In 2014 the market for living and dining room furniture enjoyed sales grow by 6.1% to £5,762 million. This was the second year running which saw sales growth and is very encouraging for an industry which has been through tough times since the recession. The uplift was helped by higher levels of consumer confidence and a more buoyant housing market. We expect 2015 to continue in buoyant mode with living and dining room furniture sales moving ahead by a further 3.3%. This slowdown in growth is linked to a predicted cooling of the housing market from the highs of 2014. Competition will be intense as large, high profile retailers use their advertising clout to gain market share.

This report looks at the furniture that people have bought for their living and dining rooms in the last three years and the key factors that have shaped their decisions. It also looks at the way people use their living rooms, if they are using it as a family hub and what they do individually or together when in the living room. By understanding this we gain insights into what they want from their furniture and the layout of their rooms.

Mintel’s Furniture Retailing – UK – December 2014 looks into greater detail at the retailers and their strategies for growth.

This report covers the following types of furniture:

• Upholstery (Sofas and other upholstered chairs)

• Dining tables and chairs

• Shelving and storage for the living and dining room such as shelves, wall units, display units, sideboards and drawers

• Occasional furniture for the living room such as coffee tables, lamp tables

• Home office furniture such as computer desks, office shelving and drawers

We cover beds, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen furniture in more detail in separate reports and have included beds and bedroom retailers in this report, but these are also covered in more detail in a separate report.

See:

• Bathrooms and Bathroom Accessories – UK, August 2014

• Kitchens and Kitchen Furniture – UK, September 2014

• Bedrooms and Bedroom Furniture – UK, October 2014

• Furniture Retailing – UK, December 2014.

This report does not cover any furniture sold on contract for the non-domestic market (such as hotels, student accommodation and hospitals) and excludes second-hand and antique furniture. Other specialist sectors not included in the scope of this report are nursery furniture (ie cots, cribs and cot mattresses, a sector covered in Baby and Nursery Equipment – UK, February 2014), and we exclude garden furniture.

Financial definitions used are:

• Sales: Turnover as reported by the company, excluding VAT.

• Operating profits: pre-tax profits plus interest, less non-trading income such as the sale of fixed assets and any exceptional items, including provisions.

• Pre-tax profits: the net trading profit after deducting all operating costs including depreciation and finance charges, but before deduction of tax, dividends and other appropriations.

• Operating margin: operating profits as a percentage of sales.

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