More importance continues to be attributed to personal healthcare and wellness – investment in sit stand desks & quality ergonomic posture seating are set to be the biggest growth areas for 2017.
Growing mobility, with families and individuals moving from one place to another and changing homes more frequently than in the past, with urbanisation processes leading to less housing availability.
The spread of web connectivity will lead to even more work & activity conducted at home or on the move. The home office will develop into a subsidiary home entertainment hub.
All these factors are drivers of change in furniture consumption too and manufacturers are targeting to meet emerging and changing demand through an evolving offer of products. Lots of innovations and product trends have been seen at the main exhibitions & fairs this year.
• Multi-functionality of products, extendable and adaptable furniture, often with invisible or one-hand mechanisms
• Lightweight furniture easy to manage and easy to assemble (even without tools)
• Performance surfaces, for tables that are used for dining, working, playing and even cooking. Anti-scratch, anti-finger print, with auto-curing properties
• Comfort in soft furnishings: hybrid sofas, adjustable bases and motion upholstery
• A trend toward natural wood furniture and high gloss, as if there were no surface treatment
• Increasing attention to certified ecolabel, not only for the furniture structure but also for the finishing material. Eco-friendly materials, like natural fibres in fabrics, more cotton and wool fabrics are offered to the market.
Accreditation sources: According to the article Megatrends for the furniture industry by Alessandra Tracogna, CSIL Industry Studies, there are some rising megatrends affecting the way people live and work globally, particularly in advanced economies such as the UK
