HIGH POINT, N.C. — Over the coming year, more than half (59%) of consumers plan to buy outdoor furniture or accessories. That’s according to the International Casual Furnishings Association’s annual 2025 Outdoor Living Trend Report.
The research, conducted independently by Wakefield Research, revealed that 77% of consumers do not spend as much time outside at home as they would like to and 54% have little or no outdoor furnishings or need to replace everything. Overall, 85% of households have some type of outdoor space, be it a porch, patio, balcony or deck.
After making updates to the outdoor space they use for personal time, people will do more relaxing (72%), spending time with family and friends (60%), eating alfresco (55%), socializing (48%) and entertaining (44%).
The survey found that 59% of respondents plan to purchase new outdoor furniture or accessories for their space in 2025, with 39% planning to purchase multiple pieces of décor. Millennials are especially likely to make purchases (76%).
When it comes to purchasing furnishings for their outdoor living space, 57% give precedence to buying exactly what they want, even if it means paying more, while 43% will purchase at a discount, even if the pieces are not exactly what they want.
The survey revealed that 80% of consumers have at least one item on a wish list. Top items this year include lounge chairs, lighting, fire pit/outdoor fireplace, shade products such as an umbrella or pergola, dining table/chairs, accent pieces such as benches and porch swings, sofas, rugs and pillows.
More than half (54%) of people with outdoor spaces either have little to no furniture at all or old furniture they need to replace. And 40% have only small upgrades to make.
When buying outdoor furnishings, 67% of respondents prioritize practicality and durability over style (33%).
Aside from money, the biggest barriers to improving one’s outdoor space are cleaning and caring for furnishings (42%) and uncertainty about what they want or need (34%).
“We can practice self-care any time, any day, just by walking outside our front or back doors,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and senior adviser to its outdoor division, ICFA. “Find a favorite spot to read, eat, work or just relax and make it your own outdoor oasis.”
The 2025 research was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and International Casual Furnishings Association among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18 and older Jan. 23-28.
