Furniture sales results in the French market in 2025

In decline since 2022, the French furniture market recorded another year of falling sales in 2025 (-1.8% compared to the previous year), totaling €13.6 billion. Despite the downward trend, there are clear signs of stabilization and preparation for a recovery phase, with the kitchen segment and specialized retail emerging as the drivers of this dynamic.
According to a study recently published by the Institut de la Maison, after declines of -2.5% in 2023 and -5.1% in 2024, the market fell by “only” 1.8% in value in 2025, corresponding to a loss of around €250 million. This is a return to levels close to those of 2019 (€13.4 billion), interpreted by the association as a sign of stabilization after two years of crisis in a traditionally cyclical market. The change was particularly noticeable in the second half of the year: after a first half in which sales fell by 4%, the second half saw slight growth (around +0.5%), with five consecutive months of positive performance between July and November.

The kitchen segment is the only one showing growth, with +2% in value and an estimated turnover of around €3.8 billion, benefiting from strong communication campaigns and sustained demand for fitted kitchens. Meuble meublant (living room furniture, storage, etc.) remains the main segment in terms of value (around 32% of the market, equivalent to €4.3 billion), but is the worst performer, with a decline of -4%. The increase in second-hand sales, new types of housing (with the popularization of fitted kitchens), and the decline in the birth rate—with the consequent drop in sales of furniture for nurseries—are some of the factors pointed out by the association. Bedding items fell by 2.7%, after being one of the most dynamic segments in 2023–2024, despite good performance in the larger ranges (160 cm and above). Segments such as garden and bathroom furniture also recorded declines (-3.8% and -3%, respectively).
Specialized retail is the only channel showing growth, at +1.6%, driven mainly by kitchen specialists (+4.6%) and bedding specialists, benefiting from the opening of new stores. Large retailers (Ikea, Conforama, But, Maisons du Monde, Alinéa, among others) are in decline (-2.7%), penalized by the drop in “meuble meublant.” Mid-range/high-end chains recorded the biggest decline among retailers (-3.8%). Pure players in e-commerce furniture also saw a decline (-3.4%), pressured by competition from brand websites with physical stores and the entry of new Asian discounters such as Temu and Shein.
The outlook for 2026 points to a gradual recovery in sales, especially given the signs coming from construction and real estate. The latest data indicate a significant increase in key indicators, with building permits up 13.5% and construction starts up almost 28% in October 2025, although still at historically low levels. This dynamic, combined with the stabilization of purchasing power—more controlled inflation, falling interest rates, and a recovery in transactions in the used real estate market—should translate into a gradual strengthening of demand for furniture associated with moving house, renovations, and the refurbishment of kitchens and living areas.
For Portuguese companies, the most interesting opportunities arise where these movements intersect with structural trends in the French market: integrated kitchen furniture and custom storage solutions for more compact layouts; mid- to high-end bedding and seating focused on comfort and well-being; functional, lightweight, and modular furniture adapted to open and smaller spaces; and proposals with a strong emphasis on sustainability and traceability, capable of differentiate itself from Asian discounters and capture the interest of specialized retailers, currently the most dynamic sales channel.