Home Furnishing budget shifting outdoors

More people are planning to spend more time outdoors this year, leading to an increase in purchases for backyard, deck, and patio improvements. The pandemic not only motivated individuals to enhance their indoor living spaces but also encouraged a greater utilization of outdoor areas, which has continued even after the pandemic. Survey results show that 80% of respondents consider outdoor living more valuable than ever before. They plan to spend an average of nine hours per week outside in 2023, compared to seven hours in 2022.

A survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) and the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) reveals that 54% of U.S. consumers intend to buy something new for their outdoor living spaces this year. The survey highlighted various priorities, including outdoor lighting, shade items like umbrellas and pergolas, decorative pieces like throw pillows and rugs, fire pits or fireplaces, flooring, seating, water features, and outdoor kitchens or bars.

According to Jackie Hirschhaut, Vice President at AHFA and Executive Director of ICFA, consumers consider lighting and accessories as the easiest ways to enhance the style of their outdoor living spaces. These improvements make spending time outdoors more enjoyable, especially as remote work becomes more common, and the meaning of home evolves in our lives.

The Wakefield survey, conducted in January, involved 1,000 adults representative of the national population.