Pinterest extends virtual shopping to home décor items

Pinterest users have a new product category they can use augmented reality (AR) to shop for.

The visually-oriented social platform is rolling out Try On for Home Decor, a new feature enabling customers to shop for home decor products they find on Pinterest using AR. This latest AR technology from Pinterest enables consumers to virtually place home décor items from U.S. retailers including Crate & Barrel, CB2, Walmart, West Elm, and Wayfair in their home space using the Pinterest Lens camera, and see how they fit before making a purchase.

Try On for Home Decor is powered by Lens, a Pinterest feature that lets users shop by photo. The service follows the launches of AR-based Try On services for lipstick and eyeshadow products. When browsing home decor products in the iOS or Android app, three dots will appear in the top right corner of “Try On enabled” pins. 

Customers can then click the pin and “Try in your space” to see the virtual product through their camera lens. Shoppers can adjust and place home decor products in their space to envision how they would look, and browse product information within the pin for more details like price. To shop, customers can click the pin to be directed to the checkout page on the retailer’s site.

The virtual home decor experience is launching live across more than 80,000 shoppable pins, while the beauty experience is currently available across 14,000 shoppable pins.

According to Pinterest, users of its platform are five times more likely to purchase from Try On-enabled pins than from standard pins, and Lens camera searches have specifically increased year-over-year by 126%, with Try on for Beauty usage by Gen Z and millennial consumers rising respectively by 28% and 33% year-over-year.

“Since the pandemic began, we're seeing more digitally savvy shoppers than ever before, as millions of people now expect virtual and mobile options to try before they buy, see personalized recommendations, and gather information as part of their decision-making process,” said Jeremy King, senior VP of engineering, Pinterest. “These behaviors are happening across Pinterest every day, which is why we’re continuing to advance technologies like AR Try On and make Pinterest a full funnel shopping destination that takes people from inspiration to purchase anywhere in the app.”

“Customers look to Crate & Barrel and CB2 to find unique pieces, built to last a lifetime,” said Joan King, senior VP, e-commerce & international operations for Crate & Barrel and CB2. “We understand that the path to purchase is not always linear, especially when it comes to furniture. Pinterest’s Try On For Home Décor tool, is one of many examples of how our brands are exploring innovative solutions to make this journey as intuitive as possible by bridging the gap between virtual commerce and reality.”

Try On For Home Decor is currently rolling out in the U.S. on iOS and Android apps, and will be available globally in the future.