Contemporary rules roost in upholstery

Roll arms, skirts falling out of favor

HIGH POINT— Contemporary continues to dominate the upholstery style scene, according to Furniture/Today's latest biennial Upholstery Style Survey.

Almost one of every two stationary sofas or recliners sold is in a contemporary style,

While contemporary is the strongest style category across all price points, other traditional styles, including Campaign, Formal French, Italian, Neoclassic, European traditional, Victorian and West Indies/Caribbean, account for one of four sales at middle and upper price points.

Eighteen-century styles find favor on stationary sofas at both lower and upper price points. In both cases, about one in eight sofas sold has 18th-century styling. At higher price points, about one of eight recliners sold has 18th-century overtones. At middle price points, 18th century does best on recliners, accounting for about 11% of sales.

Looking ahead, here's what retailers told Furniture/Today when asked about specific style elements that are gaining or losing favor with consumers:

• Shorter is better. More consumers are looking for sofas — both stationary and motion — that are less than 94 inches in length.

• It appears some consumers may be tiring of the ubiquitous roll arm; a net of 33% of retailers say consumers are looking for straight arms for their stationary sofas. The net percentage comes by subtracting the percentage of retailers saying a style element is losing favor with consumers from the percentage saying the style element is gaining favor. Throughout this discussion, percentages will refer to the net percentage of retailers saying an element is gaining favor.

• Narrow arms may be coming back in favor as well. Almost one-third of retailers told Furniture/Today that narrow arms are gaining favor with consumers for stationary sofas, while almost half said wide arms are losing favor.

• Leave off the skirts. That's the verdict whether it's a stationary sofa, a motion sofa or a recliner. The more tailored look of unskirted upholstery goes with the contemporary styling popular with consumers.

• Keep the back straight. Camels aren't good for committees or upholstery either, according to retailers reporting to Furniture/Today.

• Attach the cushions, please. That's true regardless of whether it's a stationary or motion sofa or a recliner. More retailers than not say their consumers are looking for attached rather than loose cushions.

• Less is more when it comes to features such as nailhead trim and tufting. Fewer consumers are asking for such embellishments.

• But that's not the case with regard to recliner features. Here, more is the better. Swivel, rock, glide — consumers want a recliner that does it, all according to retailers.

Microdeniers, performance fabrics rising

HIGH POINT — Microdeniers are gaining sales, especially at lower price points, where they account for about two-fifths of all upholstery transactions, according to Furniture/To-day's latest Upholstery Style Survey. At lower price points, microdeniers account for almost one of every two sales on stationary upholstery, one of four on motion and recliners. Other survey findings include:

• Performance fabrics as a group, which in addition to microdeniers include fabrics engineered for stain, moisture, fade and abrasion resistance, are slightly more popular on motion upholstery and recliners than stationary upholstery, presumably because these are more frequently used in family room settings where children, pets and food are also found.

• Leather continues to account for about 26% of upholstery sales and is especially popular on motion upholstery and recliners. At the high end, leather accounts for more than one-third of all upholstery sales.

• Chenilles continue to be popular at upper and middle price points, especially on stationary upholstery and recliners, ringing up between one-fourth to one-third of sales. At both middle and upper price points, almost one of every four recliners sold is covered in chenille.

• Velvets, only 6% of the upholstery market overall, are strongest at the lower end of the price spectrum, particularly on recliners, where they rival microdeniers in sales.

• Jacquards and dobbies appear to be gaining some traction at upper price points, although they account for only 5% of the market overall. If the trickle-down theory for style trends holds, more of these constructions may be sold at lower price points in the next few years.

• More than three-fifths of upholstery sales are sold with aftermarket fabric protection.