Staying Healthy and Warm This Winter

It’s almost cold and flu season in the U.S. — which means it’s prime time for promoting housewares products that help consumers stay healthy and warm. But retailers shouldn’t just rely on tried and true items. In a category where purchases are especially driven by new products and features, it pays to know exactly what products and benefits shoppers are looking for this year.

Breathe Deep, Rest Easy and Keep Germs At Bay

Much has been said about consumers’ desire for comfort and calm in an increasingly chaotic world. As a result, many are seeking out home items like scented candles and weighted blankets that offer psychological comfort.

But traditional home environment products offer a combination of both emotional comfort and physiological benefits. Air purifiers, humidifiers and portable heaters play an important role in creating spaces where people can breathe deeper, rest easier and keep germs at bay.

What Products Consumers Plan to Buy — and Why

According to the International Housewares Association’s State of the Industry Report, air purifiers (41%), humidifiers (32%) and water filters (31%) are the top three home environment products shoppers intend to buy in 2026. They’re followed by portable fans (27%), dehumidifiers (24%) and portable heaters (23%).

Out of the survey’s 15 product categories, home environment had the highest percent (25%) of consumers saying an updated product with new features is what would compel them to buy.

What Features They’re Looking For

What features and benefits will move the needle for home environment purchases? The top three considerations — where respondents said a feature was very or somewhat important — are: easy maintenance (89%), safety (87%) and energy efficiency (84%). Slim/compact design (76%) and no filters (68%) rounded out the top five.

That’s reason to consider products like the Blitz Electric Room Heater from Borosil, which offers five levels of safety protections and an adjustable thermostat to maintain just the ideal warmth. DREO’s new Air Purifier 530S offers 30-day air quality reports (not to mention ambient lighting options), and Crane’s animal-shaped nursery humidifiers feature variable speed settings and whisper-quiet functionality.

And don’t hesitate to look beyond traditional home environment electrics. Pursonic’s Bucket Style Tower Warmer heats and scents bath towels in just 10 minutes (and offers an auto shut-off after 60 minutes). Brio’s 300 Series Countertop Water Cooler — which dispenses both hot and cold water on demand — features a powerful 3-stage filtration system, compact design and self-cleaning technology.

Access purchase intent and more insights on 15 different product categories in MarketOutlook from the International Housewares Association’s 2026 State of the Industry Report.