TrendBible outlines vision for the future of life at home at The Inspired Home Show 2024
CHICAGO, IL (March 17, 2024) – Mega issues like inflation, political instability and climate change continue to influence our world, but today’s consumers are looking to cope by creating stability and balance in their lives and creatively expressing their deeply held values and styles, said Anna Ward, consultancy innovation lead at TrendBible in a keynote session today at The Inspired Home Show 2024.
Owned and operated by the International Housewares Association (IHA), the Show is being held March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex. This year 1,700 home and housewares companies are exhibiting new products, sharing ideas and building relationships with buyers from more than 140 countries.
In her session titled Global Householder Trends: A View to 2025, Ward shared TrendBible’s global interpretation of the trends that will most affect consumers and their lives at home. These incorporate mega trends – which typically last 10-15 years, which in turn contribute to macro trends, which in turn lead to design and narrative trends, which in turn lead to brand/e-commerce/retail activation. Her presentation focused on four macro trends most affecting the future of life at home and also included a preview of one of TrendBible’s 2025 design stories.
The four macro trends are: Transient Homemaking, Low Desire Living, Owning It and Rebellious Creativity.
Transient Homemaking
An increasing number of consumers find themselves in temporary living arrangements today, whether that means living with parents, a number of similar-age roommates or rental housing. Make no mistake, “these are necessity-driven arrangements that are anything but poster perfect,” said Ward. These arrangements aren’t just young singles, but may include 30-somethings or young families, she said. In fact, the average age for buying a first home is up to 37 in the U.K. (up from 32) and 36 in the U.S. (up from 33).
On an emotional level, these consumers are seeking stability and comfort. Logistically, they will be on the look-out for home products that are modular or adjustable. Ward encouraged those in the home industry to think about how their products can provide a feeling of home, as well as focusing on items that can “create impact without the price tag, such as a beautiful throw that can transform even the lowliest couch.”
Low Desire Living
There’s an undercurrent in our hi-tech, high-performing society these days that is driving many people to place more value on simplicity and the luxury of “focusing on one idea at a time and doing it well.” It’s driving some to unplug from digital devices and reconnect with what they love.
“This heightened awareness of our values and how we live up to them is starting to dictate who we date, which businesses we support and emphasizing the why behind everything we do,” said Ward. “The consumer will begin to cluster around niche values seeking like-minded life partners, friends and social space.”
Owning It
The “Owning It” trend has both a literal and figurative meaning. It’s literal in terms of current economic conditions and the fact that many people may not be able to afford replacements for certain household items…they may need to fix or improve items they already own themselves. But it also has a figurative meaning in that many consumers are feeling the urge to “take back control in areas of our lives we can change,” said Ward.
With this trend, “Thriftiness becomes a badge of honor,” said Ward, while noting that products that help extend the life of items we already own (such as sofa covers) have become popular, as have storage containers that help you freeze and reheat individual portions of food, thus reducing food waste.
Rebellious Creativity
As a way to counteract what she refers to as “the doom narrative” we’ve been hearing for a few years, Ward said Rebellious Creativity is a way of living with gratitude for what you have rather than focusing on what you don’t. It also allows people to lead with their hearts rather than their heads.
TrendBible is seeing this start to manifest in a few ways, including consumers who are embracing eclectic or unconventional styles…sometimes simply as a way of rebelling against being told what is in style or what they should like. Others are embracing clutter again after determining it’s too hard to keep their homes organized.
After reviewing these four macro trends, Ward also provided a preview of one of the four design stories they’ve developed for 2025: Estudio Futuro.
Estudio Futuro
Estudio Futuro is all about surrounding oneself with color, shape and pattern that is bold, fun and authentic. Ward described the mood of as “vivid abundance, eco-positive, color drenched, street cultured, empowered and craftivism.”
It’s driven by the Latine/Latinx culture, feelings of abundance and positivity, desire for community and the popularity of artisanal design. Traditional craftsmanship is blended with bold contemporary styles.
“Maximalist décor is thriving in this trend,” said Ward. “High-end gloss ceramics mingle with natural brush fibers and chiseled wooden surfaces.” Joy and vitality are reflected with a number of “juicy” hues. Designs may be organic and jagged or include spiky forms, non-uniform proportions and feelings of movement.
A video recording of the program will be posted on the Show’s website at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/education/#keynotes. The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s global home + housewares marketplace, is being held March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex and features exhibitors and buyer attendees from around the globe. For more information about the 2024 Show visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com. To search for new products at the Show visit Connect 365, the Show’s online directory.
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The International Housewares Association is the 86-year-old voice of the housewares industry. The not-for-profit, full-service association sponsors the world’s premier exposition of products for the home, The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market (TheInspiredHomeShow.com), and offers its 1,300 member companies a wide range of services, including industry and government advocacy; export assistance; industry and consumer trends through the IHA Market Watch Report; executive management peer groups; group buying discounts on business solutions services; direct-to-consumer engagement through TheInspiredHome.com; and an independent news and information platform through HomePageNews.com.
