Top 5 Furniture Design Trends that are Driving Growth and Revenue for Home Brands in 2021

(Author’s Note: This article is a by-product of my Zoom discussion with Ben Kirkby of Ben Kirkby Designs on the furniture designs dominating the market today.)

The past year unveiled new customer behaviors in furniture purchasing as 58% of the world’s population was placed on stringent lockdowns.

Being on lockdown became the motivation for furniture consumers to make their living spaces more comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.

The industry saw an increase in revenue driven by millennials who not only had to transition to home-based work setups, but now see the value in investing in high quality, unique, and stylish furniture pieces. In fact, they are currently spending about US$ 5,200 annually on new furniture, a striking increase from US$ 355 per year a decade ago.

Here, we’ll give you a rundown of the top five furniture design trends that are driving the industry’s growth and raking in unprecedented revenue for furniture brands worldwide.

Multi-functional Furniture

As people have been spending most of their time at home, every nook and cranny is utilized by all members of the family. Living rooms, dining areas, and even kitchen counters are converted into work or virtual learning spaces, as families cope with the need to accomplish everything from home.

Naturally, this challenge has driven the market to purchase furniture that are able to serve different purposes while maintaining the look and feel of their homes.

Multi-functional furniture not only effectively fulfills this consumer need but also offers space-saving benefits. The market is taking cues from the minimalist and tiny home living concept of convenience x aesthetics x durability — three furniture qualities that address work and learning arrangements of most consumers today. Extending tables are an obvious category that has really taken off.

Natural Materials and Minimalist Aesthetics

Organic materials have always been in style, but the demand for furniture created with natural materials has drastically increased in recent years. People these days have found a deeper appreciation for transforming their homes into more comfortable spaces that give a calming and peaceful ambiance. They seek for a feel of the outdoors and a sense of warmth inside their living spaces after over a year of being cooped up within the four walls of their homes.