At 80 million strong, Millennials are the largest generation in American history. They make up about a third of the U.S. adult population, and they hold substantial purchasing power, spending an estimated $600 billion each year.
And now, with many Millennials entering their peak home-buying years—25 to 45 as defined by Goldman Sachs—Millennials are also influencing furniture trends.
BDI Blog
AGE OF STYLE: THE MILLENNIAL FURNITURE BUYER
In fact, in advance of the recent High Point Furniture Market, many reports indicated that Millennials make up 37 percent of all households buying furniture, spending $27 billion on home furnishings in 2014 alone.
Whether you fall into this group and are getting ready to outfit your first home, or you’re looking to better connect with this powerful buying generation, the following is an overview of how Millennials are approaching – and impacting — furniture buying.
With many Millennials reaching the average home-buying age, their purchasing power is influencing furniture trends.
THINK SOCIAL…AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Millennials are big on creating experiences and documenting those experiences for their faithful and engaged online followers. In fact, Millennials value product reviews above all other factors when it comes to making purchase decisions.
Millennials value peer and product reviews above other generations. Reprinted with permission from Furniture Today.
When it comes to entertainment, millennials might love taking an Uber to the latest craft distillery, but they also like to entertain at home, where they can try out those specialty cocktails and unusual appetizers they saw on Pinterest.
Furniture like the Corridor and Tanami bar cabinets are perfect for making the home the newest hot spot. With their sleek good looks, these pieces are more than Instagram-ready.
Furniture like the Corridor Home Bar is a great option for home entertaining.
These pieces are more than Instagram-ready
SEXY TECHIES
Almost every trend piece written about Millennials brings up the fact that they are tech-savvy. But, really, it goes much further than that.
Millennials are tech-dependent. They crave connection and interaction, and pieces that incorporate tech considerations are only going to become more popular. Desks with cable management systems make it easy to plug in laptops, tablets, and smartphones when they need a charge without having a lot of clutter, and media furniture that incorporates IR-friendly doors and space for the latest tech components like soundbars and gaming consoles will be among their favorites.
DOWN TO EARTH
Millennials are big on environmental issues. They’ve embraced things like urban and sustainable farming, hybrid cars, and the localvore movement as they've gotten older. That isn’t to say they’re “crunchy,” but they’re definitely interested in greener living.
Businesses that make sustainability part of the company policy tend to get stamps of approval from Millennials. And from an aesthetic perspective, design elements such as visible wood grain and organic forms are share-worthy for this generation.
MAKE IT STREAMLINED
Self-expression is also important to Millennials. Many of them have been cultivating their personal brands for years, and when decorating their homes they’re looking for pieces that complement their unique tastes rather than dictate the vibe.
Modern design, which emphasizes sleek lines and minimal ornamentation, feels at once contemporary and rooted in tradition. This makes it easy to mix it in with other styles — thus making it an obvious choice and a great investment.
TOUCH AND FEEL
Though this generation might consider themselves tech-dependent, they also value the in-store shopping experience. In fact, seven out of 10 Millennials shop and browse brick-and-mortar stores before making a purchasing decision.
However, for Millennials who can easily change their opinions in one visit, this puts the onus on retailers to make the in-store experience worth their while.
The personal buying experience you get from retail stores is important to Millennial shoppers.
KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
Millennials don’t like to feel tied down. Honestly, what can you expect from the generation that invented Tinder? ;)
Designs that offer versatility, such as motion tables that can be used for work and play, or cabinets that can double as storage or as the center of your home entertainment space, make it easy to get just the right look and set up … for now!
Are you a Millennial? What will you buy next for your home? Share with us in the comments below.