What you need to know
The market for beds and bedroom furniture grew 6.3% in 2017 to £3.35 billion. Growth in the sector was underpinned by 0.5% growth in the number of households in the UK as well as high levels of activity in the housing market with the total number of transactions exceeding 1.2 million in each of the last four years despite a slowdown during the second half of 2017.
The beds and mattresses segment was boosted by the emergence of disruptive ‘boxed-mattress’ brands that have spent big on advertising. Meanwhile a growing awareness of the benefits of sleep on emotional wellbeing has made getting the right mattress an essential purchase that can’t be put off.
Bedroom furniture has performed less well since it’s easier to put-off a purchase when incomes are squeezed. Although real incomes and consumer confidence returned to growth in 2018, reduced activity in the housing market looks set to keep growth in this segment lower in the coming years.
Products covered in this Report
The beds sector covers beds and mattresses and can be divided into the following segments:
Divans – complete beds that are usually sold as a unit or set, comprising mattress and base, often with storage drawers built into the base.
Bedsteads – bed frames, usually with a slatted base, designed to be used with a separate mattress (or mattresses).
Mattresses – includes spring mattresses that may be of open spring or pocket spring construction, and memory foam and latex.
Others – including bunk beds, futons, headboards, bed ends, waterbeds and adjustable beds.
The bedroom furniture sector refers to all non-upholstered furniture and can be segmented as follows:
Fitted bedroom furniture (either ready-made or self-assembly/flat-pack) including built-in wardrobe/drawer units and completely fitted bedrooms incorporating the bed as part of the unit.
Non-fitted/freestanding bedroom furniture (either ready-made or self-assembly/flat-pack) and including items such as wardrobes, chests of drawers, dressing tables and bedside tables.
This Report does not cover any furniture sold on contract for the non-domestic market (such as hotels and hospitals) and excludes second-hand and antique furniture.
