While some things change, others remain the same. The need for multi-functional, durable furniture remains at the top of developer and owner wish lists when it comes to interiors. But the desired look and feel of this furniture has changed significantly.
Bright, bold furniture pieces are being replaced by muted, more sophisticated designs with a focus on sustainable materials and colors that evoke the feeling of being out in nature. Pops of color remain, but they’re more elevated to capture the eye of design-minded students in keeping with the industry’s push towards higher-end, hotel-inspired design choices for new developments.
And while some supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic still persist, stabilization appears to be on the horizon. But a return to a more normal business environment still won’t be easily achieved, as new adversaries like higher construction costs and a challenging environment for development financing bring on a new set of hurdles for suppliers, owners and developers.
Current Trends
One of the main trends in furniture for student housing has been the use of flexible pieces that can serve multiple functions. “With space often at a premium in student housing, furniture that serves multiple purposes remains highly popular,” says Lisa Dillon, executive vice president of business development with University Furnishings. “This includes beds with storage; desks that can be converted into dining tables; and modular seating that can be rearranged as needed.
Space-saving solutions are also extremely popular with today’s students, according to Andy Rosenband, CEO of Morgan Li. “We’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in design requests for bunk beds and lofted bed solutions, which allow for accommodating more people and amenities in a smaller space,” he says.
And while multifunctional, space-saving furniture remains a focal point for owners and developers, an equal focus on style and comfort has grown in prominence, according to Eden DeGeorge, business development manager and senior designer with D12 Commercial Interiors.
“Online platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are tools students have at their fingertips and these platforms have raised the awareness of what represents good design,” she says. “Because students are more informed and sophisticated with their design aesthetic, they are looking for a well-designed and more aesthetically pleasing living space.”
And this expectation isn’t just for the units themselves, but every part of the property. “There is an increasing expectation for a tighter linkage between the design and personality of common areas and the design aesthetic in student units,” says Dillon. “This trend emphasizes creating a harmonious and cohesive environment throughout the building, reflecting a unified style that enhances the overall living experience.”
Alongside fitting the aesthetic that students are seeking, furnishings should also be designed to enhance student’s lifestyles — specifically where they relate to academic pursuits and technology. “With long study sessions, many students want furniture that can be personalized to fit their preferences, like standing versus sitting desks,” says Ryan Hand, senior vice president of partnerships with Inhabitr. “Since your computer can go anywhere, we are seeing an emphasis on furniture that has built-in charging stations, hidden compartments for storage and a place to sit your much needed coffee, of course.”
The use of custom pieces versus catalog items is gaining momentum as well, according to Rosenband. “We’re seeing an increase in demand for unique furniture and finishes,” he says. “We offer a ‘Make It Your Own’ furniture program, which features two customizable options: a flexible bed program and a modular dresser program. Both concepts deliver on the goal of allowing the purchaser to customize the finish, configuration and accessories to create an experience that’s unique to their target audience and fits their individual needs.”
Aesthetic Shifts
While splashier colors and bold pieces were popular in recent years, the preferred design aesthetic for students is becoming more neutral. “I’ve observed a distinct evolution in the color palettes and designs preferred by developers of student housing,” says Daniel Goldman, CEO of Ecologic Furniture. “Previously, there was a strong inclination towards vibrant and bold colors, often reflecting a desire to stand out,” he says. “Recently there has been a notable shift towards more muted, neutral tones and minimalistic designs.”
Goldman notes that this shift might be indicative of the influence of broader design trends or a collective move towards designs that are more universally appealing and less distracting. “It’s fascinating to see how the preferences change and evolve over time, mirroring broader cultural and technological shifts,” he adds.
Currently this includes the use of earthy and natural tones with some splashes of bold — but cohesive — colors. “We are seeing a lot of sage green (my favorite color), terracotta and warm browns inspired by nature,” says DeGeorge. “Although the overall palette might be muted, designers are including bold accents like emerald green, blush pink, lavender, blues and pops of purple.”
These color choices reflect student’s desire for a space that is relaxing and allows them to destress after a long day, according to Hand. “Most students want to live in a calming environment that alleviates stress as soon as you step into it,” he says. “Lighter wood color tones or powder coated metal colors can offer a great neutral tone that they won’t get tired of. But don’t be afraid to play around with pops of color. Rather than sticking with a traditional black, adding a touch of blue or yellow can add a little personality without overwhelming a smaller space.”
And it doesn’t stop with natural colors — textures that evoke the feeling of being out in nature are also growing in popularity. Incorporating natural materials like wood and rattan add warmth and a touch of nature to interiors, according to Dillon.
Furniture pieces that offer more of an open concept are also growing in popularity, according to Kris Benson, director of sales with Dickson Furniture Manufacturers. “We’re seeing less doors and drawers on accent pieces like nightstands and entertainment units, in lieu of more open design concepts,” he says.
Overcoming Challenges
It’s no secret that the past few years have been challenging from a new development standpoint, both in commercial real estate at large and the student housing sector. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a myriad of supply chain challenges that the industry is just now beginning to stabilize from.
“While the worst of the pandemic-related supply chain disruptions are behind us, challenges like container availability and longer lead times persist,” says Abe Ash, co-founder of InterSpaceLiving. “We mitigate these issues by diversifying our sources and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and logistics partners. We are optimistic that supply chain challenges will stabilize within the next six months to 12 months.”
Dillon of University Furnishings agrees, noting that material shortages, logistical delays and cost fluctuations are still rearing their ugly heads. “We are still seeing occasional shortages of key materials, such as types of wood and metal,” she says. “Shipping and transportation can still face delays — particularly with international freight — and prices for raw materials have seen significant price fluctuations, which impacts budgeting and planning.”
But these price increases have not been as hard hitting from the supplier standpoint, according to Curt Christian, president and CEO of Function First Furniture. “Developers are facing a larger challenge in the cost for dirt and to build,” he says. “Furniture, however, has not gone up that much from a pricing standpoint. The rising interest rates have obviously put a squeeze on everyone’s profits, so we’ve had to raise prices, but not tremendously.”
Much of this increase can be attributed to the cost of freight — specifically on land, according to Christian. “We’re finding that land freight has gone up much more than ocean freight, so we have been redesigning our products to cost less to move,” he says. “We’ve also found that we can lower costs if we source a lot of the raw materials ourselves.”
But ocean freight is not exempt from rising costs, according to Rosenband of Morgan Li. “Ocean freight has skyrocketed recently, making it difficult to accurately price materials for future orders, and unfortunately this might just be the beginning of the problem when it comes to increases in ocean freight. We don’t know if there is a ceiling,” he adds. “That said, our strategy of maintaining manufacturing redundancy enables us to shift towards domestic production as necessary.”
As developers have to spend more to get a new project out of the ground, this can mean a smaller slice of the financing pie goes towards interiors. “Higher construction costs have sometimes led developers to scale back their furniture packages,” says DeGeorge of D12. “Certain pieces — such as bedside tables, headboards and footboards, additional bar seating and accent chairs — are the first to go. “
Balancing developer’s budget constraints and a demand for higher quality furnishings presents a separate challenge for furniture suppliers. “Economic uncertainy has led to tighter budgets for many institutions and developers, and there is also a higher demand for durable, cost-effective furniture that offers good value for the money,” says Dillon.
Focusing on the sustainability of your products can offer a solution to this challenge. “There is a significant push towards eco-friendly materials and sustainable manufacturing practices, like the use of recycled materials, biodegradable products and energy efficient production methods,” Dillon adds. “These sustainable solutions have the added benefit of offering long-term cost savings when applied correctly.”
Regardless of your budget, in order to get the most out of furnishings for an existing community or new development in the current environment it’s important for owners and developers to plan ahead. “In most cases, furniture gets installed last, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to start discussing your furniture needs,” says DeGeorge. “We recommend getting orders placed in September or October of the year prior to delivery to lock in pricing and work out any design ideas and testing required on new products.”
—Katie Sloan
This article was originally published in the July/August 2024 issue of Student Housing Business magazine.