Following a challenging year in 2025, the Austrian office furniture market is set to stabilise in 2026 as companies begin redesigning their work environments to create attractive alternatives to working from home. Height-adjustable sit-stand workstations alone are expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% through 2029 – significantly faster than the overall market. However, the real recovery is still ahead: for 2027, a marked acceleration in growth is anticipated, with the market projected to expand by 6.3% year-on-year.

The Austrian market is expected to grow by a moderate 1.0% to EUR 262.3 million in 2026, following a decline of 7.9% in the previous year – a sign that confidence is returning, albeit cautiously. The slow start reflects the fact that, after a year of postponed investments, companies are still weighing whether to reinvest in office space, while construction activity is only gradually picking up. Central and Eastern Europe is recovering much faster: the CEE office furniture market is forecast to grow by 5.3% in 2026, reaching EUR 1.25 billion, supported by stronger underlying economic growth and a more active construction sector across the region.

The two markets are also developing in different directions. Austria is the more ergonomics-focused market, where sit-stand workstations already account for 9.4% of sales, compared to just 2.5% in Central and Eastern Europe. This segment is experiencing the strongest growth in Austria, alongside lounge seating, which is designed to encourage informal interaction between colleagues. In contrast, the CEE market remains more traditional, with swivel chairs alone accounting for 31.7% of total sales.

The sales structures highlight another divide between the two markets. In Austria, almost 59% of office furniture sales are made directly from manufacturers to customers, which is a distinctive feature of the Austrian market. In Central and Eastern Europe, direct sales account for only 39.7%. “In the medium term, the CEE region has very strong growth potential, as there is a trend towards higher-quality solutions. There is still plenty of room for growth,” says Frederik Lehner, Managing Director of InterConnection.

In the coming years, competition will increasingly shift from products to workplace concepts. Manufacturers will need to offer solutions that combine ergonomics, flexibility and digital integration while also addressing growing customer price sensitivity. At the same time, the office is evolving into a place that fosters collaboration and corporate culture rather than simply providing desks and chairs.

Looking ahead, both markets are expected to continue growing through 2029: Austria is projected to reach a market volume of EUR 303.1 million, while the CEE market is expected to approach EUR 1.46 billion, driven by ongoing investments in modern work environments and the continuing recovery of office construction activity.

30/06/2026

Copyright: Interconnection, Publication free of charge for coverage regarding the study and InterConnection Consulting.