Over the last year and a half, home updates have risen in popularity due to more people spending time inside. This desire has created a huge demand for home furnishings. If you’re one of the people trying to update your home, chances are you’ve run into delays for a lot of furniture and home goods. Production shutdowns in other countries, ports that have no room to unload cargo, and worker shortages for ports and shipping companies have created these unprecedented delays. Often, the most considerable delays are with pieces that use wood or motorized parts.
But this doesn’t mean that you can’t update your home amidst these COVID delays. Instead, look for alternative options that can help you makeover your home in no time.
Here are seven tips for updating your home amidst COVID delays:
1. Buy Local
A Chagrin Falls, Ohio interior decorator says, “Seek out local craftsmen instead of traditional furniture stores. Local artisans can be a great source for side, coffee, dining, and kitchen tables. Some of these designers even have upholstered pieces such as chairs and loveseats.” When you shop locally, you’re supporting your community, and you may have less of a wait time since you might be able to buy pieces already in stock.
2. Go Vintage
Another option is to go vintage. Depending on your style, this could be mid-century, classic, retro, or traditional. Timeless pieces and styles retain their value, especially when they are high-quality pieces. You can search eBay, Etsy, 1stdibs, and other auction sites for vintage pieces. Just be sure to get lots of pictures from all angles before buying, so you know what you are getting.
3. Don’t Customize
Right now is not the time to splurge on custom-designed pieces. In some cases, it can take up to 40 weeks for a customized piece of furniture to arrive at your doorstep. So, if you really need new furniture and can’t wait, don’t customize your selections. Stick with fabrics and models that the retailer has in stock.
4. Refurbish
Another way you can refresh your home amid COVID is to save the new furniture purchases for a later date and update what you have. You can refurbish and reupholster old furniture, which can completely transform a piece and in less time. Who knows? Maybe with a fresh new look, you won’t even want that new furniture down the line.
5. Try Floor Samples
If you still must have new furniture, another option is to check with the retailer about purchasing floor samples. Since these pieces are already on-site, there’s virtually no wait time. And because these are floor samples, you may even be able to negotiate a discount, saving you some money.
6. Shop at a Thrift Store
Another option to avoid long wait times is to visit a thrift store. If you haven’t considered this in the past, it’s worth giving it a try now. With so many people updating their houses, there can be some good home furnishing finds at these places. Make sure to stop in your local thrift stores frequently since items don’t stick around long at these places.
7. Don’t Delay
And lastly, if you’re looking at new home furnishings and see something you like, don’t delay. Now is not the time to wait and see if the price will come down. It might be gone before you decide, and the website or store may not know when, if ever, they will get it back in stock again. So, if you see something you really want, be sure to buy it right away.
Refresh Your Home With No Delay
Long delays don’t mean you can’t update your home right now. Consider it an opportunity to explore some new places. That could be a local artisan, auction sites, or even shopping at a thrift store. If you must purchase new pieces, don’t customize. Instead, ask about floor samples, or buy what’s in stock. And lastly, don’t delay, as it could be gone for good if you wait.
