The lighting category weathered tariffs and economic uncertainty this year to generate slightly increased sales of both lamps and fixed lighting, according to Home Accents Today’s exclusive Universe Report, a state-of-the-industry survey.
Sales of lamps, which account for roughly 9% of total home accents sales, increased an estimated 0.6%, to $7.76 billion, compared to sales of $7.71 billion in 2024. Sales percentages did not change much in the top channels of distribution, which include discount and off-price stores and home improvement/warehouse clubs. Lamp sales dipped ever so slightly for traditional furniture stores but remained steady for lighting showrooms. Sales decreased by double-digits in the craft/fabric store channel (-13.5%) as well as in the “other” category (-14.3%).
Fixed lighting performed very much the same, notching 0.7% sales growth in 2025. Sales in the category were an estimated $5.62 billion in 2025, compared to $5.58 billion last year. Home improvement centers and warehouse clubs, as well as e-commerce channels, saw 1% sales growth while traditional furniture store sales of fixed lighting were down 1.7% and those in the “other” category decreased 13.2%. Lighting showrooms saw a roughly 0.8% sales gain.
Leah Fahey, a marketing specialist for Chelsea House, noted lighting was a strong focus for the company and continues to perform exceptionally well. For 2026, she said, “we plan to build on that momentum and further expand our lighting offerings.”
“Lighting remains an exciting category for us,” said Robin Daniel, vice president-marketing with Arteriors, and contributed to “a solid finish in 2025.” WAC Group, a lighting company that includes brands that span a good/better/best strategy, saw sales of its high-end Schonbek brand, “go through the roof,” said RJ LeFleur, managing director. Meanwhile sales at Modern Forms, which is a step below Schonbek, were flatter. The lower end, said LeFleur, is the “first to go, last to come back” in part because there is more competition in that segment.
Brad Kleinberg, president at Crystorama, said their business experienced single-digit growth. “Even in challenging times, things are OK,” he said. Others in the lighting business characterized business as flat in 2025 but see some recovery ahead. “It hasn’t been a great year, but moderate,” said Bob Ross, vice president of sales for Kalco. “Hopefully 2026 will be better.”
Total home accents sales across seven categories will rise to an estimated $86.1 billion this year, up 1.2% over 2024’s $85.06 billion mark, according to the 2025 Universe Report. More information about that report can be found here.
