Lockdown life spurs greater appreciation for our furniture

Manor Interiors, the expert in build-to-rent furnishing solutions, has found that more time spent at home has led to a newfound appreciation of the furniture within it.

With many of us still working remotely in some capacity and lockdown restrictions having been in place for much of the last year and a half, we’ve all spent more time cooped up at home than we may perhaps have liked.

For 67% of us, more time spent utilising the furniture within our homes has led to a greater appreciation of the role it plays. Both in terms of our family life as a place to come together to eat, drink, socialise, and as the remote workplace that allowed us to carry on with our careers.

However, more time spent using our furniture has also spurred many to consider the quality of the items in their home. 61% of people surveyed by Manor Interiors stated that they would be more likely to spend more in the future in order to fill their home with a better quality of furniture.

When it comes to the areas of the home with the greatest focus on a furniture upgrade, those asked were most likely to spend more money on their living room furniture in the future.

The bedroom was also a high priority area ranking as the second most likely to see an upgrade in furniture, with the kitchen taking the third spot.

With summer in full swing, the garden also ranks high in terms of spending a little more to get a better quality of item.

Interestingly, home offices and home gyms were of less importance and no doubt due to the fact that a slow return to the workplace is currently underway and so these areas are less likely to hold the same importance in life after the pandemic.

CEO of Manor Interiors, Farhan Malik, commented:

“Having spent a great deal of time at home, many of us have realised just how important furniture is in terms of the role it plays in our home. Yes, it serves a basic purpose but it does far more than that.

It ties our homes together in terms of style and layout but also acts as the social foundation of the household. The living room and kitchen, in particular, are the places we come together to eat, relax and socialise as a family and I think we have a newfound appreciation because of the pandemic as well as an appreciation for the quality and comfort of these areas.

So it’s hardly surprising that many of us would now spend more to ensure these areas are as good as they can be and while we hopefully won’t have to spend another lockdown putting them to the test, it can only be a good thing for our homelife going forward.”

Survey of 1,050 UK population carried out by Manor Interiors via consumer research platform Find Out Now (21st July 2021).

Has the pandemic made you more appreciative of the furniture in your home?
Answer	Totals
Yes	67%
No	33%

Has more time at home made you more likely to spend more on better quality furniture?
Answer	Totals
Yes	61%
No	39%

What areas of the home are you likely to spend more on with regard to furniture? (Tick all that apply)
Answer	Totals
Living room	30%
Bedroom	21%
Kitchen	18%
Garden	17%
Home office	11%
Home gym	3%