping online comes with specific pros over shopping in person. So let’s take a look at the pros of each option.

Shopping In-person: The pros

• You can test the couches before making the purchase.
• The couches are usually preassembled (except for stores like IKEA).
• You can usually bring it home right after purchasing.
• You can rely on the expertise of store employees if you have questions.

Shopping Online: The pros

• You can conveniently shop from the comfort of your home using your computer or mobile device.
• You have access to more variety.
• You can check out product reviews.

Shopping online and in-person come with unique pros but deciding which option is right for you will help you spend less time trying to find the ideal couch for your home.

4. Choose the right fabric for your lifestyle

Couches come in many fabrics, but only some fabrics will fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. Understanding the difference between some of the most popular fabrics on the market will help you reduce the amount of time you spend shopping.

• Cotton: Cotton is a lightweight, durable fabric that is easy to clean, making it a great choice if you have children or pets. It’s also very breathable, so it’s a good option if you live in a warmer climate.
• Velvet: Velvet is known for its plush softness. It’s also relatively easy to clean, but its liquid resistance might make it tricky if you find a stain. On the other hand, this makes it a good option for low-traffic areas and households with pets.
• Linen: Linen is very similar to cotton in that it’s breathable, but unlike cotton, linen is prone to stain and can wrinkle easily with frequent use. This makes it an excellent choice for homes without children or pets.
• Wool: Wool is one of the most durable fabrics on this list. It’s highly resistant to stains, scratches, tears, and wrinkling and is easy to clean. It’s a good, albeit expensive, it’s a good option if your home has children, pets, and high traffic.
• Chenille: If you like the softness of velvet but want something easy to clean, chenille is a great fabric choice. However, chenille can snag on sharp objects, which makes it an excellent fabric for a children-only household.
• Leather: If you experience allergies, leather is an excellent option for high-traffic areas, and there are plenty of vegan alternatives. It’s durable, easy to clean, and stain resistant. It does require conditioning to prevent cracks and splits[14], but with proper maintenance, a leather couch is a good option for children, pets, and high-traffic households.
• Polyester: Another fabric known for its durability, polyester is a good option for high-traffic households with children and pets. It’s known for its wrinkle resistance and won’t quickly fade if kept in a sunny spot. It’s also easy to clean.

There are many different fabrics to choose from, some of which are a blend of two or three different fabrics. So if you find a couch you like, check the fabric before purchasing. Otherwise, you might be spending a small fortune on reupholstering fees down the line.

5. Keep your budget in mind while you're shopping

As tempting as it may be to splurge on the perfect, must-have sofa, your budget should be kept top of mind while shopping. Of course, you might experience love at first sight while a pricier piece, but before you pull out your credit card, remember this—things, especially couches, go on sale.

And now, thanks to our article, you know the best time to buy a couch. So feel free to bookmark this page, sign up for our newsletter to see each month’s best items on sale, and get ready to mark your calendars!