I’m happy to report that earlier this month our team returned to North Carolina to attend High Point Market, one of the country’s largest home furnishings events. While the number of attendees and exhibitors was much lower than pre-COVID Markets, the live energy of mingling with design colleagues was still inspirational. It was a thrill to be back spotting the latest trends, meeting face-to-face with our sales reps and searching for those “just perfect” pieces for our current projects.

As an added bonus, the Arlington Home Interiors team was selected by the organizers of the event to participate in their official High Point Market Instagram Takeover! We were able to share our favorite market trends, inspirations, and fabulous finds with a whole new audience of design fanatics. It was an honor to be selected as one of the event’s design influencers.

Now that we’re back at our desks, we’ve reviewed our notes and sorted through the thousands of photos we took to come up with the following list of highlights. We hope you find a new idea or two to brighten your space.

HIGHPOINT MARKET TRENDS 2021

1. THE GREAT OUTDOORS: It’s time to bring your living room outside! Outdoor furniture is exploding with new styles like swivels, sideboards and overstuffed cloud cushions. And when it comes to fabric options you can say ‘goodbye’ to stripes and big colorful prints and say ‘hello’ to sophisticated neutrals and textured weaves.

2. WONDERFULLY WOVEN: Tell your grandmother wicker and rattan are back (she was right!) and they’re not just for sunrooms but for every room in the house! Several lines have introduced painted pieces that look smashing when mixed with non-woven furnishings and to create an eclectic year-round look. Light blue was our favorite for a cool neutral that pairs well with many colors.

3. CURVES AHEAD: Can furniture be sexy? Yes, of course it can! We saw plenty of Parisian Art Deco inspired style pieces ranging from shapely wooden coffee tables to the return of the classic kidney-shaped sofa. These curvaceous pieces can add a touch of whimsy and playfulness that can counterbalance straight lines and angles. We haven’t placed a kidney-shaped sofa yet, but this soft green Arteriors sofa sure caught our eye!

4. CALIFORNIA DREAMING: Light woods in natural tones lend an airy, tranquil vibe that can help you go full on “California Casual” and the look was everywhere at this year’s Market. This trend works well with beach homes and the Modern farmhouse style and mixes well with painted furnishings.

5. SOFT TOUCH: The comeback fabric of the moment is Bouclé, a looped, fleece-like yarn that's woven together to form a nubby texture. It’s playful, soft and cozy and can be a fun way to add a layer of texture to your decor. It works particularly well with curved or rounded pieces like asymmetrical sofas, armchairs, and ottomans.

We hope you found a few inspiring ideas from our adventures in High Point. It’s always exciting to share our new finds.

However, sorry to end on a downer, but I would be remiss if I didn’t share one inescapable discussion we had with our sales reps over and over during Market. The industry is currently facing INSANELY LONG LEADTIMES. The pandemic has crippled the industry’s supply chain and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. (One major manufacturer is now up to 30 weeks!) And these delays will affect everyone.

If you’re thinking about a design change for your home, I suggest starting the discussion now. We can you help map out your project, start your design and reserve your place in the production line. Starting is easy. We offer a FREE 20-minute Discovery Call to discuss your project needs and see if we’re a fit. Fill out our Design Survey and we’ll schedule a time to chat!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM HIGHPOINT MARKET

HIGHPOINT MARKET TRENDS 2021