America Choosing Artisanal Goods Again

One of the best trends in décor isn’t the hottest color or design aesthetic, it’s much bigger than that. The drive to shop higher end and artisanal products has gained momentum in large part to consumers aging out of lower-end disposable furniture lines, larger budgets, and heightened consumer consciousness. VOGUE highlights the trend in their December 2016 article. Many interior designers and editorial outlets favor blending handmade artisanal pieces with lower dollar high production items to allow for a contemporary point of view.

While the masses have shopped for and owned furnishings on an increasingly consumerist basis for the last 15-20 years, that accessibility and low price point is many times indicative of the quality. Some furnishings lend themselves to being moved and assembled or reassembled better than others, particularly those of higher quality. IKEA Group Chief Executive Peter Agnefjall has noted customers increasingly demanding more durable products. “Customers expect us to do more (on quality). And nowadays you can’t really make products that are throwaway: when you buy a sofa table it needs to be built to last,” he told Reuters.

The trend allows for younger generations to embrace home décor and style in a way that their ancestors have – yet still putting their stamp on it. Blending styles – like a high-dollar handmade dining table with low-cost midcentury seating allows younger generations to express their aesthetic in a fresh, authentic manner. Beyond the flexibility of blending high and low furniture costs and styles, artisanal furnishings facilitate the desire for transparency of where something comes from and what makes it unique.