SAN FRANCISCO – A new survey from Chairish, an online vintage furniture, art and home accessories sales service, revealed a transformational shift in designer buying habits towards vintage home furnishings.
“Design lovers have come to appreciate the practical, environmental and style advantages of vintage furnishings,” said Anna Brockway, co-founder and president of Chairish. “Vintage has proven to be the stylish antidote to the supply chain snarl and rising inflation rates impacting the home furnishings industry right now.”
Of the designers surveyed, 70% said they are buying more vintage products today than they were at the same time in 2021.
The popularity of vintage exploded in the past year with 98% of designers using vintage furniture and art in their projects, according to the survey. Of note is the vintage habit among designers in the Southeastern U.S., with 80% of local designers reporting they are buying more vintage today than a year ago. This is an especially influential trend given the population growth that took place in the region over the past two years, according to Brockway.
The survey also revealed that 45% of a typical residential design project budget now goes toward vintage furnishings and décor.
Brockway said demand for vintage furniture is booming for practical reasons, including vintage’s immunity to current supply chain woes and inflationary pressure, its sustainability benefits and the stylish appeal of unique pieces. Designers report that by using vintage furniture they can deliver their clients a one-of-a-kind look that isn’t replicated elsewhere and do so on time and on budget.
“I always start with vintage in my designs and build from there,” said Zoë Feldman, an interior designer based in Washington D.C. “Buying pieces from the past that can never be re-created, and unique is special, and coincidentally, sustainable.”
Survey respondents ranked Chairish as the best source for home furnishings and art, earning the highest score of any resource in the past five years.
Founded in 2013, Chairish is committed to building a more sustainable home industry that’s kinder to the planet and supports the circular economy through the buying and reselling of vintage and antique pieces.
