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2017 Trending Home Furnishings For College Living

Posted by Jessica Beaudry | Mon, Aug 07, 2017 @ 07:45 AM

home furnishingsAn estimated 20.21 million college students enrolled in public and private institutions in 2014, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES). In 2016, the number of international college students exceeded one million. College students hold significant buying power as they continue to seek out the latest accessories and home furnishing essentials to adorn dorms and apartments. As students head back to campus this fall, it is crucial for home furnishings dealers to stay relevant by stocking stores with on-trend products.

Colors, Prints and Texture

Muted earthy colors are in. Dusky blue, mineral grey, taupe, dusted yellow and light blue-green top the list. Representing a range of shades including Rose Quartz, Pale Dogwood and Candy Pink, Millennial Pink quickly became the “it” shade of 2016. Attributed to the Rose Gold iPhone released in 2015, followed by Pantone naming Rose Quartz the joint color of the year for 2016, Millennial Pink continues to hold its popularity in 2017. Pantone’s 2017 color of the year, Greenery, along with white are 2017 staples. Additionally, Pinterest declared that “navy is the new black,” and brown furniture from white ash to walnut is filling millennial homes.

Prints are staying simple with one small repeating design on a plain background, and a single word or sentence in bold typography. 2017 prints include Boho-Chic designs, marble, geometric patterns and tropical prints such as pineapples.

The comfort of Hygge in home furnishings has spread from Europe to the U.S. Cozy aesthetics including faux fur, woven textures such as wicker, and fluffy bedding and rugs are the embodiment of the Danish lifestyle practice. Products made from recycled and sustainable materials along with stone, natural wood and velvet are also desirable. According to Pinterest, metallics are on-trend, naming copper the metal of the year.

Furniture 

With most colleges supplying fully furnished dorms, students in off-campus housing may require more home furnishings than those living on-campus. Strongly influenced by minimalism, a growing portion of Millennials are choosing to live with less. Homes are staged with fewer pieces of furniture and décor, placing more importance on those selected.

In an effort to create an “Instagram-worthy” space, millennials are opting for pieces that embody current trends — mirrored furniture, flattened steel furniture, white cubed furniture with storage, rustic and wooden furniture. Chairs in accent colors, Egg chairs and those with metal and Cerused wood are popular, along with luxurious velvet couches, upholstered headboards and marble tabletops. Lighting includes brass and copper fixtures, RLM lighting and minimalist LED lighting.

Home Furnishings Accessories

While dorm-goers focus more on décor purchases, both on- and off-campus students accessorize their living quarters. Simple and functional designs dominate the current market with storage mirrors, storage ottomans and lamps with storage cups. Accessories include artificial plants, candles, plain mirrors, string lights, wall art in floating frames, felt letter signs, acrylic décor, pottery and pillows with typography.

Ikea recently released its 20 most popular college dorm items of 2017. A sampling of items includes:

  • Raskog utility cart in black — the rolling cart easily fits in small spaces and offers a variety of uses from nightstand to makeshift pantry. The DRAGGAN cart designed for bathroom storage also made the list.
  • KALLAX shelf unit — the cubed piece allows for customization and simple storage.
  • VAGGIS notice board — in line with the message board trend.
  • LINNMON/ ADILS white table — adheres to minimalistic aesthetics.
  • SKUBB organizer, SKUBB box with compartments and SKUBB storage case — closet and storage organizer staples.

How to Stay Relevant 

The end of summer marks the beginning of back-to-school home furnishings and décor shopping for college students. Dealers who provide products that meet the demographic’s preferences can drive up sales and customer satisfaction. In addition, dealers can create positive customer experiences by implementing CrossCheck’s Multiple Check service.

This simple payment solution allows dealers to work with customers to establish an agreed upon payment plan. Customers write 2 – 4 checks that are deposited by dealers over a 30-day period. Customers take home their items on the day of purchase, but receive a little extra time to replenish their accounts. Meanwhile, dealers increase sales and receive guaranteed funding as each approved check is deposited. To learn more, download our free guide.

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Topics: Home Furnishings

Written by Jessica Beaudry

Inbound Marketer at CrossCheck.