Sizzling Trends of Houseware - ttnet Marketing Blog

Sizzling Trends of Houseware October 18, 2007

Posted by wenbi in : Houseware , trackback

ttnet.net - [2006/01/24]

More is More
The cocooning trend, which dominated the home furnishings and housewares market for the past 20 years, is waning as luxury consumers turn their energy beyond the home to reconnect with the outside world. Instead, we see a new maxim- more is more, which is elaborated in colors, materials and decorations. This newborn strength, not merely a concept, encourages indulging in luxury and opulence, in quenching our thirst for romanticism, security and warmth. No more sobriety, coolness and purism. Here we see a lot in Tendence Lifestyle 2005. For example, rich décors grace porcelain, glass, textiles and furniture with mystical mauve and somber black and red combinations serving to focus on opulent grandeur. Crystal chandeliers, glass, colored light and reflections cast glamour to the home. Baroque and Art Deco elements are vivid in both form and ornamentation, with up-and-coming materials and trendy colors to bring a purely new look. Black is a must when it comes to luxurious ambiance, enabling an element of drama.

Natural and Outdoor
The desire for returning to nature is reflected on the latest topical shapes and materials such as tree branch candlesticks, dishes, in tree-trunk look, laminated coconut shells and jellyfish shaped bags and lamps. Organic designs are still fashionable for china and glass. Natural colors also jump to the appearance of Houseware. According to a survey, product color evokes a strong emotional response from consumers and is a major factor in more than 60% of purchases. Diversified shades of brown, warm red, amber and honey decorate styling houseware with seasonal hues and scenes for autumn and winter. Summertime green and floral decorations are seen on dishes, cushions and oversized vases, which refresh people and add new life into the house. The most popular color combinations are apple to meadow green with white with shades of yellow and orange being used to set accents. Leaves and blossoms are painted on porcelain and glass products to bring people’s imagination outside the house by blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Bowls and vases serve as herb beds with simple solutions available with automatic watering.

Retro & Nostalgia
This resurgence of nostalgic elements is consistence with times of economic uncertainty. Retro and nostalgia trend also echoes with people’s getting tire of mass-produced stuffs as a return to luxury. The good old time reminds us of memorable bygone life, inspiriting things that will be fashionable tomorrow in the modern world. Nostalgia theme keeps digging deeper into the past in search of quality, class, and harmony. Accessories from our grandmother’s era, including decorated biscuit dishes and ornately printed tablecloths, are making a comeback. Although stainless steel grows popular, a cookware old-timer is making new waves. The most common metal for pots and pans in the Western world was iron until the 20th century but as new materials occupied the kitchen, this long-standing cooking material started to retract. Nevertheless, with improved technology and education on its proper uses, this old favorite is finding its way back into favor. Now, old-fashioned cast iron frying pans come back and sell well just like in the days when our grandma used to be. The old-fashioned black cast-iron pans hold heat well and it doesn’t cool down when putting the meat in it, it simply sears, and meat caramelizes beautifully. It also ensures evenly cooked cakes and breads.

Healthy Eating
The desire to eat healthier is still a focus. According to an American survey, 27% of people say they are conscious of calories in their meals, the highest level since 1999. Obviously, overweight is a global issue. People are aware that frequent eating-outs may result in overweight. For eating healthier, they turn to eat at home more, which drives more interests in learning how to cook healthier at home. That sounds good news for cookware and tableware industries. To avoid mindless munching, experts even suggest people make a conscious choice to sit down and savor every bite. Placing a portion of chips on delicate china, dishes or with silverware help transfer the attention on tableware rather than eating the whole. Top quality hand-crafted products are clearly distinguishable as such and special value is placed on a quality feel. Anything that provides a more flexible attitude towards eating will continue to be popular.