Rest Easy

September 11, 2015  by in Business Strategy, Industry   

By Sheila Long O’Mara

Master bedrooms, often one of the last rooms furnished in homes, are growing in importance on furniture retail floors.

Adult bedroom has posted a 5.3 percent increase in sales for the first half of 2015 over 2014, raking in $5.33 billion for in the first six months. That’s not too shabby when you consider that during the first six months of last year, the category posted a 1.7 percent increase to $5.1 billion from the same period the prior year.

In Home Furnishings Business’ most recent survey in which we talked with consumers who have bought bedroom furniture within the last 18 months, consumers are nearly split between traditional and contemporary styles.

For master bedrooms, 36.6 percent of the consumers are traditionalists, while 37.8 percent opt for more contemporary looks. That has shifted from last year when we checked in with bedroom buying consumers.

Rustic country came in at a far third with 9.8 percent classifying their bedroom furniture in that style family. Transitional styling captured 7.1 percent of the surveyed consumers.

When compared with style preferences in 2014, contemporary bedroom styles led the way with 41.8 percent of consumers opting for those designs, compared with 28.6 percent who bought traditional bedrooms.

As the world whirls around at lightning speed, everyone craves a welcome retreat in which to recover from the everyday hustle and bustle. However, today’s bedrooms seem to be busier than ever, and people are looking for their rooms to be peaceful and welcoming, as well as functional.

Bedrooms are no longer peaceful sanctuaries to which people retreat for restoration and to reconnect with partners. Instead, many consumers are using their bedrooms—specifically their beds—as computer hubs.

Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed report using a computer in bed more than three times a week. That’s up from 33.6 percent who reported their in-bed computer usage last year of more than three times a week. Broken down further, 28 percent admit to using a computer in bed more than five times a week.

Pricing pressures seem to be abating a bit, as a greater group of consumers are willing to pay more for a five-piece, queen bedroom suite. Nearly 65 percent (64.6 percent) of those surveyed said they would pay between $1,000 to $2,499 for a five-piece group. Last year, only 52 percent said they would pay that amount for the same five-piece suite.

When inching up the price bracket to reach from $1,000 to $7999, 84.1 percent seen that as a reasonable amount to pay. In 2014, the percentage was slightly lower at 81.6 percent.