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I like the interesting shape of this Scandia Tivoli Curio.
2018 is off to a great start, and with that many new product lines on the horizon. So what are some of the trends in furniture for this year? A lot of the stores have furniture with either a retro or modern edge to it. Retailers that used to have a flux of traditional or European style furniture have just kept one or two lines and replaced them with multiple options for modular, clean lined, and sleek furniture designs.
This storage console has drawers that open from either side adding to its functionality. It also has a mix of materials.
So where is the furniture industry headed? Well at a recent visit to Thomasville Home Furnishings, in Roseville, CA, I discovered that there is a big push towards modernization and customization of furniture. Consumers in the past have been able to choose the fabric and trim details at higher end furniture stores like an Ethan Allen or Thomasville, but may have only had a few selections of wood stains for their cased goods.
Here is another example of a more modern end table that has three different types of materials for shelving, glass, Shagreen, and wood all held together in a brass frame.
Now, however, they will have a lot more options to choose from. Today as a customer you will be able to select from over 50+ painted or stained custom finishes for furniture frames, and cased goods. After deciding on a style and shape of furniture, you can view your selections on large screen monitors, changing out materials, finish colors, shapes, hardware, and fabrics creating your own custom furniture designs.
This is an example of a piece you could select and then customize the finish to what best suits your decor and style.
Gone are the days where everyone had to have the same type of furniture sets in their living room. Now consumers can really create lasting pieces that will represent their taste and style. This customization does however come at an increased cost. You may have to pay double or triple the price for these custom pieces. You will also have to wait about 8 to 12+ weeks for them to be crafted to your specifications. If the added cost isn't something you can afford, you can still find lower priced pieces that are ready made, but the style options here will be limited.
So what do all these changes mean? I think it means we are seeing consumers who want quality materials with flexibility and function in the pieces they purchase. In this day and age of computer technology is it any wonder that we will soon be able to draw up exactly what we want and have each detail produced directly at the manufacturer? It wouldn't surprise me if we will be able to design our own custom fabric for pieces in the future. Much like the fashion industry where you can draw up a design and have it computer printed. The lasting result will be home interior spaces that are much more individualized, custom, and reflect our taste and personalities. As a designer, I for one love the idea of being able to have more options to choose from!
