New Furniture & Wood Tariffs Take Effect Oct 14, 2025: What Homeowners and Designers Need to Know
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, a bath refresh, or ordering a sofa this fall, new import tariffs just changed your timeline. On October 14, 2025, the U.S. is imposing fresh duties on timber, cabinetry, and upholstered furniture—and those changes will ripple through costs, lead times, and vendor sourcing.
Below, I walk you through what’s changing, why it matters, how brands are reacting, and how our design studio is shielding your investment (so you don’t overpay or get blindsided).
What’s Changing — Tariff Rates & Rollouts
| Category | New Tariff Rate (Oct 14) | 2026 Tariff Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber / Lumber | 10% | 10% | Applies across wood imports starting Oct 14 |
| Upholstered Furniture | 25% | 30% | Scheduled step-ups expected to be 30% but not formalized |
| Kitchen & Bath Cabinets / Vanities | 25% | 50% | Will jump to 50% on Jan 1, 2026 |
Why New Tariffs Are Being Imposed
The administration frames these tariffs as protection for U.S. manufacturers. The goal: shift more production back to America. But many in the industry see them as a double-edged sword:
Higher input costs & tighter margins: Smaller vendors and furniture makers are already warning that soaring raw material costs and labor constraints in the U.S. may erode any benefit.
Craftsmanship shortages: The U.S. lacks a deep enough pool of trained cabinetmakers, upholsterers, and finish carpenters to instantly take up the slack.
Industry lobbying / expectations: The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association is vocal. They view these tariffs as potential catalysts for reshoring and have lobbied for even higher tariffs in 2026 (doubling some proposed rates).
That dichotomy—tariffs to help domestic industry vs. real cost and capacity constraints—is already playing out in vendor conversations.
How the Market Is Reacting (Including RH’s Warning Sign)
When a major brand like RH raises caution flags, it’s worth leaning in.
In its latest earnings, RH (Restoration Hardware) acknowledged that tariff uncertainty is clouding outlooks, squeezing margins, and forcing supply chain shifts.
RH signaled that its scale gives it a relative buffer—but smaller players will feel the squeeze more.
In fact, RH expects to absorb an incremental $30 million in additional tariff-related costs in the second half of 2025.
Because RH sources heavily from Asia (Vietnam, China), it’s particularly exposed in this cycle.
To meet market expectations in this climate, RH recently trimmed its full-year revenue growth guidance (from 10–13% to 9–11%) to reflect mounting tariff pressures.
What that tells me: If even a major luxury retail brand is voicing caution, we should presume the trickle-down effect will be real across custom, boutique, and trade vendors.
No Double Duty — Tariffs Supersede, Don’t Stack
This is a critical detail:
These new tariffs do not stack on top of existing country-specific duties or reciprocal tariffs. Instead, they supersede them. The effect: you’ll pay one (higher) rate — not the sum of multiple.
Example: If a Vietnamese cabinet currently carries a 20% tariff, after Oct 14 it will shift to the 25% furniture/cabinet tariff—not 45%.
However, some import sources will now benefit relative to others. For instance, Brazil’s existing reciprocal-duty level is higher than 25%, so under the new rules Brazil imports would effectively take a lower rate than before.
Exceptions (caps) are built in for certain countries: the U.K. may face a 10% cap, the EU and Japan around 15%. But no special carve-out is guaranteed for USMCA partners (Mexico, Canada).
In sum: No upside in stacking; but the baseline is getting significantly steeper.
What This Means for Your Project & Budget
Cabinetry / Vanities are the hardest hit. If you’re planning a kitchen or bath in the next 6–12 months, ordering prior to year-end can result in meaningful savings.
Upholstered Furniture (sofas, chairs, headboards) will face further cost pressure when 2026 rate steps in. Factor in lead-time buffer + contingency.
Lumber-tied scopes — millwork, trim, doors, flooring, built-ins — may see direct cost pass-throughs as vendors absorb material increases.
Appliances (if imported) could face 50% hikes unless already stocked. Don’t count on them going on sale in January.
Lead times matter more than ever: if your schedule depends on critical delivery windows (holidays, move-ins), plan well ahead.
How We Are Protecting Your Investment (Design Studio Strategy)
We’ve always viewed design as more than aesthetics — it’s about protecting your investment against volatility. Here’s how we’re managing risk (so you don’t pay for surprises):
Order sequencing
Priority: cabinets, vanities, critical upholstery. We’ll pull forward orders where we can to lock in legacy cost structure.
Spec strategy adjustments
When design allows, we’ll lean U.S.-made lines, tariff-insulated frames with imported fabrics, and incorporate antique or vintage hero pieces.
Built-in A/B bidding
For items exposed to the tariff, we’ll present alternate sourcing (import vs. domestic/custom) with transparent cost deltas.
Materials contingency buffer
We’ll carry a 10% materials buffer on all cabinetry and upholstery in 2026 scopes until vendor pricing stabilizes and legal challenges resolve.
Advance scheduling & approvals
Upholstery and custom pieces take time — final decisions, color approvals, change orders must be staged earlier in the process now.
Local sourcing where viable
We continue to favor Hudson Valley, Long Island, and NYC-area artisans, cabinetmakers, and furniture makers, whose delivery windows (5–10 weeks) remain more controllable than overseas imports.
Frequently Asked Questions (People Are Searching This Already)
Q: When exactly do these new tariffs start?
A: October 14, 2025 — that’s when the new duty rates on timber, cabinetry, and upholstery officially take effect.
Q: Will I be double taxed (stacked tariffs)?
A: No. The new tariffs supersede existing reciprocal or country-specific duties — you’ll pay one rate, not a combined stack.
Q: Should I order now to beat the increase?
A: Yes — especially cabinetry, vanities, and upholstery. Pushing your purchase timeline earlier could save a substantial amount.
Q: Are any retailers already hiking prices?
A: No sweeping price announcements yet from major chains, but investor commentary suggests selective surcharges and pricing adjustments are being modeled.
Q: Are custom vendors raising prices?
A: Yes — some trade/custom vendors have already signaled new price sheets effective November 1. (Studio-insider intel, not yet public.)
Final Thoughts: Design Means Strategy
Tariffs are more than political talking points — they’re built-in cost forces shifting how design and construction get done. As your designer, my job is to absorb volatility, advocate clarity, and guide you to the smartest, most safeguarded path for your home.
If you’d like me to run a tariff-impact audit on your current or upcoming project — kitchen, bath, built-ins, upholstery — send me a quick note and I’ll map timing and cost strategies for your schedule.
Schedule a Design Consultation today.
