The US furniture and home décor market is working through inflation, high prices and housing constraints, but the category still has room to grow as consumer needs shift. Shoppers are…
US
Home Retailing
simple
US Shopping for the Home Consumer Report 2026
"Even as inflation cools, low economic confidence keeps shoppers cautious. Brands must show value through comfort, durability, adaptability and functional upgrades."
The US furniture and home décor market is working through inflation, high prices and housing constraints, but the category still has room to grow as consumer needs shift. Shoppers are rethinking what “value” means. They want to feel confident that higher prices actually deliver long-lasting quality, and they’re paying closer attention to comfort, adaptability, sustainability and features that genuinely make their homes function better and support their wellbeing.
Generational differences shape buying behavior in distinct ways. Younger consumers lean into variety and experimentation, while older shoppers prefer simplicity and practicality. That mix opens the door for brands to offer adaptable designs, eco-minded materials and smarter, AI-powered personalization. By framing furniture and décor as long-term investments that support comfort, self-expression and flexible living, brands can build trust, stand out and tap into meaningful growth opportunities.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Impact of inflation and tariffs on home décor and furniture costs
Types of home furnishings and décor purchased in the past year
Channels and retailers shopped
Home décor and furniture purchase drivers
Consumer attitudes toward quality, sustainability and personalization
Role of technology and AI in enhancing home shopping experiences
Market Definitions
This Report explores how consumers are shopping for home items both in store and online. For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions.
Furniture: upholstered furniture; sleep equipment (eg mattresses, springs, cots, waterbeds); sleep sofas, daybeds, futons and other dual-purpose pieces; living room, dining room and bedroom furniture (excluding mattresses/sleep equipment and sleep sofas/other dual-purpose pieces); office furniture, including computer-related furniture; outdoor/patio furniture and all other furniture, including kitchen, dinette etc.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for home shopping
Opportunities
Position comfort-driven furniture as a simple way to support home wellness
Treat décor as a sensory system, not just a look
Use AI to guide people toward pieces that support their routines and goals
THE MARKET
The future of furniture and home décor points to steady growth anchored in practical value
An unsteady economy adds hurdles for the home furnishings category
Graph 1: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-25
US economic snapshot
Uncertainty looms as new tariffs could reshape retail costs
Lean into clear, practical value as shoppers at all income levels tighten category spending
Graph 2: attitudes and behaviors toward rising costs and purchasing furniture/home décor – NET any agree, by household income, 2026
Housing constraints are keeping shoppers in place and reshaping home needs
Market size and forecast of furniture and home décor
Graph 3: total retail sales and forecast of shopping for furniture and home décor, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales and forecast of furniture and home décor
Expansion from top value players shows growing demand for budget-friendly furniture and décor
THE CONSUMER
Home décor and furniture purchases
Tie fragrance and seasonal décor to mood and moment-based storytelling to boost volume
Graph 4: purchased home fragrance or seasonal décor in the past 12 months, 2022-26
Seasonality can be expressed outside of traditional holidays or typical seasonal moments
Show how each piece makes the home work better for families
Consumer perceptions of value and quality
Focus on quality as the ultimate value proposition
Graph 5: attitudes toward spending, quality and sustainability, by generation, 2026
Guide shoppers to quality picks with retailer-backed verification
Use content-creator-driven décor validation to guide shoppers
Flexibility drives renter interest; showcase options that adapt with them
AI-driven experiences in home retail
Use AI to create smoother, more intuitive paths from inspiration to cart
Make AI feel like a convenience, not a constraint
Graph 6: areas of the shopping process that could be improved by technology, by age group, 2025
Smart AI tools are powering the next era of home shopping
Bring AI into the discovery phase to help shoppers define their style before they browse
Creating homes that reflect individual lifestyles
Empower shoppers to shape homes that reflect how they want to live
Graph 7: approaches to decorating the home, by generation, 2026
Storytelling décor is trending, giving retailers space to highlight color, sentiment and curated mixes
Empower shoppers to experiment without commitment
Graph 8: attitudes and behaviors toward home style and brands – NET any agree, by generation, 2026
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Bed Bath & Beyond expands its role to support the complete home lifecycle, blending financial decisions with home shopping
Best Buy and IKEA show how cross-category expertise builds better-connected homes
Walmart is showing how culturally rooted artist collaborations can bring fresh, meaningful storytelling into mass-market design
First Williams-Sonoma GreenRow store opens in NYC
Resale site Chairish is leaning into tariff-driven shopper behavior
APPENDIX
Market definition
The market
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Market size and forecast of shopping for furniture and home décor, at inflation-adjusted prices
Average annual spending on furniture and home décor
Market forecast and prediction intervals
Retail sales and forecast of furniture and home décor, by segment
Graph 9: total retail sales and forecast of furniture and home décor, by segment, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales and forecast of furniture
Graph 10: total retail sales and forecast of furniture, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales and forecast of furniture
Retail sales and forecast of home décor
Graph 11: total retail sales and forecast of home décor, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales and forecast of home décor
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
US generation groups
Consumer questions
Home décor purchases remain mostly stagnant
Graph 12: home décor purchased, 2022-26
Furniture purchases remain mostly stagnant
Graph 13: home furniture purchased, 2022-26
Value-centric retailers win for furniture and home décor purchases
Graph 14: retailers shopped, by channel, 2026
Home décor purchase motivators
Graph 15: motivators for purchasing home décor, 2026
Furniture purchase motivators
Graph 16: motivators for purchasing furniture, 2026
Attitudes toward shopping for the home
Graph 17: attitudes toward home furniture and décor, 2026
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