This story is part of Home School, our complete guide to making your first home your own, where we share our first-hand and expert advice on everything you need to know to make your first home your best home. To learn more tips for settling into a new space, check out our full guide here.
When you finally move into your own place, there are lots of highs and lows. Case in point? The excitement of choosing your own decor, coming hand in hand with having to shell out money for said decor.
It’s no surprise that moving can be expensive. However, there are some ways to get around paying full-price on all your furnishings. One tried and true method is to simply be patient and plan ahead.
Waiting for the right time to buy decor can save you a good chunk of change in the long run. Often, many retailers have specific months or sales days where items are discounted significantly more than other times of the year—whether that’s for furniture, linens, home tech, or kitchenware.
Curious about when to shop for decor and score the biggest deals? We rounded up the best times of year to buy all the home goods you’ll need, so your new space can look its best without hurting your pockets.
Linens
January is the best time of year to buy linens like bedding, tablecloths, and towels as many retailers have “white sales” to clear out their stock and make room for new designs. Some department stores also have white sales in July.
Of course, federal holidays like Memorial Day and Black Friday see steep markdowns in this category as well.
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Indoor Furniture
The home space generally operates on biannual launches during spring and fall, so furniture retailers clearance-price excess inventory right before these seasons.
Think: late winter (January and February) and late summer (August and September) for some of the best discounts.
Furniture also sees lower prices during holiday sales, especially on long weekends like July 4 and President’s Day—along with online sales days like Prime Day (July) and Way Day (May).
Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliance price tags can be in the four to even five-digit range, so it’s always a relief when you can score a deal.
For larger appliances, like dishwashers, fridges, and stoves, the lowest prices appear in October and November since this is when new models hit the market and old items need to be cleared out.
Smaller appliances like air fryers and toasters are most steeply discounted on sales days like Prime Day or Black Friday—as well as at the end of the year.
Cookware
Good cookware feels special, which is why it’s often discounted during gifting seasons.
In November, cookware sees some of its most affordable price tags thanks to the upcoming holiday season. It’s also often discounted in May in anticipation of wedding season in summer.
Rugs
Rugs don’t have as definitive of a time frame when it comes to getting the best deals. However, they are often more heavily discounted on tentpole sales days like Black Friday, Labor Day, and Prime Day.
It can be helpful to look out for specific annual clearance sales or rug sale events like a retailer’s anniversary for more exclusive discounts—especially if there’s a certain brand or product on your radar.
Outdoor Furniture
Since outdoor furniture is so coveted during summer, it only makes sense that it sees the best discounts once the season is over.
Lighter sales start at the beginning of August, with discounts getting even steeper as the month progresses—so it’s the perfect time to get your hands on your favorite patio pieces for the following year.
Labor Day also has significant outdoor furniture sales since it falls at the tail-end of summer.
Mattresses
Mattresses are another larger investment that always feels good to save on.
The best sales happen during March and April as retailers look to get rid of older models and new mattresses take up the marketplace.
Holiday weekends are also a common time to see markdowns on mattresses.
Home Tech
Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving in late November or early December) is the ideal time to score on smart TVs, speakers, security cameras, and more home tech.
Back to school season also offers discounts on other tech like monitors, printers, and speakers—perfect to get your home office dressed up.
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