How Tariffs Are About To Change Your Favorite Home Stores

With more of President Donald Trump's tariffs coming into effect in October of 2025, you may want to prepare yourself for your favorite home stores to look a bit different. From price changes to inventory changes, upcoming and newly implemented tariffs are likely to impact stores that sell furniture, home decor, and more in a few key ways. Beginning October 14, new tariffs will be placed on softwood timber and lumber, upholstered wooden furniture, and kitchen cabinets and vanities. 

There is much to say about what Trump's tariff on lumber imports means for the future of furniture, but part of that is a likely price increase in home stores. In areas already affected, tariffs have caused the prices of imported goods to increase by about 4% since early March, according to Econofact. And with estimates of roughly 60% to 80% of the tariff prices being passed on to consumers in the form of higher retail prices (per The Budget Lab at Yale), you can expect to start paying more soon.

Additionally, on September 25, Trump announced a tariff on heavy trucks and truck parts set to begin on October 1. The details on this tariff are limited, but it is aimed at the class of trucks that transports goods, which could result in shipping delays and supply chain disruptions. So, with these latest tariffs hitting important materials and items as well as their means of transportation, your favorite home store might increase prices and experience some longer shipping times and decreased inventories in stores. In response to these upcoming changes, some home stores have made statements or changes that can give consumers a better idea of what to expect going forward.

Businesses that sell imported goods are affected by tariffs because they need to pay a tax to import the goods they sell in stores. While some companies can handle the tax, others have to pass it on to the consumers. If you are wondering how your favorite store is faring, such as how IKEA is responding to Trump's furniture tariffs, then you may be in luck, as some companies have reacted to previously imposed tariffs or already commented on the impact of impending tariffs.

Companies including Costco, Target, and Walmart have already made changes such as increasing prices or changing suppliers. Prior to the announcement of the recent tariffs, TJX, the parent company of HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and more, reportedly expected to be able to offset tariffs for the rest of the year. But with these unanticipated tariffs targeting more of their typical merchandise, this may change.

For shoppers, these changes due to tariffs may hit your wallet within a few months. If you are planning to buy a sofa or redo your kitchen cabinets in the near future, you may want to try to order your furniture or materials before the October 14 start date or look into secondhand or American-made options, though demand can drive these prices up as well. Even if you aren't planning a major home design change, there are some additional household items homeowners are stocking up on in anticipation of tariffs worth considering.