Firms stress flexibility with designs and materials to meet needs of customers
Cocooning is the word used to describe the recent trend, seen particularly in the United States, for people spending more time in their homes with family and friends.
According to trendspotters, this is a result of the uncertainty and fear that followed the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
People began to spend money on making their surroundings more comfortable and better equipped.
Manufacturers of home decor items, cookware and tableware have benefited from this new direction, which has also spread to Europe.
In China, meanwhile, increasing affluence is prompting a section of the population to spend money on their homes. As a result, Hong Kong's houseware industry saw a 66 per cent increase in business with the mainland last year.