2026
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US Shopping for the Home Consumer Report 2026
2026-03-17T18:01:48+00:00
REPB17EB290_5F5B_4618_BEB2_905F5B461891
3695
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Report
en_GB
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."

Lindsay Davenport, Analyst - Household Care

Lindsay Davenport, Analyst - Household Care

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.

  • Home décor: picture frames, vases, decorative bowls, candlesticks/candleholders, candles, diffusers, wall art, clocks, trays, coasters, lamps/lighting (table lamps, floor lamps, lanterns), mirrors, collectibles/keepsakes, sculptures/artwork/figurines, decorative pillows/throw blankets, rugs/doormats, baskets, fake/silk flowers or plants, holiday/seasonal décor, home décor items. It excludes paint, wallpaper, window treatments (eg drapes, blinds).
  • 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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  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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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