Monthly Issue
From Home Furnishing Business
What Sells: Bedroom Barometer
July 28,
2023 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry 
Perfectly situated between comfy and aspirational, the sweet spot of today’s home is the primary bedroom. The room garners its share of inspirational Instagram® reels and Pinterest® design posts as it continues to evolve from a place for sleeping to a relaxation destination. Top designers and decorating shows highlight the many uses of the space—an area that’s typically one of the largest rooms in a home. Multifunctional bedrooms are becoming the norm as they are equipped for working from home, working out, and relaxing hours spent binge watching favorite shows.
Style Driven
These lifestyle developments are changing the look of bedrooms as much as their functionality. While matched suites of furniture and formal finishes have been gone for years, design directions continue to favor curated collections of furnishings that feel related and complementary. Style categories such as traditional, glam, cottage, coastal, and modern are being mixed and melded to create bespoke environments that feel personal and reflect the owners’ individuality.
Style continues to be a driver for bedroom furniture sales, according to major furniture manufacturers. “Our popular Meadowbrook collection combines timeless design elements of cottage-style bedroom with an updated finish story,” says Rusty Morris, vice president of sales and marketing for American Woodcrafters. “While cottage has been synonymous with white finishes, Meadowbrook stands out with its sandy-caramel colored finish, as it retains the relaxed casual warmth of cottage decor.”
Porter Designs is finding success with a bedroom group that combines traditional elements of quality with a fresh design direction. “The modern styling combined with the heirloom-quality solid-wood and tremendous value are the key ingredients to the success of our Fall River bedroom collection,” explains Jeff Schwall, national sales manager for Porter Designs. From bed linens to flooring and furnishings, sustainability is a desirable feature for homeowners furnishing or updating a bedroom. Troy Lerew, vice president of sales for sustainable supplier Greenington, says its modern, elegant Ventura collection is a best-seller. “Ventura is a proven winner for our dealers and a top seller overall for Greenington,” he explains. Consumers support the earthfriendly brand and its bamboo construction with environmentally safe finishes.
The design of bedroom furnishings has far-reaching impact, according to David Koehler, president of Aico. “Our La Rachelle collection is more than a bedroom set, it’s a lifestyle. Its sleek design, glowing neutrals, and top-tier craftsmanship make it special. People aren’t just seeking furniture—they want magic in their home and this beautiful collection helps them achieve that desire.”
Growth Outlook
As a category, sales in bedroom furnishings are tracking slightly upward. According to the FurnitureCore Industry Model developed by Impact Consulting Services, parent company to Home Furnishings Business, research shows the category finished last year with $27.96 billion in sales (furniture and bedding), up 7.7% over 2021’s $25.95 in annual sales. This year is starting off favorably with $6.77 billion in sales for Q1 compared to $6.5 billion for the same period in 2022. Bedroom (including bedding) comprises 14.5% of total industry sales in 2023 Q1 sales, up over the same period last year where bedroom/bedding’s share was 13.9%.
