If you are looking to add a few new pieces of furniture to your home visit a furniture outlet store. These stores are a little slice of heaven for people that love decorating or for people like me that just cannot pass up a good deal. These stores offer incredible bargains on just about anything you would want for your home.

As I walk through the door of the store I usually go into some kind of trance. There is so much to see it is hard not to be overwhelmed. I do not know if it is the store itself or my short attention span, but I get distracted easily. Either way, I always find something I just cannot live without. My time at various furniture outlets always ends with me getting a great deal and leaving with a smile on my face.

To find a real furniture factory outlet can be difficult. The U.S. does not monitor the use of the word ‘outlet’ in store names. This means retail furniture companies can put the word outlet in their name, but never show you the expected discounts that come with real furniture outlet stores. To avoid overpriced fake outlet stores, here are a few tips.

• Nearly every major furniture brand can be found at an outlet store for dramatically cheaper, sometimes 50 to 80 percent cheaper. If you visit an outlet store with brand name furniture and it is still ridiculously priced, you are not in a real furniture outlet store. Never pay retail, there are too many discounts available to over pay.

• You will hardly ever find an advertisement for real outlet stores. Manufacturers do not usually advertise the low prices of the outlet store in order to keep from offending their retailers across the nation.

Furniture retailers are breaking the law when they try to convince you they are legitimate outlets. It is against the law to make you think you are receiving bigger savings than you are. Not every ‘outlet’ store is going to bring you real savings, so follow these tips to side step the fakes.

Like I said before, it’s very easy to get caught up in the ooh and awe while shopping in furniture outlet stores. It’s also very easy to spend more money than you originally planned or walk out with a few things that you may not need at all. Buying items that you will never use is not really a bargain. Here are my 10 tips for shopping in furniture outlet stores.

1. Before leaving your house, set a budget and stick to it. Setting a budget before you get to the store will help keep you from spending more money than you can afford.

2. Make a list of all the items you need. This will help even the worst impulse buyer. It is so easy to get caught up in all the discounts available.

3. Be sure you have measurements and color swatches before shopping. At bedroom furniture outlet stores you will find everything from new beds to window treatments. If you plan ahead you will surely get what you need in one trip instead of failing to plan and having to return several times.

4. If you aren’t confident in your own style, bring a friend along so you can get a second opinion. Bringing a friend is also a great way to make sure you see the whole store as friends usually share points of interest.

5. Make sure you have time to shop. If you are in a hurry, or only have an hour before you have to be somewhere else, it is probably not a good idea to rush through the selection process. Only shop on days when you are relaxed and have time to shop. Otherwise you may make some bad furniture selection.

6. Although outlet stores rarely advertise, check with customer service and at the store entrance for coupons, sales, and weekly offers. The idea is to save money. That’s why you are shopping at the outlet store. Many office furniture outlets have regular discounts on nice office chairs and executive styled desks. Check for savings before you start shopping.

7. Shop at furniture outlets during the “out of season” months so you get the best deals available. This will also cut down on the amount of time you have to wait in line in order to check out.

8. Check all items for defects and damage. Since many of the items you purchase from outlet stores were either discontinued or once used as a display it is common for them to have a few knicks. Examine your intended purchase for major defects. (I visit a couple of Amish furniture outlet stores in my area. They seem to have furniture with the least amount of damage. You will have to find which is best in your area.)

9. Know the stores’ policy for returns. Many outlet stores do not honor returns. Know what you can and cannot bring back before you buy.

10. If you really want the best savings and greatest selection find out when their floor cleaning sales are, when their weekly trucks arrive, and what day the store does their mark downs each week.

I hope this article has helped you learn a little bit about furniture outlet stores. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to reply as fast as possible. I'd also be interested in knowing whether or not you have been to a furniture outlet store before and do you have a favorite store? Do leave a comment! I love hearing from my readers. :)