If you were hoping to furnish your new home on a budget, you might want to act now before tariffs drive prices even higher.
Why it matters: While some home goods prices have already started to climb, a bigger wave of increases is coming. Retailers are currently selling through existing inventory purchased at pre-tariff prices, which creates a critical, but short, window for homeowners to act.
"Over the next three months, we expect to see product substitution and price shifts emerge," said Todd Tomalak, Principal of Building Products Advisory for Zonda.
1. Furniture
The costs of raw materials and hardware used to build pieces like sofas, tables, and chairs are climbing. A single sofa can have duties applied to multiple components, and those costs are passed on to the consumer.
"Sofa frames that landed at $1200 now clear customs at $1400 because hardwood duties stack on steel fasteners and diesel surcharges," said Tony Hoang, owner of What A Room, a company that manufactures custom sofas.
What to do: Your best strategy is to decide where brand names truly matter to you, because consumers are much more critical of price hikes from well-known companies.
"A useful rule of thumb is that major brands face about four times more price pushback than the industry in general," Tomalak said.
2. Appliances
Appliances are facing significant issues with both price and availability. The sheet metal used to manufacture them is now facing a 50% levie on June 23, and smart appliances could face even higher costs due to their electronic components. Whether you are shopping for a single appliance or making selections for a new construction home, these cost and supply chain issues can be a major hurdle.
"Appliance packages, particularly kitchen suites, are vulnerable to the impact of tariffs, with lead times extending and pricing inching up,” said Dotan Trabulsi, owner of Optimal Home Remodeling & Design.
What to do: "If there is a brand or product you love, now is the time to lock it down,” Tomalak said.
3. Textiles and Decor
The soft goods that add personality to your home have not escaped the price hikes. The issue often comes down to the raw materials and complex detours these goods might take to avoid tariffs.
"Dining chairs built with Asian birch cost 20% more than a year ago, mainly because the birch now takes a detour through Vietnam to skirt mainland tariffs,” said Alex Back, CEO of Couch. “Cotton throws from Pakistan also jumped in price after the US reinstated duty on finished textiles."
What to do: Prepare for both straightforward price hikes and changes in what’s available on the shelves. “We expect to see like-for-like price increases in the 7-14% range, depending on manufacturer,” Tomalak said. “Some of the large, big box retailers are using this backdrop as leverage to adjust which products and brands they offer to homeowners.”
4. Fixtures and Finishes
The features that define your home’s interior are seeing some of the steepest increases because these categories rely heavily on overseas manufacturing.
"Cabinetry, lighting fixtures, and luxury vinyl or engineered wood flooring are at the top of the list, especially items sourced from China, Vietnam, and parts of Europe," said Trabulsi. “We're already seeing quotes on semi-custom cabinetry jump by 10–15%, with vendors citing tariff anticipation.”
These categories are particularly vulnerable because they often involve complex global supply chains. A single light fixture or cabinet can be assembled with parts sourced from multiple countries, each potentially subject to different tariffs.
What to do: If a material you want is too expensive or unavailable, look for strategic substitutions and creative solutions. Some builders are diversifying their supplier networks by sourcing more domestic cabinetry or exploring manufacturing partners in different countries, such as Mexico.
5. Raw Materials
While finding alternatives can help manage costs for furnishings, the foundational materials that make up the house itself are another story. Price hikes on structural components directly impact a new home’s base price, forcing a difficult choice for builders and buyers.
“These cost increases are often passed directly to the buyer or offset by scaling back on finish upgrades,” Trabulsi said. “If you’re considering building soon, now’s the time to finalize contracts before pricing escalates further.”
What to do: Some builders offer clients early material purchase options to lock in prices. This strategy can offer significant savings, but it also limits flexibility for making design choices later in the process.
The Bottom Line
Navigating the ever-changing costs and availability due to tariffs requires flexibility and strategy.
Plan for delays, act decisively on the products you love, and be ready to pivot.
"If a key appliance stalls, rent a loaner for a month instead of panic-buying an overpriced substitute," said Hoang. "Patience usually beats sticker shock."
