An interesting aspect of attending trade shows is the ability they provide us to quickly scan the broad market for decor trends, and the tremendous scope of High Point Market certainly provides a clear picture of our future over the coming seasons. Since my inaugural trip to High Point as part of the Fall 2019 Design Bloggers Tour, my thoughts have been swirling with memories of the incredible showrooms and inspired designs we devoured on the tour.
Over the course of just 2 days, our group, including 9 fabulous design bloggers who I now call friends, visited 17 fantastic showrooms, each with its own insightful presentation on what is to come in home fashion, and I can say with certainty that the future is bright! From rich new color stories to naturally-inspired textures and increasing use of noble materials, I have assembled the 5 standout trends of Fall 2019 High Point Market. Acquaint yourself with these now, and you’ll have a head start on updating your spaces for the new year.
New Neutrals
While we have been through several seasons of neutral-heavy home fashion landscapes, we will continue to see these universally flattering palettes carry into 2020. Neutrals are remarkably diverse yet subtle, allowing our decor pieces to take center stage. With Fall 2019 we move from stark, flat white into softer, earthy mushroom and champagne stories.
I am truly fond of these earthy neutrals when paired with textured jewel tones or contrasted with green and other luminous colors. I saw lots of this on etageres, lighting, accessories and upholstered furniture. These luxe tones add layers of new sophistication to the neutrals we have known from previous seasons.
Four Hands, Huntington House, Hooker Furniture, Blue Print Collection, Bernhardt and Verellen presented this color story beautifully with pieces including a pair of tufted mushroom chaise longue, a sophisticated ashen wood console with iron base, and a unique wrapped console with carved doors in effervescent champagne tones.
Textural Textiles
As we traveled to each showroom, the emphasis on texture was undeniable. Nubby jute, soft bouclé, and heavy knits dressed everything from floors to throw pillows and sofas. The rise of Hygge introduced us to the benefits of a truly cozy abode, and we are holding onto this comfort for the foreseeable future with every iteration of warm, inviting texture in the form of course, knobby, ribbed, and dimpled textiles of all types. We saw a lot of combined textured in the Jaipur Living rugs.
Natural Inspiration
The prominence of texture at Fall market extended beyond textiles into casegoods, where an abundance of woven materials like rattan, cane, and grasscloth introduced a welcomed natural element and new opportunities for layering. Graduating beyond the peacock chair trend that peaked in 2018, caning, lacquered grasscloth and inlaid designs look pleasantly elevated and naturally warm combined with brass accents and rich neutrals with pops of brilliant jewel tones. The profusion of grasscloth in the market is something I welcome with open arms, as it introduces an element of the outdoors and strikes a balance between polish and natural imperfection, something fellow wabi-sabi pupils will surely appreciate.
Lloyd Flanders’ brand new Milan collection is a lovely outdoor example of the warmth that updated, textured wood can add to a space. Made for outdoor use, this set will stand the test of time with minimal extra care. SIFAS also had beautiful outdoor furniture.
Noble Stones
Noble materials are continuing to gain ground in design, especially the use of natural stones. Where Carrerra marble has now become ubiquitous, more exotic marbles and alabaster are on the rise. Noble materials add immense depth to a space imparting principles of wabi-sabi design with their natural imperfections and elements of the outdoors, providing indoor access to our natural roots. The unique veining patterns provide an element of inimitable rhythm on decorative objects, igniting spaces around them, and in lighting, stones like alabaster provide a velvety soft glow unlike any other material.
Vibrant Accents
Our neutral bases are craving pops of color, and those cravings are being answered with warm jewel tones. Hermès orange and rich crimson colors were making bold and inviting statements in nearly all of our tour sponsors’ showrooms. We have been in a heavily 1970s influenced trend curve for several seasons now, and orange hues are certainly part of it, but 2020’s orange is deeper, rich, and luxurious, making it timeless addition to any space.
In Norwalk Furniture, Crypton fabrics included bold, warm oranges ranging from earthy burnt sienna to tangerine, and dressed tufted ottomans, wall hangings and armchairs. Cisco Brothers presented throw pillows in a stunning shade of pumpkin. Daniel Stuart Studio showed us accents in deep brick reds. Terracotta made a bold impression as a New Loom finish option from Lloyd Flanders. Dressed in true Hermès orange was Jimmy DeLaurentis’s Isabella sofa. Smith Honig had a lot of warm orange color in their tassels and textiles. And Four Hands also represented this fiery color trend with accent pillows in deep burnt umber.
The Design Bloggers Tour continues to provide me with invaluable decor trend inspiration for the coming year, and I am grateful to Esteem Media and High Point Market for presenting the opportunity to collaborate with our incredible sponsors and fabulous team of design influencers.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our very gracious hosts and sponsors of the tour, who went above and beyond by providing us with fabulous food and drink, a bit of much needed relaxation between appointments, and endless inspiration over our 2 days on the Design Bloggers Tour.
Please be sure to pay a visit to my tour companions, these 9 incredibly talented designers, who provided 2 days of entertainment and camaraderie, making this tour truly unforgettable. I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.
Sara Noble