Black Friday can make a new dining table, sofa or bedroom set seem much more affordable. With discounts everywhere, it’s tempting to focus on how much you can save at checkout. However, the original price and advertised discount usually tell you very little about how long a piece of furniture will last. A cheaper item that needs replacing after a few years could end up costing you more over time. Here’s what to look for before deciding if a Black Friday furniture deal is worth it.
Look Past the Discount and Consider Long-Term Value
Black Friday discounts can make furniture purchases tempting. During the 2024 holiday season, furniture and home goods online sales hit the $29.2 billion mark, up 6.8% year over year. Heavy discounts helped drive this growth, which shows how much promotional pricing can influence buying decisions.
However, a 50% discount tells you little about how long a piece will last. The original price may reflect the brand, design or retail markup. That’s why you need to consider the expected lifespan alongside the price to get a better idea of its value.
For example, a $1,200 dining table that lasts 20 years costs you $60 per year. On the other hand, a $400 table that lasts five years costs $80 per year. The more expensive option offers better value over time, even though you pay more up front.
Your purchasing decisions also contribute to a much larger waste problem. Globally, people use 51 million metric tons of furniture each year, but 48.6 million metric tons are thrown away. Choosing pieces that remain useful for longer can help you reduce your contribution to this cycle of consumption and waste.
Examine How the Furniture Is Built
A piece of furniture may look sturdy in a showroom, but its internal construction determines how well it handles everyday use. If you’re shopping for wooden furniture, check whether its main components are made of solid wood, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard. Each material has different strengths and limitations.
Solid wood is a great choice if you want furniture you can restore as it ages. You can usually sand away surface damage, apply a fresh finish and repair worn areas. Quality plywood also offers good strength and stability, so it’s suitable for furniture frames and panels. MDF and particleboard are common in more affordable pieces, but their durability depends on their grade, thickness and moisture resistance.
Look closely at how the components connect. Dovetail and mortise-and-tenon joints create strong connections between wooden parts. Moreover, check that drawers slide smoothly, legs feel secure and the frame does not wobble. If you want to buy upholstered furniture, examine the frames, suspension system and cushions. These components support your weight and affect how well the piece maintains its shape through regular use.
Check the Materials and Surface Finish
Your furniture’s materials and finish affect how well it handles everyday use. A dining table may face hot dishes, spilled drinks and scratches, while a sofa needs to withstand regular contact and friction. These are important, as they determine how much maintenance you’ll need.
Check how the manufacturer has treated the surface of wooden furniture. Oil and wax finishes can be refreshed as they wear, which means you can maintain the wood’s appearance over time. Polyurethane forms protective coatings over the surface and helps seal the wood against moisture, reducing the risk of water damage.
For upholstered pieces, pay attention to the fabric’s durability and cleaning requirements. Consider how well it handles friction, stains and regular use. Delicate material may look attractive in a showroom, but it can require frequent care in a busy household. Ask the retailer about the fabric’s composition and recommended cleaning methods before making your decision.
Make Sure You Can Maintain It Properly
The lifespan of your furniture depends on how you care for it after bringing it home. Some materials need occasional conditioning or polishing, while others require regular dusting and cleaning.
For example, wooden tables can pick up scratches from everyday objects such as glasses, plates and silverware. Even objects that seem smooth can damage the surface through repeated contact. Protect your table with coasters, placemats and pads, particularly when serving meals or placing hot dishes on it. Wipe up spills promptly with a soft cloth to prevent moisture from leaving marks.
Where you place your furniture is also crucial. Wood naturally absorbs moisture from the air and releases it as the surrounding environment changes. This causes the material to expand and contract, which can eventually lead to cracks or warping. Keep wooden furniture indoors in a space with relatively stable temperatures and humidity. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and nearby heat sources can also damage its surface.
Think About Its Environmental Impact as a Whole
The environmental impact of your furniture begins long before it reaches your home. Manufacturing requires raw materials and energy, and some production methods generate considerable waste. For instance, traditional particleboard typically uses wood chips bonded with adhesives. Producing it can involve the use of freshly harvested timber, thereby adding to demand for forest resources. Logging and furniture factories also generate leftover wood and plant scraps that frequently go unused.
You can help reduce pressure on these resources by choosing furniture made with responsibly sourced or reclaimed materials. FSC-certified timber comes from responsibly managed forests, while reclaimed and salvaged wood puts existing resources to use again. These options can help reduce demand for newly harvested timber.
In addition to the furniture production itself, you also need to think about transportation and delivery. Across Europe, trucks moving Black Friday packages between warehouses and stores were estimated to produce 1.2 million tons of CO2 in 2022. That’s 94% more than their emissions during an average week. Buying from a nearby retailer and collecting your furniture yourself, when practical, can reduce the transportation costs associated with your purchase.
Don’t Let a Good Deal Become a Short-Lived Affair
A good Black Friday furniture purchase should earn its place in your home for years. Its value comes from the everyday use it can handle, the care it needs and the resources that go into making it. Before you pay, picture the piece in your home 10 years from now. Would you still be happy to own it?
