Renovating a house, or even just a room, can be expensive, and if you’re like me, you might be looking into a number of cost-saving measures that mean you get the finish you want without paying £££££ for it.
One way you can save money, particularly on a kitchen or bathroom, is to purchase ex-display items. This might be an ex-display bathroom that has been installed in a showroom but never used in someone’s home, so it’s essentially an almost-new item that may have some very minor signs of wear and tear.
It can be easy to get sucked into the promise of substantial savings, and some ex-display features do offer fantastic value for money, but there are absolutely some dos and don’ts to consider before purchasing one.
Always read the condition notes of a bathroom suite/product and measure your space properly before committing to a final decision. Hopefully, my advice below will help you out if you do decide to buy an ex-display bathroom. We bought the kitchen in our last house secondhand and it was one of the best decisions we made!
DO inspect the finish and quality
Always, always look before you buy. Ex-display bathrooms can provide fantastic savings, but they can also come with minor wear and tear from being displayed in a showroom. It’s your responsibility to know what you’re buying, not that of the retailer, so absolutely make sure that the suite meets all of your expectations.
Especially look out for surface imperfections such as scratches, dents, or discolouration on vanities, bathtubs, and other fixtures. These are usually cosmetic and won’t affect the bathroom’s functionality, but it’s still important to assess the condition against the price.
Such imperfections may also be more obvious to you in a brightly lit showroom than your own dimmed bathroom lighting, so don’t let it put you off completely, but be aware that an ex-display item won’t come imperfection-free like it would brand new.
Retailers selling ex-display products should always list their age and condition.
DON’T assume you can return the suite
If the suite doesn’t meet your expectations (or you find a more suitable one elsewhere), it’s important to consider that you can’t always return the products.
Many retailers selling ex-display items operate a “sold as seen” policy, which means that once the purchase is made, returns might not be accepted unless the item is faulty (such as a toilet that doesn’t flush).
Much like when you buy an item of clothing in the sale, retailers may limit return policies for ex-display goods, and simply changing your mind won’t entitle you to a return. Always check with the retailer about their specific return policies before making a purchase so you know what to expect and what your level of commitment is. Some may offer limited returns within a specific time frame (but this is far from guaranteed).
DO check the dimensions carefully
Before buying any large furniture item, bathroom suite, kitchen or other expensive product for your home, check the dimensions and then check them again.
Ex-display items, especially larger pieces like freestanding baths or shower units, might have non-standard dimensions or could have been altered during their time in the showroom. Use the measurements provided by the retailer and double check that each one will fit in the space you have.
It may even be helpful to cut out some cardboard that’s the size of the shower tray/bath/sink/toilet and lay them on the floor to ensure you can move around the space effectviely.
Be sure to ask the retailer if the items were originally custom-made for display, as this could impact your buying decision, and always check things like the way the shower door opens and if it will work in your bathroom. Having concrete answers to these questions will help you avoid the costly mistake of purchasing an item that simply won’t work in your space.
If you don’t check the dimensions of your current bathroom against the ex-display suites/products, you may not be able to exchange them if they don’t fit, so get it right first time!
DON’T forget to measure doorways and access points
This is something that often gets forgotten about! You measure everything within the bathroom itself, but forget about things like doorways and access points. If the ex-display suite comes with a large freestanding tub, it must be able to fit through a door, otherwise you’d need to start taking windows out and causing all kinds of chaos just to get it in.
Many UK homes, especially older properties, feature narrower doorways and hallways, so if you purchase an item without checking these measurements, you may have to fork out for specialist delivery services.
If you’re not sure whether an item will fit, such as a shower, ask the retailer whether parts can be removed, such as the feet of a bath, a glass shower door from the frame, etc.
DO consider the environmental benefits
When it comes to my home, I’m all about being sustainable and as eco-friendly as possible. It’s not always easy – we still use bin bags and stick the heating on when it feels cold – but there are ways you can be more sustainable at home.
One way is to choose pre-loved items over new. This is something I’ve done so much in our home. In our living room, the only items that are new are the sofas. The TV unit, dining table, coffee table and sideboard are all secondhand, meaning there was no additional carbon used to create them when I bought them. They’re all solid wood and will last for years, too.
Ex-display bathrooms that have only been used for display purposes give you the opportunity to purchase top-quality products that would otherwise be discarded. By doing so, you help reduce waste and stop them from being sent to landfill.
Then there’s the manufacturing, transport and disposal processes involved in new bathrooms, all which can have a considerable impact on the environment. When you buy ex-display, you reduce the need for such energy-intensive processes and can offset such emissions.
DON’T rush the decision
Whatever you do, don’t rush your decision. The price tag could be enticing, the sales agent might have said someone else was interested in the same bathroom. But don’t rush into big purchases without first checking it’s right for you.
Approved used and ex-display items are often on sale for heavily discounted prices, and new suites pop up every day so take the time to evaluate your options and buy what you love when it comes along.
Sarah is the creator and founder of Dream of Home, a website that began during Sarah’s first home renovation project. Since then, the site has grown and Sarah produces content around all things home, including home decor, DIY projects, renovation tips, inspiration and more. In her spare time, she loves to read and garden.
