Furniture as a Service: key insights to leverage the rise of rental and the subscription economy

Rent or buy? How the subscription economy and 'Furniture as a Service' are revolutionizing residential and commercial spaces

If you've ever wondered whether it makes sense to invest in furniture for life or opt for the convenience of renting to adapt to every life or professional stage, you're not alone. The subscription economy and models known as “Furniture as a Service” (FaaS) are rapidly gaining ground in America, Europe, and especially Asia. This phenomenon, far beyond a passing trend, marks a turning point in how we design, inhabit, and manage spaces. I invite you to dive into this new wave with data, experiences, and a critical perspective: how does this change life and business in real estate, interior design, and property management?

From "renting" to "subscription living": Why access beats ownership

According to Forbes, nearly 70% of business leaders in consumer goods industries see subscription models as key to the sector’s future growth (link). The mindset shift is clear, driven especially by millennials and Gen Z: they prefer to pay for access, flexibility, and experience rather than ownership, commitment, and burden.

How does this translate to real estate and interior design? New consumption and coexistence models are opening: from the rise of co-living homes with furniture included in the monthly fee, to offices and shops ready to use, with all services and styling included. Even IKEA has launched its own furniture subscription model in some pilot markets. The reason? Customers not only look for functionality but frequent renewal, personalization, and zero worries about maintenance or logistics.

Market data: The global boom in furniture rental and subscription

In 2024, the global furniture rental services market reached a significant share with Asia-Pacific leading growth (48.48%), thanks to urban migration, new online platforms, and emerging demand in urban centers of China and India (source). In North America, the boom mainly translates into partnerships between office owners, coworking spaces, and rental platforms offering turnkey spaces with flexible furnishings and design. The coronavirus accelerated the phenomenon: making resilience and adaptability a virtue became the norm.

In Latin America, the model is starting to take off especially in short-stay segments, corporate housing, and new offerings for students and digital nomads.
The market size is expected to grow between 8%-10% annually by 2032, driven by digitalization and the emergence of brands specialized in personalization and sustainability.

What is “Furniture as a Service” (FaaS) and who does it make sense for?

“Furniture as a Service” goes beyond one-off rentals or professional home staging. It’s a flexible, personalized model in which the user accesses quality furniture as part of a subscription: they pay a recurring fee, can renew, upgrade, return, or even buy the furniture at the end of the cycle. Maintenance, transportation, and even replacement due to wear are covered by the provider. (learn more)

For landlords and developers: it simplifies management and increases rental income. Well-designed furnished spaces achieve rents up to 20% higher, reduce turnover, and attract a wider audience.
For offices and coworkings: the demand for flexible spaces with a refreshed image is key in the post-pandemic market.
For tenants and digital nomads: the ability to change city or lifestyle without the burden of costly moves or unnecessary purchases.
For brands and designers: the chance to create circular collections, test new products in real-time, and strengthen loyalty with the end user.

Advantages (and limits) for each profile: who benefits from subscription models?

Tenants: Can furnish homes, offices, or shops without a large upfront investment and easily change styles. They gain freedom and mobility (goodbye to endless moves!).
Property owners: Increase profitability, reduce vacancy time, and professionalize the offer by including “furniture as an amenity” that differentiates their apartments, homes, or shops on portals and visits (reference)
Companies and coworking managers: Adapt faster to demand changes, scaling common areas, offices, or rooms without tying up capital and keeping the image fresh.
Interior designers and decorators: Test proposals on-site, offer temporary environments or scale pop-up projects without being stuck with unused pieces or over-investing.
Manufacturers and brands: Ensure recurring income flow, recover products after each cycle, and strengthen bonds with consumers, combining analytics and feedback for agile iterations.

However, not everything is ideal: reverse logistics, durability of pieces under intensive use, inventory management, and the perception of freshness and personalization still pose challenges in regions where infrastructure and usage culture are less developed.

Direct effects on interior design and architecture: spaces that transform, narratives that evolve

FaaS and subscription models impose a new design paradigm: adaptation and mobility are at the center of the experience. As an interior designer or architect, I increasingly work with the premise that furniture must be versatile, easy to reconfigure, and often capable of expressing a clear identity during a specific life cycle (for example, in temporary housing for executives or ephemeral commercial spaces).

Color palettes and materials must respond to intensive use and increasingly shorter fashion cycles.
Priority is given to flexible modules, easily storable pieces, and eco-labels that allow product traceability.
Home staging and real estate marketing embrace the narrative of “real-time transformation,” aided by hyper-realistic renders and visualizations to “sell the experience” even before the space physically exists. In this regard, tools like Redesign and Deptho’s Fill Room mark a before and after in marketing flexible spaces.

Is everything flexibility? Operational, logistical, and perception limits and challenges

Criticism and complications are not hidden under the rug: having furniture always “impeccable” and ready involves maintenance, cleaning, and replacement costs. Not to mention reverse logistics: efficient recovery, refurbishment, and redistribution make the difference between a scalable business and one that sinks in unforeseen costs. From experience, a crucial point lies in communication. Some user profiles perceive furniture rental as a “less personalized” or temporary solution. Hence the importance of building brands and catalogs that allow selecting styles, combining accessories, and creating a personal visual story. Beyond the contract, aspiration and belonging are sold, even under someone else’s roof.

Practical guide: key tips for real estate agents, interior designers, and landlords wanting to capitalize on this wave

Think about the life cycle: invest in durable pieces, with repair warranties, and easy-to-maintain materials. Successful FaaS requires furniture that withstands multiple uses without losing appeal.
Offer options, not impositions: create themed packs (“work from home,” “urban mini loft,” “pet-friendly space”) that meet different needs, but allow adding or removing elements as needed.
Leverage technology: use 3D visualization platforms or virtual staging to show the space's potential (you can check out Fill Room or our article on real estate photography to boost sales).
Communicate sustainability: select and communicate material certifications (FSC/PEFC, recycled textiles) and the traceability of your inventory. Green perception is increasingly valued, especially by tenants from new generations.
Control the experience: meet delivery times, maintain high post-sale service quality, and use customer feedback to optimize catalog and usage instructions.

Challenges and opportunities for brands and manufacturers: how to rethink product and business?

Adopting FaaS means not just “renting,” but digitizing inventory, managing real-time availability, ensuring quality after each cycle, and redesigning packaging/logistics to facilitate returns. It also opens the door to circular design: products conceived from the start for multiple life cycles, with replaceable parts, recyclable materials, and timeless aesthetics.

The learning is twofold: the opportunity lies not only in the product but also in the service. Relationship tracking, digital footprint, and process automation become essential to stand out to customers who value transparency and agility.

Is the future only for digital nomads and millennials? Other use cases and expandable markets

The general perception is that “renting furniture” is only useful for young people hopping from one place to another. But reality is much broader: companies needing temporary offices in volatile markets, families in transition, pilot projects in retail, or even educational institutions needing to adapt spaces for new methodologies. Even in the luxury segment, boutique brands of designer furniture for premium events, fairs, or high-ticket homes are growing, offering personalized curation and tailored experiences.

What’s next? 5 predictions on the future of FaaS and “subscription living”

Integration with visualization platforms and digital twins will become standard, allowing customers to see and decide their space before signing the contract.
Circularity and sustainable economy will become essential quality labels, in both brands and inventory/materials management.
The “hybrid” offer will expand: customers will be able to choose between traditional rental, mixed models (rent-to-own), and customized subscriptions, even combining used and new furniture according to aesthetic and budget needs.
We will see collaborative catalogs between furniture brands, independent designers, and digital interior design platforms, with co-creation experiences.
Artificial intelligence will facilitate wear prediction, inventory management, and personalization, impacting not only user experience but also model profitability.

How to apply learnings today? Cases and final recommendations

If you manage properties, are a designer, or face the question of whether to join the “subscription wave” in furniture or not, here’s a summary of applicable keys:

Start small: test with one or two pilot apartments, measure impact on profitability and user satisfaction, and refine your offer before scaling.
Collaborate with interior designers and digital visualization experts to create attractive catalogs; personalizing and communicating well is as important as logistics.
Don’t lose focus on the end user: the era of experience — convenience, support, and feedback — not just aesthetics or price.
If you need to prepare professional visuals or want to explore digital mockups for your listings, try Fill Room and other Deptho tools.

Personally, some of the best projects I have participated in (both residential and commercial) arose under the pressure of “moving a space” in record time. It was in these processes where I truly saw the value of having flexible furniture, agile services, and an open mindset towards collaboration between real estate agencies, providers, and creative users.

Ready to think beyond ownership? The subscription economy and Furniture as a Service invite us to create and inhabit spaces that adapt both to market rhythms and the real lives of people and businesses. At Deptho, we believe that design and technology, well applied, can make your process faster, more profitable, and happier. If you want to keep exploring innovation, check out other blog articles or take the leap to virtual staging to experience what’s new.