Smart Ways to Save on Decor When Furnishing Your Home
Quality furniture can be expensive and I always seem to fall in love with a piece that's way out of my budget. Covid made things even worse. Prices for things like sofas and tables have sky rocketed now that demand and inflation are up. I recently saw a table that I purchased for $1,200 retails for $2,100 now. Yikes. That's certainly no fun.
When we moved into our home, we brought very little over. It was also a significant upgrade from our two bedroom apartment, but we still decided it was best to leave behind our entire living room set, our nightstands, and dressers. Why move furniture you planned to replace? Made sense at the time. Our house echoed for the first few months and was driving my husband and I crazy. So I began to search for quality furniture that I wouldn't get tired of. I am still in process of filling our home, but I've learned some saving tricks along the way. Check out my top tips below.
1. Shop at a furniture outlet
This is obviously not a huge revelation, but I think people forget that you can get quality furniture at a fraction of the original cost. The common misconception is that severely damaged, poorly made, or low quality items are at these stores. But that's untrue. There are many reasons why furniture gets sent to an outlet. Returned items, discontinued, out of season, special order, and overstock are all other types. At the end of the day, companies have to run a business and move inventory. Almost every major brand you can think of has locations throughout the country. Some of my favorites are Frontgate, Restoration Hardware (yes, they have several stores), Pottery Barn, Serena and Lily, Arhaus, and Crate and Barrel. Just go to the website of your favorite brands to view locations. They often list retail and outlet stores.
From one of my trips to the RH outlet in Asheville, NC
You will be surprised at what you're able to find. Granted most items are final sale and without a warranty, but you can save anywhere between 30% to 70%. I purchased $900 counter height stools for $250 from Frontgate. I purchased dining room chairs for $225. Outlet shopping has honestly been a saving grace. Just be sure to check items for defects and save away!
2. Shop around special sales or promos
Of course there are the usual holiday sales (Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas), but some stores run other annual or seasonal promotions to get you in the door. Does buy more save more sound familiar? I remember finding a dining table at Pottery Barn. I knew buy more save more was going to start the following week so I held off on the purchase. I bought one of their best selling tables at 30% off just because I waited for this event. If you recently purchased a home and have to buy a lot of pieces, then buy more save more makes so much sense. Aside from the table, I also purchased drapes, new towels, dinnerware, and bedding. I hit the spend required to trigger the discount. You can also get a better deal on furniture around January and February or August and September. Most retailers are trying to get rid of the old stuff to make room for new styles and inventory.
William Sonoma Warehouse Sale Ad
3. Buy secondhand and try discount stores
Thrift stores, flea markets, or consignment shops. I love my Instagram community for sharing their finds. They get the best items and made me a believer. This is something a lot of interior designers practice as well. They source items from these stores, not only as a way to save money for their clients, but to also find unique items that will add character and personality to a home. Don't forget about places like T.J Maxx and Home Goods for the ultimate affordable finds. Things like candles, books, artwork, decorative bowls, dinnerware, and holiday decor are all available at a discount.
4. Price tracking tools
Capital One shopping is a great tool that helps you compare prices to find the best deal. It's absolutely free for everyone ( you don't need a Capital One account) and they automatically search for online codes and rewards from over 30,000 retailers. I've used it a few times and I'm a fan. They are not the only price tracker though. There are so many other tools available these days. Every little bit helps so check it out when you get a chance.
5. Try an overstock/liquidation warehouse
I haven't tried this myself, but I know there are Target and Costco warehouses that carry a wide range of products, including furniture. I came across this information on Instagram and by googling. Apparently this is a thing. If you are going to try this, know that a lot of the locations tend to change, but you can get up to 50% off of home decor and more. This option seems doable for things like accessories, accent chairs, or area rugs.
6. Buy the brand inspired version, aka the dupe
As much as I love certain designer brands, I'm not always willing to shell out thousands of dollars for the real thing. Often times, you can find a much cheaper version through other retailers. Amazon is one of them. I saw a beautiful chandelier at RH for $7,000. I have so much more to buy for my home and definitely can't swing that for a light fixture. So I googled and came a cross a similar version on Amazon for $500. It's just as beautiful and I can use the savings to buy other furniture pieces needed for bedrooms, our home office etc. In fact, lighting is one area where I generally try to save.
Honorable mention
I have never tried this, but many have mentioned using FB marketplace as a source for scoring furniture at a discount. I'm a little hesitant to go to a stranger's house, but who knows. For the right deal I may consider. You never know.
Something to keep in mind
Quality furniture can be expensive, but many interior designers suggest a good rule of thumb for creating a budget is to take a percentage of your home's value. It can be as low as 10% or has high as 40% percent. Do what feels comfortable. The point is to have a number in mind and try to stick to it. Know where you should spend the money vs where you want to spend the money. I will admit that staying within a budget was very challenging for me. In an earlier post, I talked about splurging on the focal point/largest item in the room. That's still true. However I also forced myself to balance by spending less on other items such as lamps, drapes, and throw pillows. Sticking to a budget is savings in itself.
Hope you found this helpful. Remember, you don't have to do it all at once. Stick to your budget and go slowly to avoid buying something you'll regret later. Happy shopping!