Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Style

Now is the time to buy patio furniture (if you find any)

Julie Scagell
By

Fashion is seasonal, with the newest and most expensive sweaters hitting the racks at the end of the summer and new bikinis lining storefronts at the beginning of spring. Depending on the time of year, retailers will offer major deals to get rid of out-of-season inventory and make room for the next season’s line. Surprisingly, the same goes for outdoor furniture.

By buying off-season in the late fall, you can get top-of-the-line patio furniture at a fraction of the price you’d have to pay during the spring and summer months. It may feel odd to invest in a set just in time to put it away for the winter, but you’ll be grateful next year when you have a high-quality outdoor furniture set, complete with chairs, tables, and cozy cushions, all for a surprisingly low price.

Two women on the patio with one playing the guitar
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Where to find sales

Sales on outdoor furniture can be found just about anywhere.

  • Large retailers: Large retailers, like Wayfair, West Elm, Target, Home Depot, and Overstock, often engage in major sales. Unlike smaller stores, these massive companies have the funds to buy tons of seasonal products to keep up with the demand of millions of customers. Therefore, at the end of each season, they need to sell off as much merchandise as possible to make room for all the new items. Here, you can find big items like outdoor entertainment sets, dining room tables, and conversation sets for half the price. Unfortunately, the stock may be limited in terms of the colors and materials that are available, but while you may not be able to find the exact color combination you want, the savings still make the purchase worth it.
  • Local shops: Don’t forget to check in person at your local patio or outdoor living store as well. Often, these stores have showroom items that they’re looking to sell to make space for new winter products. Because these floor models have been on display for weeks, there may be some light wear and tear that can earn you a major discount.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Outdoor decor

As with the big-ticket items, outdoor decor, lighting, pillows, and rugs are also on sale during these times. For rugs especially, many of the larger sizes sell out first, so if you’re buying off-season, we recommend you only do so when you’re in the market for a small to medium-sized piece.

Recommended Videos

Another great item to pick up during this time period is a birdbath. Though many birds will start migrating southward soon, they’ll certainly appreciate the feature when they return next spring.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Time to keep warm

When the season of summer camp and sleeping under the stars comes to a close, many companies put their outdoor fire pits on sale. Since fall is still a popular season for bonfires and making s’mores with the family, you might have to wait a little longer, until early winter or so, to see significant discounts.

Related

Enjoy a longer outdoor entertaining season

Investing in items like fire pits, throws, space heaters, and candles makes the space usable regardless of colder weather. You may not have had the perfect outdoor space at the beginning of the season, but you can definitely finish out the warm-weather months with high-quality, luxurious entertaining sets that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of outdoor gatherings, so invite friends and family to meet around the fire pit as you enjoy freshly barbecued food or watch the latest NFL game.

Shopping between seasons can save you a ton of cash. Though sales are especially popular between The Fourth of July and Labor Day, you can still find great deals outside of this time frame. You just have to know where to look. Be aware, however, that if you have a specific piece, color, size, or material in mind, it might be best to buy it while it’s still available, even if you must do so at full price. While these end-of-season sales are great for your wallet, the limited stock options might make it difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Julie Scagell
Julie Scagell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
Should you power wash your house in the fall? Here are 6 things to wash at the end of the season
Power wash your house in the fall — you'll be happy with the results
Blue house in autumn

The fall season is a prime time to check off some of those pesky household chores on your to-do list. With the kids back in school, autumn is a time to wrap up all things summer and start preparing for winter. This includes, of course, floor-to-ceiling cleaning — tedious but necessary work. Rest easy knowing there's at least one quick task, and it may even be a little fun: pressure washing your home's exterior. We'll walk you through some ways to power wash your house in fall with just five quick projects. You can have your house sparkling clean and prepared to survive the winter.

What is power washing?
Power washing is one of the final steps you should take before winter arrives. Odds are, there are leaves and other pieces of debris wedged in the gutters and around your home's exterior, and power washing removes all of this debris before it freezes over. Before the temperature drops below freezing, start the process of removing dirt, mildew, mud, and other blemishes with the power of pressurized, heated water.

Read more
How to decorate your front yard for fall on a budget
Welcome fall to the neighborhood on the cheap
Fall pumpkin decor and flowers on stairs

Redecorating every fall season is a fun way to add a little excitement to your home and put everyone in the mood for autumn. But buying new fall yard decorations every time can get expensive. If you're running out of decor options and don't want to break the bank by adding new pieces, you can still create an ode to the season with a few DIY decorating projects that don't cost a fortune.

And fall DIY decorating is also a way to show off your personality. From finding the best deals on all things fall (think pumpkins, corn, hay bales) to repurposing previous decorative pieces, here are our easiest ways to bring in the fall season on a budget.

Read more
An interior designer reveals the home decor you should (and absolutely should not) buy at HomeGoods
What you should and should not pass up in HomeGoods, according to an interior design pro
hellenistic greek home decor god goddess statues

HomeGoods offers homeowners stunning and sophisticated pieces to add to their interior designs without blowing their reno budget out of the water. However, just because HomeGoods boasts incredible prices for luxe-looking goods doesn’t mean every decor item is a must-have. Here is some advice from an interior designer about what you should and should not buy at HomeGoods.

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_avantgarde/video/7276137950788996398?lang=en
What you should buy at HomeGoods
Interior designer @the_avantgarde on TikTok shares her take on what homeowners should never pass up at HomeGoods. When decorating on a budget, these are some must-grab items.
Snag the plain white sheets
Julie Sousa, the interior decorator behind the account, says, “Plain white sheets: this is literally the place to find them on a budget.” Plain white sheets are a classic addition to any bedroom, fit with nearly every color palette, and offer a hotel luxe aesthetic. Sousa also recommends snagging the Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren bed sheets, saying they are “always the best ones.”
Go for the classic bath accessories
According to Sousa, another pro tip when shopping at home decor stores is to go for classic bath accessories. Flat bath mats and classic white towels give the bathroom what Sousa calls “hotel vibes.” If you want that gorgeous hotel-luxe look in your space while remaining under budget, then you don’t want to pass up this HomeGoods find.
The vase combos are a must
Sousa also gushes over the amazing vase combos you can find in HomeGoods. With plenty of options and an array of sizes, shapes, and colors, homeowners can find vase pairings that blend with their existing home decor.
Don’t pass up the decorative baskets
Decorative baskets are another decor steal this interior designer says not to pass up. HomeGoods has several options in many hues, so you can find exactly what you need.
If you see All-Clad pots and pans, get them
Sousa says, “Sometimes you can get lucky and find some All-Clad pots and pans.” She continues by noting that “this is the best brand for pots and pans.” So, if you want chef-grade goods on a budget, add these to your cart.
Save money with large lamps
In her TikTok video, Sousa adds that HomeGoods has fantastic options for saving money on large lamps. If you’re looking to spruce up your interior with a larger lamp but don’t want to drain your wallet, HomeGoods could have just what you need.

Read more