How Tariffs Are Shaping Interior Design—And What That Means for Buying Local

Lately, we’ve received a wave of updates from vendors about US tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory measures. The bottom line? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but that’s where experience and industry relationships matter.

Here are some of our observations from across the design world.

1. Pricing Is Changing—But Not Everywhere

Many of our suppliers operate in both Canada and the US. We can often access pre-tariff pricing if there is existing stock in the Canadian warehouse. Some products ship from the US but aren’t made in the US—meaning no tariffs apply. Knowing these details can save our clients thousands of dollars.

Wallpaper and fabric vendors have been especially generous, honouring old pricing until things stabilize. Because materials are sourced globally—from Belgium to France to Asia—it’s not always clear how tariffs apply. Many vendors are absorbing costs to keep designers and clients supplied.

2. Furniture Is Feeling the Pinch

Higher-end US-made furniture is the most affected. Even before these new tariffs, metal components from China were driving up costs—mostly due to the mechanisms required for swivel and reclining chairs.

But here’s the good news:

• Mid-tier furniture (often imported from Asia) remains mostly unaffected.

• We’ve built strong relationships with Canadian makers—especially here in Ontario—who produce custom wood and upholstered pieces at a high quality.

3. Secondhand Shopping Just Got Smarter

The fast furniture boom (Anthropologie sells vanities now!) has changed the consignment game. It’s no longer just antiques—many shops carry newer, well-made items.

Buying secondhand locally offers:

• Lower prices

• Shorter lead times

• Opportunities to customize (a quick hardware swap or reupholstery goes a long way)

• Unique items

4. Home building supplies

This category is not as straightforward as it seems—and it definitely deserves a deeper dive. We’ll be dedicating a future blog post to this topic to give it the attention it deserves. Stay tuned!