Sales of portable lighting and lamps were $1.97B in 2008, down from $2.12B the year before, with most consumers choosing not to update their lamps unless they’d stopped working.

 Sales of wall decor were also down, but the lone bright spot was unconventional framed art, including wrought iron wall hangings, wall-shaped cube art and decorative plaques. It’s this specialty category that’s growing at the fastest rate, reflecting consumers’ desire for more unusual, personal and one-of-a-kind looks inspired by international cultures and flea markets.

While 2009 seems an ideal year to promote home furnishings that are made in America, it’s also seems a good year for retailers to promote accessories that look like they’ve come from somewhere else. Accents that look like they originate in an exotic destination provide an affordable, unique way for consumers to appreciate travel and other cultures, even if their travel budget is limited.

According to Home Furnishings Monitor™, a company that monitors style trends in home furnishings and house-wares, the American home is coming under the influence of a warmed-up contemporary.

At the beginning of the new Millennium, European styles accounted for 48% of home furnishing styles. Contemporary accounted for 21% and American styles 15%.

After 9/11 and throughout the first half of the decade, consumers re-evaluated their lives, choosing to pare back and simplify. Contemporary was the style of choice, climbing to 42% by 2007. European styles fell to 21% and American styles rose to 25%.

By 2010, contemporary style is still expected to lead, accounting for 34% of sales. But American styles are expected to rank a close second at 27% and European styles a close third at 22%.

Contemporary is influencing other styles, but definitions of contemporary are changing. The trend is toward ‘cozy’ style influenced by warmer, cleaner American styles (cute is out, feminine is in), and warm European favorites. French country, Victorian and Art Nouveau styles are growing much faster than formal Regency and neo-classic styles.

Growing stress, plus baby boomers’ continuing issues with back and neck pain, headaches, injuries, arthritis and repetitive strains are spurring the growth of therapeutic-style chairs that go well beyond simple massage mechanisms.

Sales of therapeutic massage chairs were $300M in 2008, up 5.3% from 2007; up 19% from $243M in 2004.

With the 2008 loss of Sharper Images and Linens ‘n Things, massage chair suppliers are now looking for new distribution channels including furniture and consumer electronics stores. Sales are expected to continue strong as new products enter the market at lower price points and styling more suitable for these stores.

With the therapeutic look of these chairs in the past, consumers typically placed them in basements rather than living rooms. But new looks are less bulky and being influenced by home theater-style massage chairs without sacrificing Shiatsu, Swedish and chiropractor features.

In late 2008, Panasonic introduced its first chair under $2,000, and Costco carried its first in-store therapeutic chair at $1388.

Despite the current economic recession, sales of wine and spirits are going strong (a crashed stock market may even be fueling the sales?).

VineExpo announced in January, 2009 that by 2010 the U.S. consumer will become the largest consumer of wine in the world.

As expected, the price of a bottle of wine in 2008 trended down after 2007, a year when luxury wines drew the fastest growth. But consumers have no plans to give up wine in 2009; instead they’re giving up wine with meals at restaurants in favor of buying a bottle at a grocery store or discount club and eating at home.

According to HomeWorldBusiness, in 2008, dollar sales of wine grew 5.8%, with imported wines down slightly. The highest areas of consumption were Oregon (up 13.7%) Washington (up 11.5%) and California (up 5.3%).

What does it means for home furnishings? Wine storage options are expected to sell well, including cellar-like options and dedicated wine storage (refrigerated and non-refrigerated) built into dining room furniture.