Several key industry trend have emerged, as new innovation and shifting consumer preferences influence the demand for furniture. Read on to learn more about the top trends that are shaping the furniture industry.

1.The rise of telecommuting is driving the demand for home office furniture.

The need for home office sincreased during the financial crisis in 2008-2009 and the European debtcrisis in 2011-2012, driving increased demand for computers, desks, office chairs, and filing cabinets. Consumers quickly found that their home office shad multiple uses, and they often preferred to buy versatile furniture that could cover up office equipment when not in use. As a whole, the market for global home office furniure is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.58 percent between  2014-2019.

2.Multi-functional, versatile furniture is gaining popularity.

The number of single- and two-person households has been increasing, resulting in the demand for small and portable furniture. Consumers have also been looking for furniture that is multi-purpose, foldable, and technology-driven, especially when it comes to living in smaller spaces. 

3.Online is the fastest-growing channel in developing markets.

The U.S. home furnishing store industry includes about 15,000stores with combined annual revenue of about $27 billion. The industry is extremely concentrated, with 50 of the largest U.S. stores accounting for 75percent of the industry revenue. But, the competition is rising. Online stores are becoming the fastest-growing channel at a CAGR of 16.6 percent. Many companies are putting more efforts towards their online retail store, by adding benefits for consumers who shop online such as free delivery and installation and even same-day pick up.

4. The demand for luxury furniture is increasing.

As the economy has grown, more consumers are willing to buy luxury items for their living and work environments. The global luxury furniture market is expected to grow at aCAGR of over 4 percent between 2015-2019. In terms of location, Europe has the largest market for luxury furniture, but developing countries such as China and India are not far behind.

5. More furniture vendors are choosing to go green.

With luxury comes the expand in gtrend to go green. Many vendors are developing eco-friendly furniture. This trend is driven by environmental concerns, such as the problem of deforestation. Although eco-friendly furniture is more expensive, the demand is on the rise, making it worthwhile for manufacturers and companies to offer these products.