2020 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Guide, Including Special Offers for Remodelista Readers

Why 2020 Black Friday Was Different

Black Friday 2020 had one major interior designer energy: it rethought the flow. With COVID-19 shaping daily life, retailers leaned into online sales, curbside pickup, and “shop early” messaging. Fewer people clustered at the mall before sunrise (and fewer people wanted to wrestle for a blender like it was the last lifeboat).

Instead of one chaotic day, many retailers ran promotions for weeksturning Black Friday into a season. For shoppers, that meant more chances to buy at a discount, but also more chances to get tricked by a “sale” that wasn’t actually a sale. (If it’s 10% off and shipping costs 12%, congratulations: you’ve purchased math.)

For home and design categories, 2020 also brought a particular urgency. With more time spent indoors, people invested in comfort upgrades: better bedding, smarter storage, lighting that didn’t scream “overhead interrogation,” and home office fixes that made Zoom less tragic.

Cyber Week 2020: The Numbers That Mattered

If you felt like everyone was shopping online in 2020, your intuition was doing great work. Cyber Monday 2020 became the largest online shopping day in U.S. history at the time, with online spending reaching $10.8 billion. Black Friday also posted record online results, with reports placing online spend around $9 billion.

Meanwhile, in-store traffic dropped dramatically. Retail foot-traffic trackers reported steep declines compared with the year prior, reflecting the shift toward digital carts and curbside trunks. Translation: fewer crowded aisles, more browser tabs, and a national shortage of patience for “Your order has shipped (sort of).”

What those numbers mean for a design-minded shopper

• Selection was broader online (especially for smaller brands and boutiques).
• Discounts started earlier, so “waiting for Cyber Monday” wasn’t always the smartest strategy.
• Shipping and inventory were real constraints, especially for bulky home goods and furniture.

Special Offers for Remodelista Readers (2020)

Below are the standout 2020 reader-specific discounts and notable small-business deals that were highlighted for Remodelista readers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These were time-limited promotions in late November 2020, so treat them as a historical guideand as inspiration for how to hunt for similar codes in future years.

Exclusive or highlighted discounts and codes

Remodelista-style takeaway: Many of the best 2020 deals weren’t on mega marketplacesthey were on small, design-forward shops willing to reward loyal readers with exclusive codes. If you want a home that doesn’t look like it was assembled from a “Most Popular Items” algorithm, these are your people.

How to Shop Like a Remodelista Reader

Let’s be honest: Black Friday can turn even the calmest person into a feral raccoon clutching throw pillows. A considered approach helps you score the deals without the regret. Here’s how to do it.

1) Start with a “house list,” not a wish list

Instead of chasing random bargains, identify what your space actually needs. Common 2020 needs included:

• Better task lighting (home office reality check)
• Cozy textiles (throws, duvet covers, and rugs that soften echo-y rooms)
• Storage solutions (because “pile system” is not a system)
• Kitchen upgrades (cookware, knives, and small appliances that earn their counter space)

2) Measure twice, buy once

Cyber Week returns exist, but they’re not a personality trait. Measure doorways for furniture, confirm rug sizes, and check bulb base types before buying lighting. Your future self does not want to meet your present self in a return linevirtual or otherwise.

3) Prioritize materials, not marketing adjectives

“Luxury” is not a material. For home goods, look for specifics: solid wood vs. veneer, linen vs. “linen-feel,” wool vs. polypropylene, and brass vs. “brass tone.”

4) Build a mini deal-verification habit

• Check whether the product was “on sale” last month.
• Compare prices across two retailers (especially for branded goods).
• Look at shipping costs, not just the discount.
• Confirm return windows and restocking fees (furniture loves a fine print moment).

Best Categories to Target for Home & Design Deals

Cyber Week is not equally kind to all categories. In 2020, shoppers typically found stronger and more reliable discounts in these design-friendly lanes:

Home textiles: bedding, throws, towels, and table linens

This category often sees meaningful percentage-off promotions because it’s easy to ship and easy to gift. If you were upgrading a bedroom vibe in 2020, brands like Evangeline Linens and Sunny’s Pop sat right in the sweet spot: functional, tactile, and instantly mood-improving.

Rugs

Rug sales can be excellent, but quality varies wildly. A helpful rule: if the rug is “stain resistant,” ask what it’s made of. Wool wears beautifully and feels better underfoot; synthetics can be practical but may not age as gracefully. In 2020, shoppers were also watching delivery timing carefullybulky items can hit logistical turbulence.

Lighting and hardware

Lighting is one of the fastest ways to change a room’s personality, which is exactly why it becomes a Cyber Week target. Verify specs (dimensions, lumen output, bulb type) and don’t forget that a “small” sconce can look tiny once it’s on a wall with an 8-foot ceiling and big feelings.

Kitchen tools and tabletop

Cyber Monday often delivered deals on cookware, tabletop, and giftable objectsthink sculptural accessories from brands like Areaware or timeless porcelain. If it’s something you use daily, even a modest discount can be worth it.

Storage and home essentials

In 2020, baskets and storage pieces weren’t just “nice”they were survival gear. A well-made basket is a stylish way of hiding clutter while pretending you’re a person who has it together.

Shipping, Delivery, and “Where Is My Package?” Survival

In 2020, shipping wasn’t a footnoteit was the plot. The safest strategy was to buy earlier than you normally would and choose shipping methods that matched the calendar.

USPS holiday shipping deadlines (2020 recommendations)

For delivery by December 25, the U.S. Postal Service recommended these key dates in 2020:

• Dec 15: USPS Retail Ground
• Dec 18: First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) and First-Class packages (up to 15.99 oz)
• Dec 19: Priority Mail
• Dec 23: Priority Mail Express

Design shopper tip: For small businesses, assume longer handling times (because “small team” often means “someone is literally packing your order after dinner”). If an item is a holiday gift, build in a cushion. Or choose a giftable digital fallback (gift card, printable certificate, or “I bought you the perfect lamp, it’s just currently somewhere between here and reality”).

Curbside and pickup options

Big retailers leaned heavily on curbside pickup in 2020. If you were buying an item that might arrive damaged (hello, fragile decor), pickup could reduce shipping risk and speed up the timeline.

Scams, Security, and Checkout Sanity

Cyber Week attracts two groups: shoppers and scammers. In 2020, more online shopping meant more opportunities for fake sites, sketchy ads, and “too good to be true” offers.

How to spot a fake deal in 30 seconds

• The website has no real contact info (or it’s just a form and vibes).
• The domain name is a weird variation of a known brand.
• The return policy is missing, copy-pasted, or aggressively confusing.
• The price is unbelievably low on high-demand items.

Checkout safety habits that actually help

• Use a credit card when possible (stronger protections than many debit purchases).
• Avoid wire transfers or unusual payment requests.
• Turn on two-factor authentication for major retail accounts.
• Skip public Wi-Fi for checkoutyour latte doesn’t need to know your billing address.

Returns, Warranties, and Sustainability

Returns surged across retail in 2020, and home goods can be especially return-prone because it’s hard to predict scale and color through a screen. The best way to shop sustainably during Cyber Week is to reduce the odds you’ll return in the first place.

Do this before you click “Place Order”

• Read dimensions and compare to something you already own.
• Look for material descriptions and care instructions.
• Check the return window and any restocking fees.
• For upholstered or large items: confirm freight delivery details and inspection steps.

Considered-home move: If you’re tempted by a cheap version of something you truly want, pause. In design, “buy it twice” is often the most expensive optionfinancially and emotionally.

Quick Cyber Week Checklist

• Set your budget (and subtract shipping from the fantasy immediately).
• Make a needs-first list (then allow one fun impulse purchase, because joy matters).
• Measure rugs, doorways, and the space where the item will live.
• Verify the deal by checking prior pricing and comparing retailers.
• Confirm shipping deadlines if the purchase is time-sensitive.
• Use safe checkout habits (credit card, 2FA, no suspicious links).
• Save receipts and order confirmations in a dedicated folder.

Real-World Shopping Experiences from Cyber Week 2020 (An Extra )

To understand Cyber Week 2020, you almost have to remember the mood. The world felt uncertain, routines were upside down, and our homes had become offices, gyms, classrooms, restaurants, and sometimes the only place that felt remotely safe. So when Black Friday arrived, it wasn’t just about buying thingsit was about buying comfort, control, and a tiny hit of serotonin wrapped in corrugated cardboard.

One very typical 2020 experience looked like this: you open your laptop with good intentionsjust to “browse.” You tell yourself you’re only replacing two towels and maybe getting a desk lamp because your video calls have you looking like a ghost auditioning for a Victorian novel. Then you spot a reader-exclusive code at a small shop you actually trust. It’s 15% off, which doesn’t sound dramatic, but it feels personal, like the store owner is giving you a little wink and saying, “Yes, you deserve nice taper candles in a year like this.” Suddenly, towels are joined by candles, then a throw blanket, then a basket that you absolutely, definitely need because your living room has started accumulating random objects the way beaches accumulate driftwood.

Next comes the tab explosion. In 2020, shopping involved more research because you couldn’t always stroll a store and feel the fabric or judge the true color. You’d read product descriptions like they were legal contracts. “Stonewashed linen,” you’d mutter, trying to translate. “Is that soft… or is that just a poetic way to say wrinkly?” You’d zoom into photos until you could practically count threads. You’d scroll reviews looking for the one honest person who says, “This is beautiful but smaller than it appears,” and then you’d pull out a measuring tape like you’re preparing for a home renovation rather than buying a bowl.

Then there was shipping anxietyits own 2020 hobby. You’d place an order and immediately receive three emails: one confirming your order, one explaining delays, and one politely suggesting that the universe is complicated. Tracking numbers became emotional companions. “Departed facility” was celebrated. “In transit” was tolerated. “Pending” was a personal attack. If you ordered anything oversizedlike a chair or a rugyou started making contingency plans. Could it arrive before the holidays? Would it arrive intact? Would it arrive at all, or would it simply become a legend told among warehouse workers?

And yet, the best part of Cyber Week 2020 was the small-business energy. The deals that felt most satisfying weren’t always the biggest discounts; they were the purchases that made your home better in a lasting way. A beautifully made linen throw. A set of dishes you used every day. A candle that made your kitchen smell like someone responsible lived there. In a year full of chaos, design purchases became tiny anchorspractical, uplifting, and occasionally hilarious when you realized you bought five baskets to avoid dealing with what needed to go inside them.

That’s the real lesson of a Remodelista-style Black Friday: the goal isn’t to buy the most. It’s to buy the bestespecially when the world is already loud enough.

Conclusion

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 rewrote the rules: earlier sales, record online spending, fewer in-store crowds, and shipping logistics that deserved their own reality show. For Remodelista readers, the smartest wins came from staying focusedshopping small businesses, using exclusive codes, prioritizing quality materials, and keeping a sharp eye on shipping and return policies.

If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this: Cyber Week is a tool. Use it to invest in the pieces that make your home calmer, more functional, and more yourather than getting swept into a discount-fueled stampede for things you don’t need.

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