The “A” Rule Helps Me Score the Best Outdoor Furniture for Less (At Any Store!)

Every year, without fail, spring rolls around and anyone who’s lucky enough to have outdoor space dreams of days spent under warm sun and nights under the stars. That dream can be costly if you’re in the market for quality outdoor furniture — but if you plan ahead, you can use a seemingly counterintuitive shopping hack to save so much money on your outdoor oasis. The same furniture may be costing you hundreds (or thousands!) more in the spring — and almost every retailer chooses now, in late August, to launch massive outdoor furniture sales.

“August is full of sales, and if you’re not taking advantage of this, you’re definitely missing out,” says the team behind Onton AI, a digital interior design AI tool. “Serena & Lily almost never runs a sitewide sale, so seeing almost 60% off is a very huge deal.” The team goes on to highlight over 10-plus major retailers that are slashing prices on outdoor furniture, a well-known market ploy that happens every year in late August. It’s a tip I often share with anyone who will listen, and I’m calling it the “A” rule.

Furniture and home decor sites often use the weeks leading up to Labor Day to offload any unsold outdoor furniture that’s still sitting in their warehouses. They’ll drop the prices on these pieces during “End of Summer” or into Labor Day savings events, which means you’ll get that beautiful outdoor sectional from Wayfair you wanted back in April for hundreds less.

The Ebern Designs Southerland 3-Piece Wicker Patio set, for example, has been priced at $820 throughout the spring and summer. But you can score it during Wayfair’s Labor Day Deals for just under $300, more than 60% off its original price. And it’ll be just as fabulous in 9 months. 

One of Walmart’s bestsellers made under the Better Homes & Gardens brand name is an all-weather wicker outdoor loveseat and ottoman that would look beautiful on a front porch, backyard patio, or even on a balcony. It has hundreds of positive reviews and is normally priced at just under $350 for the set.

However, taking advantage of this special time period can earn you major savings — you’ll grab both the loveseat and ottoman for just $197.

Depending on where your home is located, you still have plenty of great weather ahead of you to enjoy these new finds. Just picture yourself hosting an outdoor fall dinner party with this patio set from Costway, which is available at Target currently.

The six-piece set, which was originally priced at $750 in the spring, comes with four chairs with cushions, a bench, and a full-sized dining table — and is now priced at just under $450.

So before you wait until next April to spring for new patio or outdoor furniture, remind yourself you’ll be paying a premium for the timing and convenience. Future you will be so thankful that the “A” rule reminded you to push your outdoor shopping into August instead, saving yourself anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands if you’re doing a full outdoor makeover. 

You’ll get some amazing pieces at a fraction of their original price, and be able to enjoy them right now up until the first cold snap. And the best part? You’ll have more budget for gardening and other springtime joys when the season rolls around next year! Happy shopping.