January white sales are an annual tradition. But for retailers who sell housewares, the discounts have moved beyond sheets and towels, says Daniel Butler, vice president of retail operations for the National Retail Federation. Look for deals on everything from dinnerware to blankets to small housewares with discounts of 20 percent to 50 percent, he says.
"The reason is that people come home, take down their holiday stuff and look at spring cleanup," Butler says. "You want to spruce things up. And because you're working so much around the house, you begin to notice things you want to change."
When it comes to sheets and towels, "anything that is related to the holidays is out the door," says Kerrie Kelly, author of "Home Decor" and owner of the Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Northern California. With customers craving something fresh and simple for sheets and towels, you're more likely to find price cuts on patterns and last year's brights, she says.
You can expect to see discounts of anywhere from 25 percent to 50 percent off, Kelly says.
You can also find some deals on carpeting, with price cuts typically ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent, says Butler.
But, depending on what you want, discounts will vary. "I know we're seeing a lot of area rugs up to 70 percent off," says Kelly.