I spend a large amount of time in my office. My office is not only a place for me to work quietly, but it is also where I find my inspiration for current and future projects. It’s also the one room in the house that’s quiet! It is my “Zen” room if you will, and I find that when my office is organized and neat, I am able to work much more effectively. However, at the moment, my office is lacking in the furniture department and with little to spend on a remodel, I did a little online research and came up with a few tips and tricks on how to save money when shopping for office furniture.
Shop Online – you would be surprised to find out how many people don’t know that shopping online can save you up to 80%! Whether you are shopping for a new chair or a desk for your computers, a simple online search at a shopping comparison site will return a large number of results and I think many consumers will be surprised to find that office furniture is more affordable than one might think. Remember to run a quick online search for coupon codes to make that deal even sweeter!
Assess Your Space – When I purchased my first desk, I didn’t even consider the size of the room that it was going in and just randomly picked the first desk I fell in love with. When the time came to get it in the room, I suddenly realized that it was far too big for the space. I should have assessed the size of the room first and been shopping for desks for small spaces and in the end I would have saved time and a few hundred dollars by doing so. So remember to take out that measuring tape, because often times a smaller item equals a smaller price tag.
Research Your Theme – Whether you go with a modern theme or an old world theme, you may find that researching the type of office furniture your looking for first, will save you big money in the long run. I personally love modern themed furniture, however after conducting a few online searches, I found that the large majority of the modern furniture I loved, came with a very high price tag. I quickly refocused and began searching by price, rather than theme, and came up with loads of choices that I loved, such as this bush furniture Stanford computer desk priced at just $400 with free shipping!
Buy Used – Craigslist exists for a reason – because you can score some amazing deals right in your local community! Many folks may balk at the word “used”, especially when it comes to furniture, however buying used means that you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and you may end up with a better piece of furniture in the long run! Make sure to ask questions, look the item over thoroughly, and research the brand name before purchasing.
Negotiate and Shop at the Right Time – Stay away from the large furniture stores and considering visiting a smaller “mom and pop” store. The salesclerks are often more willing to negotiate on the price, especially if it’s the end of the month! Many employees that work for furniture stores often get paid on commission and these employees may be more willing to negotiate at the end of the month when they want to get their commissions tied up for that upcoming paycheck! So put your negotiating face on and remember to shop when the time is right!
