Living Rooms Top List for Consumers Seeking Design Help — and They’re Going to Need Lighting

In the fifth and final installment of Consumer Insights Now (CIN), a survey produced by the publisher of Lighting News Now, Design News Now, and Home News Now and sponsored by American First Finance, the analysis centered on consumers’ plans to hire a designer this year. The findings present an opportunity for lighting showrooms to offer their expert services to these specific demographics who appreciate the value of professional guidance and are willing to pay for it.    

As reported in Home News Now this week, when new homeowners were asked about their plans for furnishing their homes, 24% said they intended to hire a designer, with additional  8% considering the idea of utilizing professional design services. This was followed by 15% of Baby Boomers surveyed and 13% of Gen Z consumers.

Unsurprisingly, metropolitan areas tended to have the highest number of consumers interested in hiring a designer, including 12% and 10% respectively in Boston and Los Angeles, and 13% and 16% in Miami and New York. However, thanks to the enormous popularity of Instagram, Pinterest, design magazines and TV programs, people living in all areas of the country are regularly exposed to beautifully decorated living spaces and want to achieve that well-curated look for their own homes.  Hopefully this trend will spark the desire to seek out the services of design professionals. Savvy showrooms could launch awareness campaigns promoting their ability to offer lighting plans and expertise to these demographics.

Consumers participating in the CIN survey indicated that the living room was their highest priority, with 60% of respondents wanting to work with a designer in this area of the home followed by nearly 50% who identified the bedroom. This was followed by the kitchen (38%), family room/den (34%) and dining room (31%).

In comparison to last year’s CIN survey, this year, respondents were asked if access to designer-specific financing would influence their purchasing decisions — and sure enough, they indicated it could be enough to move the needle. In fact, 8 out of 10 consumers who planned to hire a designer expressed an interest in designer-specific financing. More importantly, 51% of consumers said that if they had access to designer-specific financing, they would purchase more expensive furniture; and nearly 50 percent said they would use a designer for projects covering additional rooms or spaces in their homes.

To delve into the details and view the charts revealing relevant statistics, click here to access the article on the Home News Now.