Something’s pushing you to explore furniture-as-a-service business models — maybe it's the shift in consumer habits, maybe it’s the new wave of policy changes, or maybe it's just a hunch that the current model won’t cut it much longer.

Just this past year, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was adopted by the EU, requiring products (including furniture) to be designed for durability, repairability, and recyclability, with a Digital Product Passport to track environmental impact.

There’s also the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which went into effect in late 2024, mandating companies prove that their products don’t contribute to deforestation — a major factor for furniture manufacturers.

And across the board, the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan is pushing industries toward product reuse, waste reduction, and new circular business models.

So maybe it wasn’t a hunch after all — maybe it was just a matter of reading the room (and the latest policy updates).

What is furniture-as-a-service

At its core, Furniture-as-a-Service is about giving people access to furniture — without the “own it forever” factor. But in reality, it can take many forms. It could mean renting a couch for a few months while relocating, subscribing to high-quality office furniture for your team, or using flexible plans that make premium pieces more accessible without the upfront investment.

And from a business perspective, it flips the traditional model. Instead of selling a product once and losing touch, companies retain ownership, keep the product in circulation, and create new revenue streams — whether through refurbishment, reuse, or resale. It’s a model that aligns profit with sustainability, and access with responsibility.

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How did as-a-service models start

But the idea didn’t start with furniture. In fact, the roots of the “as-a-service” model go back years — to industries like lighting, where companies like Philips pioneered Lighting-as-a-Service. Instead of selling light fixtures, they kept ownership and charged customers for the light they used. It was a smart shift: customers paid only for the outcome, while the company took responsibility for maintaining and reusing the product. That logic — pay for access, not ownership — has since spread across industries.

Fast forward to 2024, and we now have Car-as-a-Service, Bike-as-a-Service, Device-as-a-Service, even Kids’ gear-as-a-Service. And yes — Furniture-as-a-Service. Basically any product can be converted to as-a-service business model and be product-as-a-service.

How furniture-as-a-service looks in reality

As mentioned above, while the core idea of furniture as a service is to provide access without ownership, in reality, it can take many different forms. Let's take a look at a few examples:

• Fernish (US) offers urban renters access to stylish, modular furniture on a monthly subscription basis. Their service is designed for flexibility — customers can swap, return, or buy the furniture later. It’s built around convenience and design-forward living for people who move often.
• Furlenco (India) provides furniture and appliances on a monthly rental basis, often bundled for entire rooms or apartments. Their model is driven by affordability and lifestyle needs — perfect for students, young professionals, or couples setting up a home without long-term commitments.
• CORT (US), on the other hand, focuses on corporate and relocation services, renting out furniture for temporary housing, offices, and events. It’s less about consumer lifestyle and more about business utility and operational ease.
• Pickawood (Germany) combines made-to-measure furniture craftsmanship with flexible subscription offerings for businesses. They enable office spaces to upgrade or rotate furniture without investing in permanent fixtures — a tailored, high-quality version of FaaS that suits the B2B market.
• Lyght Living (Netherlands) specialises in furnishing short-stay and mid-stay apartments through rental and subscription services. They help property owners and managers create ready-to-live-in spaces without the upfront cost of furnishing.
• Room (US) sells soundproof office pods, but also offers them via subscription. It’s a great example of a niche furniture product adapted for the as-a-service economy, especially for hybrid workplaces looking for agility.

So while the underlying idea is the same — use instead of own — the execution varies. Some businesses focus on affordability, others on premium access. Some serve individuals, others target businesses. And that flexibility is what makes the model so powerful.

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Where furniture-as-a-service is actually used

As the furniture industry moves toward circularity and flexibility, it’s becoming clear that Furniture-as-a-Service isn’t limited to one type of customer or use case. What began as a way to offer convenience to urban renters has evolved into a strategic solution across sectors.

The reason is simple: owning furniture in the traditional sense no longer aligns with how people live, work, and operate businesses today. Whether it’s the rise of hybrid work, the need for rapid scalability, or the shift to short-term living and hosting models, FaaS offers a level of agility that static ownership can’t match.

From private homes to high-traffic hospitality spaces, and from real estate staging to trade shows, Furniture-as-a-Service is being applied in ways that reduce risk, increase adaptability, and extend the useful life of products.

Here’s a breakdown of where it’s being used:

1. Private Use: Flexibility and Convenience

For individuals and families, FaaS provides an affordable and flexible way to furnish homes — whether for a short lease, a transitional living situation, or just to avoid the commitment of owning bulky furniture. It’s especially popular among students, digital nomads, and younger generations prioritising convenience and sustainability.

2. Commercial Use

Businesses use FaaS to equip offices, coworking spaces, and hybrid work environments. Instead of buying and depreciating office furniture, companies can scale up or down easily, respond to changing team sizes, and avoid large upfront costs.

3. Real Estate Staging

Property developers and realtors use furniture subscriptions to stage homes or apartments without investing in permanent furniture. It's a smart way to showcase space potential while keeping costs low and styles up to date.

4. Hospitality & Co-living

Hotels, serviced apartments, and co-living operators use FaaS to keep spaces furnished, fresh, and flexible. Instead of replacing worn-out furniture every few years, they subscribe to constantly updated setups — often bundled with maintenance and replacement services.

5. Events & Exhibitions

For trade shows, conferences, and pop-ups, furniture rental has long been the go-to. FaaS providers often specialise in modular, easy-to-move setups that can be reused across different events — reducing waste and cost.

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Is furniture-as-a-service the right model for your business?

If you're thinking about offering furniture-as-a-service, you're not just exploring a trend — you're evaluating a shift in how your business creates value, manages inventory, and builds customer relationships.

But before jumping in, it’s worth asking the hard questions. Here are a few expert insights to help frame your decision:

1. Your product needs to survive multiple rental cycles

Bugaboo, which offers strollers as a service, made one thing clear: subscription and rental models make the most sense for high-quality, durable products. Why? Because you're not generating revenue from a one-time sale — you're relying on the product going through multiple rental cycles. If the quality isn’t there, the economics break down quickly.

2. Plan upfront for returns, swaps, and second life

If your model includes swaps, upgrades, or any scenario where the product comes back to you — you need to know exactly what happens next.
Bike Club, a kids’ bike subscription service, built this into their operations from day one. They knew they'd get bikes back, so they developed an in-house repair and refurbishment team and a warehouse operation for cleaning, packaging, and storing returned bikes. It’s not just logistics — it’s a core part of making the model work.

3. Customers need to clearly see the added value

Most consumers will compare the cost of renting vs. buying. And often, renting looks more expensive on paper. That’s why it’s crucial to create a clear perception of added value.
As Circuly notes in this article, customers will only choose the subscription option if the value they perceive — in terms of service, convenience, flexibility, or support — outweighs the price difference.

4. Are your competitors already offering it?

Sometimes the strongest signal is what's happening around you. If direct or adjacent competitors have already launched rental or subscription offerings, that’s a cue worth paying attention to. It could mean they’re seeing early demand — or trying to differentiate with a circular model. Either way, it may indicate that your customers are ready for it too.

5. Can you bundle the physical product with valuable services?

Renting furniture isn’t just about skipping the purchase — it’s about removing friction. Think delivery, setup, ongoing maintenance, easy swaps, or even style updates. The more you can layer in meaningful services, the more your offer becomes a no-brainer for customers — especially when compared to the cost and hassle of ownership.

These questions are just the starting point. If you’re seriously considering whether a subscription or rental model could work for your furniture business, we’ve put together a deeper set of FAQ-style questions that cover everything from product lifecycle to operations, pricing, and customer readiness.

Check out the full list here (no download needed):
Key Questions to Determine if a Subscription Model is Right for Your Business →

It’s not a gated resource or downloadable PDF — just a practical, scrollable guide to help you evaluate if this model makes sense for your business.