Residential furniture is usually leased a minimum of three months with a minimum payment of about $100 per month. Residential furniture can be rented by the piece or by the room "package" for an entire living room, dining room, bedroom or home office. It is usually cheaper to rent packages than individual pieces. Long-term leases of 12 months or more are a little less per month than short-term leases.

Office furniture is rented by the piece rather than in packages because the needs of offices vary so much. The minimum may be less than three months for businesses. It is also possible to rent electronic equipment including TVs, stereos, VCRs.

Short-term rental of two week or a month is often available on certain items such as baby furniture, portable beds, TVs, VCRs and microwave ovens. Rental furniture may not be brand new, but it will be "showroom quality." Once return furniture starts looking worn, it is sent to the company's "clearance area" to be sold as used furniture.

Companies have different policies about customers buying furniture which they have leased. Some will charge the consumer the residual value of the furniture much as a car lease. Other companies consider the furniture paid for after a period of 26 months.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com