Smart and Sustainable Furniture: Consumer Perceptions of Smart Technologies and Circular Materials in Domestic Environments

Abstract

The furniture sector is increasingly integrating smart technologies and sustainability principles, driven by the diffusion of smart home solutions and circular economy practices. While existing literature has largely examined smart homes and sustainable furniture as separate domains, empirical evidence on how consumers jointly perceive smart functionalities and sustainable material attributes in furniture purchasing decisions remains limited. This paper addresses this gap by analysing how domestic routines, sustainability orientations, and perceptions of smart and eco-material attributes influence consumer behaviour. An online survey based on the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method was conducted with 217 Italian consumers over a nine-month period. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, visual analytics, and an exploratory cluster analysis. The findings show that consumers primarily interpret both sustainability and smartness through a functional and user-centred perspective, associating them with tangible benefits such as durability, safety, repairability, comfort, and energy efficiency. Conversely, more abstract environmental attributes and advanced smart technologies display lower levels of awareness and perceived relevance. The cluster analysis identifies two distinct consumer profiles: Functional–Practical Home Users, oriented toward long-term value and performance, and Aesthetics- and Style-Oriented Users, mainly driven by design and visual harmony. By jointly addressing smart technologies, sustainable materials, and domestic practices, the study contributes to research on sustainable consumption and smart home adoption, offering insights for furniture manufacturers, designers, and policymakers involved in the development of smart and sustainable living environments.