Moving During a Supply Shortage

Everywhere you look furniture is out of stock or has a longer than normal production time.  Orders that used to take weeks now take months and ready to assemble units are in short supply.  This problem is nationwide, and this makes moving homes or offices extremely difficult.  However, like every other challenge we have faced, we will come up with a viable solution.  There are some simple ways to be successful when furniture shopping.  Just follow these basic tips below and your new room or office will be as well designed as you imagined.

Plan Ahead

The easiest way to combat long wait times is the simplest, know the situation and expect delays.  This means start to assess your current lease and determine when and if you are planning to move.  Many businesses are currently downsizing office space as the remote work trend appears to be the way of the future.  However, there is still a need for commercial office space even if it is not used daily.  Realizing this allows you to start looking for the future home of your business months in advance.  In the past you could make a last-minute decision and still only need a month to move and get everything you need for the new space.  These decisions now need to be made 3-4 months in advance.  This ensures you have enough time to properly plan the move and start to think about what furniture you will need for the new space to be ready to go on day one.

Recycle

Another simple solution to downsizing or moving is to use your existing furniture.  This can present a serious design challenge as every space is different and moving everything exactly how it was before often doesn’t lead to a great design aesthetic.  A simple trick to make this work is to choose different accessories like rugs and artwork for a space.  You can make the furniture the background and other parts of the room can dominate the look.  Additionally, you can augment your current furniture by adding items like new chairs or after market sit/stand units.  Finally, if you have veneer style furniture it is also possible you can refinish it to a new color.  It is a lot of work and can be expensive, but it can give new life to an old piece of furniture. 

Settle For What You Can Get

There are always furniture pieces available and in stock somewhere.  The problem is they often are not the style you want or are missing features you value.  If you are really in a pinch, you can go shopping for what is in stock and work with what is available.  This approach requires some creativity, but it can also yield great results.  Additionally, there is a huge secondary market for furniture.  You can check locally or through a social media auction site for used pieces.  Just make sure to do your research.  Used furniture can be great but it can also have some issue if you buy without inspecting it first.  Additionally, in stock products are not selling for a reason.  It is best to understand why before committing to purchasing it.  Hopefully it is in stock because the manufacturer has adjusted to the current supply shortages.  However, they could also be using substitute materials as well. Just make sure to do your research and understand what you are buying.

Don’t be Afraid to Change Plans

Many of us dreamed about one day having our dream house, office, or personal space.  We thought about what style we wanted and researched where we could get what we desired.  The problem with this is we can often overlook the details when we plan.  When it comes time to move do not be afraid to call an audible and make a last-minute design change.  This change can be due to availability or due to a change in preference.  If something we originally wanted is not available anymore consider alternatives or even, ask for expert advice.  Many times, disappointment can result in better results than we initially hoped for so do not let a logistical hurtle ruin your dream space.  Lastly, remember you can always upgrade and make design changes in the future.

Every move is different. The situation and the reasons effect our timetable and sometimes we must make tough decisions.  Just remember when dealing with furniture it can always be rearranged and changed.  Finally, it can always be replaced.  If you are patient, you get more choices, if you are in a hurry, you will get less.  Just do not stress and do the best you can, and odds are you will end up with a space you love.