With the pandemic upon us, we’re likely to be spending even more time in our homes. abode asked furniture category manager at Mckenzie & Willis, Jayne Cross-Hunter, to share her insights into how we can cosy-up our homes.

What are the latest trends in furniture?

There’s definitely an overall trend of slowing down and spending more time in our homes. We’re seeing a lot of earthy tones appearing with browns, creams and terracotta accents very much on-trend. It’s less about making your home look like a catalogue and more like a reflection of you and how you like to feel comfortable and authentic.

Shapes of furniture are still curved, but more relaxed and softer than they have been in the last two years. It’s all about cocooning, so instead of the clinical, curved sofas, we are seeing more mushroom and puffed-up shapes emerging.

What about fabrics and textures?

With all this earthiness, we are seeing some amazing natural stone occasional items coming through, such as marble, stone or travertine coffee tables and side tables. Last year it was all about bringing the garden inside, and this year it’s more about bringing in Earth’s minerals.

The natural look of leather is remaining popular, and the textures are continuing with the bouclé fabrics on sofas and armchairs.

Are people getting savvier about the sustainability of their furniture items?

Yes, absolutely! People don’t want their unwanted furniture items to end up in landfill, and typically they want to buy items that last. That’s why at McKenzie & Willis we give a 10-year warranty on all our furniture frames. The very best thing we can do for the environment when buying furniture is to purchase items that will last. I oversee any customer issues with furniture, and I can proudly say we very rarely see our products failing.

We’re also seeing lots of sustainable fabrics on offer. For example, the Clarke & Clarke River fabric range is made from recycled plastic and gives us a great sustainable velvet look. We also stock Design of the Times fabrics from James Dunlop, who uses a lot of hemp. Hemp is also a popular choice now, as it’s beautiful to handle, and every single part of the plant can be used in the making of the fabric.

Because we sell products manufactured in Europe, we are seeing brands that abide by stringent laws around packaging and their environmental impact.

What are the impacts of working from home on our furniture choices?

People can probably relate to the fact that spaces are taking on a multifunctional element. Although some are fortunate enough to have a home office space, many aren’t, so people are repurposing their kitchen bench or table. At McKenzie & Willis, we are seeing a high interest in upholstered chairs and barstools. This season we have invested heavily in our core range of upholstered chairs for that extra comfort when spending time around the table.

And because we are doing more socialising in our homes, we are seeing high-backed barstools becoming very popular. First we had the cocktail trolleys, and now people want buffets and sideboards to do the job of the bar.

What about supply?

Availability of products is really important to people and to us at McKenzie & Willis, so we’ve made sure our core range of furniture products is available now. We have increased our core range substantially this year, stocking up on all the favourites and bringing in some great new designs. All those will be ready to buy for customers who don’t want to wait.

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