Patio Season Sales: When to Buy and What to Avoid

If you've been waiting for the end of summer to refresh your outdoor space, congratulations, your patience is about to pay off.

As retailers start clearing out patio season inventory, everything from outdoor rugs and throw pillows to dining sets, lounge chairs, and entertaining accessories can get a whole lot cheaper.

However, not every end-of-summer sale is worth snapping up just because the discount looks impressive. Some categories tend to get deeper markdowns as retailers make room for fall and holiday merchandise, while others may be better to buy now simply because the selection will disappear once the season officially winds down.

The key is to identify which deals deserve your attention and which ones are better left on the clearance rack.

At Home is currently offering end-of-season clearance up to 75 percent off, with most items hovering around 25 percent off. The Winslow 4-Piece Seating Patio Set was originally marked at $599.99 but is now on clearance for $449.99, a significant discount.

IKEA has also started promoting its Summer Storage Event rather than outdoor clearance, but it's still offering marked-down prices on some of its most coveted patio pieces anywhere from 10 percent to 25 percent off. The SEGERÖN Armchair in white/beige is currently marked down to $115 from $145.

Lowe's and The Home Depot are also advertising up to 50 percent off select patio furniture and accessories, with some items featuring deep discounts, particularly those with customer reviews and at least $200 knocked off the original price.