Twice a year, spring and fall, we go to High Point, North Carolina to see what is going on in the furniture industry. 75,000 designers, furniture dealers, manufacturers and buyers all meet in North Carolina for the High Point Market.
There are 12 million square feet of showroom and exhibit space with 2,000 manufacturers showing their products, new introductions and designs. It is by far the world’s largest home furnishings market in the world.
Why do we go? To see the latest trends and what will be out in the next six months. Much like the fashion industry shows its fashion six months before it is available, many of the new design we’ve seen will not be available until fall.
What we can tell you now though is that we are seeing certain color trends emerging. Here they are fresh from High Point.
• • • GRAY • • •
Gray is still big. We can’t believe it. Gray has been hot for so long now we keep looking for it’s demise, but like stainless steel, it seems to be here for a while. It is popular because it’s neutral, the new beige, and goes with almost everything.
• • • GREEN • • •
Green is getting hotter. This popular color comes and goes and is never completely out but we are seeing more and more of it so we are calling green an “IN” color.
• • • BLUE • • •
Blue like green is a classic that never really goes away but we are seeing more of this color too and in every shade and tint. It is a great color for classic or modern design and extremely versatile.
• • • PINK • • •
Pinks have been hot for a while now and are getting hotter. Whether it’s a pastel or a strong Pink, pink, like Blue is very versatile, and can go from soft and delicate to bold and dramatic.
• • • YELLOW • • •
Yellows are coming back and strong or mustard yellows are popping up now in furnishings. We home this trend continues because when Gold is too strong, yellow can be the answer.
• • • GOLD • • •
Gold finishes have been hot for a while now and the trend continues. We see no letting up of this finish/color which has been around for thousands of years.
• • • SILVER • • •
Silver and similar metallic tones which we call white metals (as opposed to brass and Gold which are yellow metals) are making a comeback. Gold and Brass made the white metals less popular for a while but we are seeing a strong comeback now.
Not everything we see at market is put into production or becomes a part of a manufacturer’s line, but when you see so many manufacturers showing the same color palettes you can be pretty sure they are going to influence design and fabric, wallpaper, rug, furniture, accessory and lighting manufacturers. For more information, feel free to contact us.
