Shopping··3 min read
The End of Sale Edit: Our January Homeware Picks
The January sales are nearly over. Here is our end of sale edit: the homeware categories worth a last look, and how to buy well rather than buy lots.
By the last week of January, the sales have usually been picked over. The big-ticket bargains have gone, the rails look a bit sorry for themselves and most of us are tired of scrolling. But this is often when the best buys appear, as shops make final reductions to clear space for spring. So here is our end of sale edit: the things we think are worth a final look, and a few rules for buying well.
We are not listing prices or promising particular deals, because those change by the hour. Instead, think of this as a shopping list with a point of view.
Our end of sale edit: what to look for
These are the categories where we think a reduction really pays off, because they are pieces you will keep for years.
- Statement lighting. Rattan and woven pendants bring warmth and texture to a room, and a pair hung over a table or sofa looks instantly considered.
- Poufs and footstools. An ochre or mustard pouf is the easiest way to add a shot of colour, and it doubles as extra seating.
- Frames and prints. Sales are a good time to start or extend a gallery wall. Buy frames in a couple of finishes and mix them.
- Good bedding. Quality linen and cotton sets rarely go out of style, so reductions are worth having.
- Rugs. A well-made rug anchors a room, and they are one of the bigger savings you will find in January.
Designer names worth watching
End-of-season reductions are also a chance to buy into a designer's world at a gentler cost. We always keep an eye out for pieces by Christiane Lemieux, whose tailored, graphic style we first wrote about in our post on her home range at House of Fraser. Her work shows how a few well-chosen patterns can lift a room, and her approach is a useful lens for sale shopping in general. You can read more about her in our profile of Christiane Lemieux.
The same goes for the independent makers and smaller studios we love. Many of them run their own quiet sales in January, and it is a lovely way to support small businesses while picking up something special.
The best sale purchase is the one you would have been happy to pay full price for. Everything else is just clutter with a discount sticker.
How to shop the last of the sales
It is easy to get carried away, so we try to stick to a few rules:
- Make a list before you browse. Write down what each room actually needs, and stick to it.
- Measure first. Know your wall widths, ceiling heights and the space around your sofa before you click buy.
- Check the returns policy. Sale terms can differ from normal ones, especially on larger items.
- Think in pairs and groups. Two pendants, three prints, a set of cushions: grouped pieces often look better and make a bigger impact.
- Sleep on it. If you are still thinking about something the next morning, it is probably a keeper.
Styling your sale finds
The room in our picture shows how a few sale pieces can come together. Rattan pendants add warmth overhead, the ochre pouf gives the eye somewhere to land, and the gallery wall pulls in colours from around the room. None of it is precious, and it all works because the palette is limited and the textures are varied.
When your new pieces arrive, give them space. Clear the surfaces first, then add things back slowly. If you are in the mood for a fresh start, our notes on the Apartment Therapy January Cure are a good companion to this end of sale edit, with practical steps for decluttering before anything new comes in.
A final word
January can feel like a month of restraint, so there is something cheering about finding one lovely thing for the home before it ends. Shop slowly, buy what you love and let the rest go. The sales will come round again, and by then you will know exactly what your rooms are missing.
Questions readers ask
What should I buy in the end of January sales?
Focus on long-lasting pieces such as lighting, rugs, quality bedding, frames and footstools, which you will keep for years.
How do I avoid impulse buys in the sales?
Make a list per room, measure before buying, check returns terms and sleep on any larger purchase.
Who is Christiane Lemieux?
Christiane Lemieux is the designer who founded DwellStudio, known for tailored furniture and graphic textiles, and the author of Undecorate.
