7 Times It Makes More Sense to Rent Furniture Than Buy It

Thinking of renting furniture for a home? Whether your living situation is currently in transition or you’re simply not ready to invest in expensive furnishings, renting furniture could be the right decision for you. After all, furniture is expensive, bulky and large. Not every sofa or dining table is going to fit in every house. Oftentimes, it makes more sense to temporarily rent functional furniture rather than forking over big bucks for items you may not even be able to use in the future. Additionally, many people would rather rent quality furniture than have to buy cheap furnishings for temporary use. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to rent furniture, here are seven times when renting furniture makes more sense than buying it.

7 times it makes sense to rent furniture

1. You are moving abroad
   

   Moving to a new country? Rather than shipping all of your household furniture and belongings overseas, we recommend renting a furnished home instead. This will save you the trouble of having to plan and coordinate a very complicated international move. If the move isn’t long-term, then it simply may not be worth the extra money to ship belongings via sea freight or air freight (which trust us – adds up quickly!). In addition, your existing furniture may not even fit the new space correctly. After all, we know that American houses and apartments tend to be on the larger side compared to European and international homes. Purchasing furniture abroad likely won’t make sense either if the move isn’t long-term. Fortunately, a relocation specialist should be able to help you find a furnished rental home without a problem.

2. You want to try out different furniture styles
   

   Chances are, your taste in furniture and style preferences will change and evolve over time. So if you’re having trouble deciding on a style, we recommend renting various pieces to try out in your home first. Renting furniture allows homeowners and renters to test out different styles before spending their hard-earned money on a couch or other big ticket item. Those who like to update the style and design of their home will also appreciate the versatility and flexibility that renting furniture allows.

3. Your move is temporary
   

   Whether you’re in the military and move around quite often or you’re a student hopping from one housing complex to another, you may want to consider renting furniture over buying it. Renting furniture will allow you to enjoy high-quality furnishings that fit your current living situation without making a long-term commitment. This is particularly convenient when you move from place to place often and/or are living in temporary housing. If you purchase furniture for a home that isn’t your permanent abode, you could end up with a truck-load of items that won’t fit or work in a future home. Renting furniture will also save you from having to pack and move heavy furnishings every time you move, which will inevitably save on moving costs as well. 

4. You have multiple homes
   

   Whether it’s a pied-a-terre in the city or a vacation home at the beach, owning a secondary residence is a great excuse to rent furniture. While you’ll likely purchase furniture for a primary home, renting items such as sofas, tables and dressers for the secondary home is an easy way to enjoy quality furnishings without having to commit to them. If you plan to eventually sell the second home, then renting furniture will also save you the time and money spent moving, storing or getting rid of household furnishings.

5. You’re simply not ready to make a furniture buying decision
   

   So you found a new home, moved in and discovered that your current furniture doesn’t fit the space. While purchasing new furniture to fit the property may seem like a no-brainer, you’re not ready to make such a big financial commitment. After all, quality furniture is expensive. In this case, renting temporary furniture that fits your space appropriately may be the right decision for you. While renting furniture isn’t particularly cheap, it does allow you the time and flexibility needed to make a big furniture buying decision.   

6. You don’t have the time or energy to hunt and shop for furniture
   

   Shopping for furniture takes a lot of time and energy. Hopping from store to store to test out sofas, perusing numerous online furniture stores, and hunting down bargains and consigned pieces can take months (if not years) to do. If you simply do not have the time or energy to shop for furniture, we recommend renting necessary items temporarily. This allows you to take your sweet time when it comes to buying furniture, which (of course) means it’s much more likely that you’ll end up with furnishings you actually like versus items purchased in a hurry. 

7. You need to stage your home to sell it
   

   Trying to sell your home? Staging a home with the right furniture can help. Not only does staging a home with furniture make it easier for potential buyers to visualize living in a space, but it also makes the home seem more inviting and aesthetically pleasing in listing photos. If you lack furniture for staging, we highly recommend renting it from a reputable furniture rental source. Some people may even want to replace their existing furniture with rental pieces in order to appeal to a broader pool of buyers. For instance, if your furniture style distracts from the overall look and feel of the home and/or makes the home appear cluttered, it’s a good idea to look into high-quality, neutral furniture rentals.