What Is Ex-Showhome Furniture? | The Complete UK Buyer's Guide

If you've ever walked through a brand-new show home and thought "I want my house to look exactly like this" — you're not alone. And the good news? You can. For a lot less than you'd think.

Ex-showhome furniture is one of the UK's best-kept interiors secrets, and it's something we've built our entire business around. So let me walk you through exactly what it is, how it works, and why thousands of customers come back to us again and again.

So, What Exactly Is Ex-Showhome Furniture?

When property developers build new housing estates, they furnish a handful of plots as "show homes" — the ones you walk around when you're deciding whether to buy. Every piece is carefully selected by professional interior stylists to make the rooms feel aspirational, spacious, and beautifully put-together.

Once the estate sells out (or the developer refreshes the look), all of that furniture needs a new home. That's where we come in.

We work directly with developers and styling houses across the UK to source these pieces before they hit the open market. The result? Premium, designer-quality furniture — often barely touched — at a fraction of the original retail price.

Why Is It Such Good Value?

Here's what makes ex-showhome furniture different from regular "second-hand" furniture:

It's been styled, not lived in. These pieces have been placed in a room for visitors to admire — not for a family to pile onto every evening. Most items arrive with us in near-perfect condition. We're talking about sofas that have never been sat on for more than five minutes at a time.

The original spec is high. Developers don't cut corners on show homes — they're selling a lifestyle. The furniture is chosen specifically to make rooms look and feel premium. That means solid wood, quality upholstery, and finishes that photograph beautifully because they are beautiful.

The pricing reflects the supply chain, not the quality. Because developers need the furniture cleared quickly, we're able to pass on genuine savings — typically 20% to 50% off what you'd pay buying new from the original brand.

What's the Difference Between Ex-Showhome and Ex-Display?

Great question — we get asked this a lot.

Ex-showhome furniture comes from furnished show homes on housing developments. It's been placed in a styled setting and may have been on display for a few months to a year or so.

Ex-display furniture comes from retail showrooms, trade exhibitions, or photography sets. It might have been a floor model in a furniture shop or used for a catalogue shoot.

Both offer exceptional value, and we stock both in our showrooms. You can browse a selection of our ex-showhome and ex-display pieces online, or check out our latest ex-display deals — but the full range is always in-store, where new pieces land every week.

The common thread? Every piece has been professionally selected, is in excellent condition, and comes to you at a price that makes upgrading your home genuinely affordable.

What Kind of Furniture Can You Find?

Honestly — everything. Show homes are fully furnished spaces, so we source the full range:

Living room: sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, TV units, sideboards, and console tables. These tend to be our fastest sellers — if you see something you love in the showroom, don't wait.

Dining: dining tables, chairs, bench seating, and display cabinets. Perfect for anyone who wants a designer dining space without the designer price tag.

Bedroom: bed frames, headboards, bedside tables, dressing tables, and wardrobes. Show home bedrooms are styled to feel like a boutique hotel — and now yours can too.

Accessories: cushions, throws, lamps, artwork, vases, and decorative pieces. These are the finishing touches that make a room feel "done" — and they're an incredibly easy (and affordable) way to refresh your space.

Because these are one-off pieces sourced from individual show homes, the range changes constantly. That's part of the fun — every showroom visit is different.

Can I See It Before I Buy?

For ex-showhome and ex-display pieces — absolutely, and we'd strongly recommend it. These are one-off items that move fast, so visiting a showroom is the best way to find something special. We have three locations:

• Tamworth (our flagship) — set in the beautiful grounds of Buzzards Valley Vineyard
• Broadway — in the heart of the Cotswolds
• Ludlow — our newest showroom in the Shropshire Marches

Each showroom is styled like a series of real rooms, so you can see how pieces work together — not just lined up in a warehouse. Find your nearest showroom and plan your visit here.

A small number of ex-display pieces are listed on our website, but the real treasure hunt is in-store — stock changes constantly as new pieces arrive from developers and styling houses across the UK.

What About Your Online Shop?

Great question — and this is where people sometimes get surprised.

Alongside our ex-showhome pieces in the showrooms, we carry a full range of brand-new, premium furniture from names we genuinely love — and that's what makes up the vast majority of our online shop.

Brands like Richmond Interiors, Wilde Java, Light & Living, Hills Furniture, and Libra, plus our own Xshowhome Originals range — all available to browse and buy online with nationwide UK delivery.

We price these at market-leading rates because we buy direct and keep our overheads low. So whether you're visiting a showroom for an ex-showhome find or shopping online for something brand new, you're getting exceptional value either way.

Think of it this way: the showrooms are where you go for one-off ex-showhome gems. The website is where you shop our full new furniture range at prices that are hard to beat.

What Brands Do You Stock?

Our new furniture range includes names like Richmond Interiors, Wilde Java, Light & Living, Hills Furniture, and Libra, plus our own Xshowhome Originals range.

We don't stock anything we wouldn't put in our own homes. That's not a marketing line — it's how Gary and I have always run the business.

How Do I Know the Quality Is Good?

Every piece — whether ex-showhome or brand new — is inspected when it arrives with us. If something isn't up to standard, it doesn't make it to the showroom floor or the website. Simple as that.

But don't just take our word for it — our customers have given us a 4.9-star rating across 85+ independent reviews. You can read them here.

Do You Deliver?

Yes — we deliver nationwide across the UK for both online orders and showroom purchases. Larger items are delivered on a two-person service so everything arrives safely. We'll confirm delivery details and timescales when you order, and our team will keep you updated throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ex-showhome furniture second-hand?

Technically, yes — it's been owned before. But "second-hand" doesn't really capture it. These pieces have been professionally placed in a styled show home, not lived with day-to-day. Most items arrive in near-new condition.

Can I return ex-showhome furniture?

We want you to love what you buy. If something isn't right, get in touch and we'll sort it. You can find our full returns information on our returns policy page.

How often do you get new stock?

Our showrooms receive new ex-showhome and ex-display pieces every week — stock changes constantly, so no two visits are the same. Our online shop is updated regularly too as new products arrive from our supplier partners. The best way to stay in the loop is to follow us on social media or sign up to our emails — we always share new arrivals there first.

Is it worth buying ex-showhome furniture?

If you want premium furniture without the premium price tag — absolutely. You're getting pieces that were hand-selected by professional stylists, in excellent condition, at 20–50% less than buying new. It's one of the smartest ways to furnish a home beautifully on a real-world budget. And if you're shopping online, our new furniture range is priced to be market-leading too.

Where can I buy ex-showhome furniture in the UK?

You're in the right place. We're one of the UK's leading ex-showhome furniture specialists, with three showrooms carrying a constantly changing collection. Visit in-store for the full ex-showhome experience, or browse our online shop for our complete range of premium new furniture at market-leading prices. Plan a showroom visit here.

Got a question I haven't covered? Drop us a message, we're always happy to help.