RV Furniture Becomes More Stylish

Slideouts and other design innovations have made today’s RVs roomier, and that has opened the way for another trend: RV furniture that is bigger and more comfortable.

Michael Santillo, vice president of marketing for the Vehicle Seating Division of Flexsteel Industries, said furniture built for RVs is becoming more stylish and comfortable. Chairs are being built with larger arms, for example, and sofas are getting taller backs.

Customers want their RV furniture to be as comfortable as their furniture at home, Santillo said, and now that many RVs are coming with multiple slideouts, that is easier to accomplish. Curves are replacing the old square designs, and seating is becoming more plush.

All RV furniture used to have low backs because windows in RVs were low and people didn’t want the furniture to block the view. But today people are customizing RVs to meet their needs, and that can open the way for taller furniture.

Another trend is to incorporate more and more functions in each piece of furniture: chairs that recline and contain massage devices, for example, or consoles that have cup holders and multiple storage spaces.

One example of a multi-function unit is the new Sleep Theater Group from Flexsteel. It has a two-seat sofa sleeper, and an individual recliner. The four-foot sofa and recliner are separated by a console that has an armrest with a lift-top storage space that can hold remote controls, game accessories and more. The console also has two large cup holders and a storage area underneath, accessed through a pullout drawer.

The sleeper sofa is equipped with an air coil mattress. The recliner is a wall-away design that allows full layout reclining with the push of a button.

Santillo said the Sleep Theater Group has been very popular with trailer and fifth wheel owners. More popular with motorhome owners is a home theater group that consists of two or three recliner chairs and a console.

Another option from Flexsteel is the versatile Ultra-Flex Relaxation Center. It can be used as a full-size sofa or be pulled apart to become two individual reclining seats with footrests. It also can be used as one large bed or two smaller beds. And it also is designed so that a console can be placed between the two individual seats to provide an armrest, storage and drink holders.

Santillo said that as RVing attracts more and more members of the baby boom generation, several trends are emerging to impact furniture design. Older baby boomers, he said, put a premium on comfort, prefer traditional fabrics and like pieces that match. Younger baby boomers, he said, favor sleek European designs and are more adventurous in blending woods and styles. The task of manufacturers, he said, is to meet all of these needs.

To see products from Flexsteel and other leading furniture manufacturers, visit these RV furniture and interior decoration stores:

ß Custom RV Interiors, 9333 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665. Phone (800) 955-3957 or see www.customrvinteriors.com.

ß Countryside Interiors, 1020 Ivy St., Junction City, OR 97448. Phone (800) 324-6287 or see www.countrysidervinteriors.com

Vehicle Specialty, 726 Rossanely Drive, Medford, OR 97501. Phone (877) 771-5542 or see www.vehiclespecialty.com.