Rent And Buy Furniture
In the last 10 years, I've lived in Chicago, New York City, St. Louis, and Los Angeles, hopping from one apartment to the next in each of these four cities. Hunting for cheap, stylish furniture started as a fun adventure, but over the years, it's become such a nuisance.
rent and buy furniture
In my early twenties, I'd scour the sidewalks for discarded shelves or coffee tables or to haggle for one-of-a-kind midcentury modern pieces on Craigslist. But the thrill of the hunt quickly wore off once I realized I'd also be on the hook for truck rental and hours spent reupholstering furniture.
When I moved to my first one-bedroom apartment, I hit my breaking point with cheap furniture. After spending hours assembling a dresser from Ikea, I realized that I've purchased and built this same exact $109 dresser six times already in previous apartments.
Now that I'm living alone for the first time, I wanted to splurge on a really nice couch. I didn't have $1,400 in cash to drop on the piece I wanted, plus I didn't want to commit to owning a huge piece of furniture just in case I wanted to move again. I also didn't want to go into credit card debt to furnish my apartment, as I know I tend to spend compulsively when I use credit cards.
I heard of furniture rental from my favorite interior design influencers, but I hesitated to try it for myself because the comments on social media were so spicy. Haters said things like, "Wow, who would spend that much money on a couch? Or even waste money on renting it?" or "This is a really stupid use of money, what a scam!!"
After doing more research, one common furniture rental perk sealed the deal for me: a rent-to-own option that allows you to buy the furniture at the end of the lease, using what you've already paid toward the rental fees toward the purchase price. You only have to pay the difference.
There were certain pieces that didn't make sense to rent, like my seventh-time's-a-charm Ikea dresser that fits perfectly inside my closet. I decided to rent furniture that made a bigger impact on the overall aesthetic of my space, like a couch and a bed frame.
Two wonderful delivery people came to my door two weeks later to assemble both items, and each piece is way sturdier than any of my haphazard Ikea builds. The convenience alone was worth it, but the flexibility of the rent-to-own option makes me feel at ease.
If I decide to move again, I don't need to worry about storing or selling my couch. I can just arrange for it to be picked up and end my lease. I could even switch up the decor of my house, without feeling guilty about wasting all of my old furniture.
The most important lesson I learned in the process is to spend money according to my needs and core values, instead of comparing myself to others. I'll happily listen to the haters hate on furniture rental from the comfort of my gorgeous couch.
Renting furniture allows customers to enjoy the benefits of quality furniture without a large upfront purchase price. Rather than investing in specific pieces for long-term use, furniture rental companies make it possible to change your style at any time, move to a new home without the hassle of loading heavy pieces, or rent-to-own items for a low monthly cost."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Who Should Use Furniture Rental Companies?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Furniture rental companies are beneficial for homeowners and realtors staging homes for sale, renters moving with short-term leases, military members who travel regularly, roommates, and any people who like to change their furniture's style often. These companies offer whole-home packages and pieces for specific rooms. They often allow renters to swap out their furniture easily and include pickup and delivery services.","@type": "Question","name": "What Types of Items Can You Rent From a Furniture Company?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Furniture rental companies offer home necessities like living room sets, bedroom sets, electronics, appliances, and more. Many living room sets come with a sofa, chair, table, and small items like lamps. Bedroom sets typically include the mattress, wall decor, nightstands, and a bed frame.","@type": "Question","name": "Does Renting Furniture Affect Credit Score?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Rent-to-own companies do not report to credit bureaus, so renting furniture will not affect your credit score. Purchasing furniture using a payment plan does affect credit scores, as payments are financed either directly through the company or a third-party lender.","@type": "Question","name": "Can You Rent Furniture From IKEA?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "IKEA does not currently have a furniture rental program in the U.S., though the company did introduce furniture rentals in limited markets in 2021."]}]}] .icon-garden-review-1fill:#b1dede.icon-garden-review-2fill:none;stroke:#01727a;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round > buttonbuttonThe Spruce The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook NewslettersClose search formOpen search formSearch DecorRoom Design
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Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home.Subscribe The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook About UsNewsletterPress and MediaContact UsEditorial GuidelinesHome ImprovementHome ServicesBest Furniture Rental CompaniesCORT is our top pick for furniture rental companies with a variety of options
Renting furniture allows customers to enjoy the benefits of quality furniture without a large upfront purchase price. Rather than investing in specific pieces for long-term use, furniture rental companies make it possible to change your style at any time, move to a new home without the hassle of loading heavy pieces, or rent-to-own items for a low monthly cost.
Furniture rental companies are beneficial for homeowners and realtors staging homes for sale, renters moving with short-term leases, military members who travel regularly, roommates, and any people who like to change their furniture's style often. These companies offer whole-home packages and pieces for specific rooms. They often allow renters to swap out their furniture easily and include pickup and delivery services.
Furniture rental companies offer home necessities like living room sets, bedroom sets, electronics, appliances, and more. Many living room sets come with a sofa, chair, table, and small items like lamps. Bedroom sets typically include the mattress, wall decor, nightstands, and a bed frame.
Rent-to-own companies do not report to credit bureaus, so renting furniture will not affect your credit score. Purchasing furniture using a payment plan does affect credit scores, as payments are financed either directly through the company or a third-party lender.
Sandlin said she never intended to rent furniture. In October 2014, after moving into a new house, the suburban mom was looking for a bedroom set and actually had enough money to buy one. But she thought paying for it over time would help her establish a credit history.
Rental furniture companies can sometimes furnish your office in as little as 48 hours. This allows office tenants to get in a space quickly and get their employees working right away, while also buying time for recently purchased furniture to be delivered.
Rental furniture is also ideal for companies that have volatile or seasonal employment cycles. Your company may need lots of desks and space for six months, and then six months later you might need a rapid reduction in office furniture and space. Again, rental furniture is a viable option that can help tenants deal with the fluctuating employment cycles in a more economical manner.
The cost to disassemble, assemble and move furniture from space to space can be as expensive as the furniture itself, not to mention the administrative hassle of coordinating the move. These hassles often drive tenants to get rid of the furniture altogether.
If you are in a short-term lease or are subleasing space, renting furniture can often make more financial sense than buying. In fact, according to CORT, if you plan to be in a space less than 24 months, it may make more sense to rent.
Rental furniture is not only economical in short-term lease situations, but less of a headache. Rental companies take care of all set-up and tear-down for you, leaving you to focus on what your business does best. 041b061a72
