12 min. read
Are you looking to upgrade your living room on a budget but aren't sure where to start? Finding the right pieces for one of the busiest rooms of your house can be daunting—luckily, understanding the best time of the year to buy living room furniture is the first step in getting the living room of your dreams. Hitting sales and discounts during peak times will save money and help you get quality products without breaking the bank.
In this article, we'll take a look at these seasonal trends and summarize these sales so you can plan your next purchase to save as much money as possible.
If you’re interested in saving the most money when buying living room furniture, you’ll want to hold off on making your purchases until January or July—and for good reason. If you’re familiar with our other article, The Best Time to Buy Furniture, you’ll know of the biannual release of new furniture in February and August.
January through Presidents’ Day and July are the best times to buy living room furniture.
February and August also coincide with the final months of winter and summer, making January and July the perfect months to host major sales. These sales help retailers make space in their inventories to receive new pieces, and they also help them close out their sales quarters on high notes.
During January and July, you’ll see steep discounts on furniture released during the previous season. So, if you have your heart set on a piece release in August but can’t justify a steep price tag, hold off on shopping until January. The same goes for buying February’s pieces in July. You’ll see the lowest prices on August releases from January to Presidents' Day in February.
During January, watch for January Clearance Sales or New Year Sales. During July, keep an eye on July 4th sales as this is the holiday many retailers use to sell much of their inventory ahead of August.
Presidents’ Day and the subsequent long weekend represent an optimal time to invest in living room furniture primarily due to the remarkable sales offered during this period. Celebrated on the third Monday of each February, Presidents’ Day is the perfect opportunity to clear out inventory released during the previous August before the release of new furniture in February.
During Presidents’ Day, you might find some of the lowest prices of the year on August releases, but remember this—these items will have been on sale since January, so you might be picking through limited stock on sale.
Wayfair’s Way Day Sale takes place for two days twice a year, once in April and once in October. While the sale dates might change year to year, the opportunity to snag great deals on living furniture is the same.
You see discounts of up to 80% off during Wayfair's Way Day Sale.
Way Day is recognized as Wayfair’s biggest sale of the year, with sales that have increased since it first launched in 2018[9]. During the two-day sale, thousands of items across all categories are marked down significantly, with some pieces slashed by up to 80%. Furthermore, free shipping is commonly provided, further amplifying the savings.
Memorial Day is another noteworthy occasion for purchasing living room furniture at discounted prices. Traditionally observed in May to honor those who have given their lives in military service[10], Memorial Day also marks the beginning of the summer season.
Retailers and manufacturers host sales during Memorial Day to commemorate the change of seasons and usher in sales. During Memorial Day, you’ll find sales on different types of living room furniture from many different retailers.
The 4th of July, known for celebrating the nation’s independence, is also one of the best times to buy living room furniture. As part of the holiday festivities, major furniture retailers roll out steep sales, making it an opportune time to revamp your living space—especially if you have your heart set on furniture released during February.
As we said earlier in this article, the month of July is one of the best times to buy discounted living room furniture, and the 4th of July is the perfect chance to kickstart these sales. Many retailers view the month as the perfect opportunity to clear inventory before the arrival of new furniture in August.
Amazon Prime Day, typically held in July[11], is another fantastic opportunity for those seeking smaller living room furniture. The online shopping event, exclusive to Amazon Prime members, offers enormous discounts on various items for any living room. Prime Day is especially beneficial for those looking for items such as side tables, ottomans, and decor.
Additionally, the sale often includes products from Amazon’s in-house furniture brands, like Rivet and Stone & Beam, known for their stylish yet affordable offerings. With fast, free shipping for Prime Members, Amazon Prime Day offers an easy and cost-effective way to spruce up your living room.
During the first few weeks of August, you’ll see various sales that are advertised as being back to school sales. As college students begin to prepare to return to their studies, many retailers cater to this demographic by offering discounts on numerous home items, including living room furniture.
Even those not returning to college can benefit from these details; however, significantly marked-down items often include sofas, coffee tables, and entertainment centers, allowing the homeowner or renter the opportunity to refresh their living rooms on a budget.
To add to the back to school sales, new furniture is released in August, which means any leftover furniture released during February will be extremely discounted to encourage inventory movement.
Labor Day weekend, typically celebrated at the beginning of September, is another excellent opportunity for purchasing living room furniture at reduced prices. The holiday is widely recognized as the unofficial end of summer, and retailers mark this transition with significant sales, providing the perfect chance to score great deals on everything from lounging chairs to stylish side tables.
Labor Day Sales are a good time to find discounts on spring, summer, and outdoor furniture.
Furthermore, retailers will have just received their fall collection, which means any remaining furniture left from their spring and summer collections will be discounted exponentially to move any remaining inventory. Store inventories might be slim, so while the price might be right, it might be right on only a few items.
Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is renowned as one of the largest, most prolific shopping days of the year, and it’s an advantageous time to invest in living room furniture. Retailers, online and in physical stores, offer unparalleled discounts on various products, including sofas, coffee tables, entertainment centers, and much more.
The timing is especially strategic because it allows consumers to enjoy their newly furnished living rooms during the holiday season. Furthermore, retailers often initiate their Black Friday sales early or extend them through the weekend into Cyber Monday, providing additional time to shop. Many companies further incentivize you to shop with them by offering free shipping on many of their products.
Last but certainly not least on our list of the best times to buy living room furniture are the end-of-the-year clearance sales. Certainly the least structured of our sales recommendations, most end-of-the-year clearance sales operate on an ad-hoc basis, meaning retailers examine their inventory to see which products need to be moved over others.
Most stores will feature robust clearance sections during this time, and this period may also coincide with post-holiday sales, which can lead to even more substantial savings.
Now that you understand living room furniture sales and have your calendars marked for the closest next sale, let’s look at some helpful tips and tricks to make shopping for your next pieces a little easier.
Choosing the right furniture is vital in crafting an inviting and functional living room on a budget. The space is typically a central hub of activity, with the average American spends 20% of their time in their living room[13]. Not only is it the gathering space for you and your family, but it’s also a gathering space for friends, guests, parties, and more.
The average American spends 20% of their time in their living room.
Now that you know the best time to buy living room furniture, here are the top 5 must-have tips for finding and buying the perfect ensemble. The subsequent sections will guide you through crucial aspects to consider when investing in living room furniture, including understanding space and size, choosing furniture that fits your room, prioritizing comfort, choosing versatile and functional pieces, and purchasing for your unique lifestyle.
Measuring your living room is the first crucial step in selecting the right furniture. The room's dimensions will dictate the size of the furniture items you can accommodate without the space feeling cramped or sparse. Here are the measurements you should take to get an accurate idea of your living room size:
- The overall floor space of the room, measuring the width and length of the entire room
- The width of all windows, doors, arches, and architectural features like fireplaces
- The height of the room from floor to ceiling
- The size of any current furniture in the room
These measurements will give you a sense of the furniture size you should be shopping for. Having these numbers on hand will make it easier to shop for and arrange your new pieces.
Now that you have the dimensions of the living room in mind, you can start looking at different living room furniture options. A well-furnished room isn’t necessarily filled to capacity. Instead, it maintains balance, allowing enough space for people to move around comfortably, fostering a feeling of spaciousness, and ensuring the room functions effectively.
A well-furnished room isn’t necessarily filled to capacity. Instead, it maintains balance.
Choosing furniture that fits your living room is crucial for both functional and aesthetic reasons. From a functional perspective, furniture that’s proportionate to your room ensures optimal use of space and facilitates easy movement. For example, if you have a large living room, there should be 30” to 36” of walkway between large pieces of furniture[14] and 18” to 24” if your living room is small.
Need help deciding whether your living room is small, average, or large? Bahaa of My Design Days breaks down how easy creating a cozy space with any living room size[15] can be.
Comfort should be a top priority when choosing your living room furniture. The living room is often the heart of the home, and the furniture you select should not only be aesthetically pleasing to you but comfortable as well.
Here’s what to keep in mind when evaluating the comfort level of a piece of furniture:
- The fabric and material quality: Materials that are soft and pleasant to touch can enhance the overall comfort you experience while using your furniture.
- The firmness of the cushions - Cushions come in soft, firm, and anything in between.
- The proportions of the piece in relation to your body size: For example, sofas and chairs should have a deep enough seat to allow for comfortable sitting while also offering back and leg support.
So, while style is an important consideration, never compromise on comfort. After all, a beautiful piece of furniture that isn't comfortable won't be used, and a piece of furniture that's not used is simply a waste of space.
Versatile and functional pieces are key when choosing furniture for your living room, especially if you live in a small house or apartment. Opt for furniture that can serve multiple purposes[16] to maximize the use of your space.
For instance, a coffee table with storage components can provide a surface for drinks and books while also offering a place to store remotes, magazines, or board games. Similarly, a sleeper sofa can function as comfortable seating during the day and transform into a bed for overnight guests. Even a well-positioned bookshelf can double as a display case for your favorite decor pieces and a storage solution for your book collection.
By choosing multi-functional furniture, you can ensure every piece in your living room serves a purpose, thereby increasing the room's utility and maintaining a clean, uncluttered look.
Your lifestyle should significantly influence your choices when buying furniture for your living room. The daily activities, habits, and needs of you and your family should be reflected in the furniture you select.
A quick and easy way to consider your lifestyle is to consider who will use the furniture the most. For example, if you have children or pets, you should prioritize fabrics and materials that are durable and easy to clean. Moreover, consider your aesthetic preferences, as the furniture you choose should align with your personal style and contribute to creating a space where you feel content and relaxed.
By considering your unique lifestyle, you can select furniture that looks good, fulfills your specific needs, and enhances your home life.
