By Denise McGaha
Special Contributor
I have been attending High Point Market for more than five years. High Point Furniture Market is the world’s largest furniture market held twice a year in High Point, N.C., and has over 75,000 attendees. It’s like Fashion Week for the furniture industry, and with all of the manufacturers sharing their new introductions, hosting events and hosting world-class speakers, the excitement level is ultra-high.
I spent 7 days in High Point this trip, so I had a chance to see over 75 showrooms. I was also honored to be a High Point Style Spotter. Style Spotters highlight their top 25 “picks” from showrooms. To be “Spotted” is an exciting opportunity for manufacturers because their spotted items are pinned to a High Point Market Pinterest Board and each of these pieces are showcased at the Style Spotters “Live” breakfast as part of the trends presentation each market.
Three distinct trends stood out from the crowd this market. Some were a carryover of trends we saw the last few markets, like gold and brass. But as usual, we see a new color trend every six months without fail. Jump to find out more!
Forest and Indigo – Navy and Green were everywhere. Navy especially showed well in all of the upholstery categories. Green was particularly popular in both art and fabrics. The pairing of forest and indigo was a preppy throw-back that felt even more sophisticated when combined. Using the rich tones balances the brighter metal finishes on chair legs and art frames.
Gilding – As with last markets, gold was HOT. But not just brass. We saw much more gilding and gold leaf this market. Also, this finish wasn’t just for lighting anymore. Gilding crossed over into accessories, mirrors and even art. Most importantly, all of the gold finishes were combined. A room design highlighted with antique brass, gold leaf and polished brass combined is very on-trend.
Natural Wood Graining – The past few years have seen a resurgence of painted finishes, and almost all manufacturers now offer their pieces in any paint color you choose. It was great however, to see the resurgence of natural wood grains. There were burl wood cabinets and beautiful faux-painted wood patterns, as well as inlay and interesting wood stain colors. Use one of these natural wood pieces to ground a room full of painted finishes.
High Point Market is such an exciting time for our design industry, but this market was especially energizing. The market was ripe with manufacturers who are feeling confident about the coming year and were willing to invest in larger showrooms and a larger number of new introductions. Almost every major showroom had a new designer collaboration and/or new introductions from their current design licensees, so excitement was high.
Hope this gives you some insight into what I saw this market and what I predict will be huge trends in the coming months.
Denise McGaha delivers fashionable, diverse, and adventurous designs for clients who live on the fast track; specializing in turn-key, concierge-level service delivered in 90 days or less. Follow Denise on Instagram or Twitter.
