Whether you’re in a co-working situation, in your own home, or renting a private office space, you’re going to need some good furniture. But as you know all too well, the price tag on a single chair can make you gasp in horror. What are they even making those things out of, first editions of Jane Eyre? Making your clients sit cross-legged on the floor might not be as welcoming as you’d like. When you get deals on office furniture, you can set up a stylish workspace that’s comfortable, functional, and affordable.
Purchase Furniture from an Office Outlet
Start with Google maps. You’ll want to search “office outlet” or “used office” to find a place in your area that sells office furniture for much, much less than you could get it brand new. Of course, some of the furniture you’ll find at an office outlet will simply be overstock. What you do find used probably had been sold because of bankruptcy, not because there’s something wrong with it. That being said, caveat emptor. You’ll have the best luck when you make sure to plan a couple of hours for your trip; as you may be wandering through what seems an endless maze of spinning chairs.
Go Out of Your Way When They Go Out of Business
When a big retailer closes and needs to get rid of inventory, you can get a steal on some furniture. You can take advantage of websites that allow you to search for stores nearby that are selling everything they’ve got at low, low prices. Just be aware that when you do purchase something, you most likely won’t be able to return it. Check it out carefully and make sure it’s not damaged or otherwise not what you’re in the market for. A deal is only a deal when it’s in good condition.
Buy Used Furniture from Private Sellers
This is especially true if you’re setting up a home office that’s just for you. If your chair is comfortable, your desk large enough, who cares about the latest fashions? Of course, that’s not to say that Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle won’t have something truly amazing. Sometimes leather couches, top-of-the-line office chairs, and out-of-the-box new desks get purchased almost on a whim. When a return policy leaves the new owner with something they can’t use, they’re happy to pass it along to a canny buyer at a significantly lower price. Set up a search with terms like “desk” or “office chairs” that will email you automatically when a relevant item is listed in your area so you can be the first one to nab a fantastic deal.
Buy New at the Right Time
When the kids go back to school, it’s time for you to go furniture shopping. If you can’t bear the idea of sitting on something that someone else has owned before you, then you’ll want to start looking in late July and early August, when office furniture is at its lowest prices of the year. Before you assume that the deal you’ve found is the best one around, check sale flyers online from multiple locations and factor in the distance you’ll have to drive to pick something up (especially true if you’re not using your own vehicle to get it back to your workspace).
