High Point Market: Home Decor Trends 2010-Beyond

Keeping up with the latest trends in fashion is one thing but in your home… Sure, you might like picking up some new seasonal accessories, but the big pieces, you buy to last. (To do otherwise would get expensive in a hurry!)

That said, foretelling the future of home decor is more than just fun–it’s a way to make sure that the pieces you buy today will still be the pieces you love tomorrow. After all, without a clear understanding of where the furnishings industry is headed, it’s hard to tell if a piece is destined to be a classic or more likely to be a flop. That’s why we sent two lead writers to High Point Market. There, they discovered three emerging trends you’ll want to bring into your home. What’s more, they’ll explain how you can bring those trends home even if you’re not in the market for new furniture right now. Over the next few days, we’ll look at some gorgeous pieces for your home office, but for today, let’s look at what designers and manufacturers are unveiling and how you can keep your home up to date without spending a fortune.

Trend: Storybook pieces

As you might anticipate, green was everywhere at Market 2009. Recycled/reclaimed and re-purposed were big buzzwords, splashed on every brochure and stall sign. Where the manufacturer selections really shone, though, were in the booths that offered something beyond just taking a standard railroad tie and turning it into a dining room bench. Instead, one manufacturer offered pieces that actually had life before being turned into gorgeous console tables and storage pieces. From the genuinely time-worn to the well-loved, these pieces combined two big trends: sustainability and one-of-a-kind. Turns out, manufacturers think people are ready to bring home something that either isn’t or doesn’t look mass produced.

How to bring it home:
Pieces with back story can be a little expensive (though we think they’re generally well worth the price tag). If an official storied piece is out of the budget right now, though, you can hunt thrift shops and consignment stores. Best choices are pieces that had a former life doing something else entirely–like the chest of drawers with beautiful detailing that you convert into a office storage piece on casters. Pieces don’t need perfect finishes, and in fact, a patina or bit of distress adds to the piece’s charm. Old school furniture, business pieces (like factory tables) all offer a wonderful dimension to a space and can often be picked up at great prices.

Then, tell your own story about a piece–if you don’t know its history, make one up. No one will ever know that leather chair in the corner didn’t originally call the town’s old library home. For inspiration, think J Peterman or Wisteria catalog. We saw a lot of tags that told romantic tales of coming upon a piece sitting “just so” in an old Indian marketplace.

Trend: Rustic Glam

We’re big fans of the bling–you’d have to be on a site called GirlyPC. But, there’s something about downplaying the glitz ever so slightly, letting it get just a little bit rough and tumble, that bumps up the sophistication and takes Glam a step further. Tarnished mirrors, less-than-glass-smooth finishes (like the desk that almost looked like it had been carved from graphite with its subtly shiny finish–sadly, that shop wouldn’t spill its finishing secrets to our intrepid, and curious, reporters) and patinaed leather all had the look of family heirlooms from a decidedly more tasteful Kardashian. It was sinisterly sexy and kept the space from looking like it was trying too hard (the way mirrored chests sometimes do).

How to bring it home:
These sophisticated pieces will really make a space and it only takes one or two to elevate the style of a room. That said, you can diy the look by heading to stores like Habitat’s ReStore for old glass doors to turn into distressed wall-propped mirrors. (This is an easy one–buy Krylon’s Looking Glass paint, apply two coats, and rub some off with steel wool. Then, apply a coat of oil-based wood stain before sealing the whole shebang.)

Trend: Artisanal Flare

Handmade was a huge trend and we saw it at all price points. From mismatched drawer pulls to square nails to delicate metal trimming, it looks like the bespoke furniture industry has manufacturers feeling inspired. The stuff that was well done was generally spectacular and oozed quality. The stuff that wasn’t, well, didn’t. (This wasn’t necessarily indicated by price point–we saw some quality stuff that wasn’t expensive.) These aren’t the kind of pieces you’ll want to buy online–rather, make sure to take the time to examine them in person before buying. Like all new trends, there will be a rash of copycats and you want to make sure that the piece you buy is well made and sturdy.

How to bring it home:
There’s nothing like investing in a quality artisanal piece, but you can also get creative and add a similar touch to a piece you already own. Instead of buying a set of drawer pulls, hit up Ebay for odds and ends you love. (Stick to the same finish for easy coordination, or, if you’re feeling bolder, venture out and really mix and match.) Add specialty molding to the fronts of drawers. Give the feet of a piece a special paint treatment to make the piece look especially custom. Punch a pattern in thin metal sheets and apply them to the apron of a table. Let your imagination run wild with ideas for customizing your home and making that special piece of furniture truly one-of-a-kind.

Then there were the trends we’ll be skipping…

Room Packages

These were being sold hard to buyers because of the “ease” they offer consumers. After seeing the packages in person, we’d sum them up in one word: soulless. Sure, some of them were actually quite lovely, but none of them looked like they’d ever feel lived in. You know your home should evolve over time and purchasing one of these packages isn’t a quick, easy way to get a room “finished” but rather a ticket to a vapid space that represents neither you nor your needs.

Borrowed Credibility

Ick. Just ick. Sure, celebrity partnerships that result in a “signature label” are nothing new. But, there was an extra edge of desperation to the lines that wanted to copy spreads straight out of the magazines right down to the placement of the dog’s leash. Some partnerships make sense. Amy Butler-designed rugs? Sign us up. Others just smacked of despondency, especially when the salesman tried to sell us on the pieces’ “no-brain buy” status for consumers just looking at the label.

Phony Distressing

Nothing is quite so cheesy looking as an obviously brand new piece of furniture with a “distressed” finish. Mind you, we think faux distressing can be done really well–these pieces, on the other hand, deserved the air quotes. This wasn’t a faux finish, it was a fake finish and it won’t fool anyone. Pieces that had chings taken out of them at carefully measured intervals, or gouges dug out with something clawed (making that two grand console table looking like your cat’s been using it as a scratching post isn’t really a must-have look for us) say desperate to follow a trend, not time-worn family heirloom. Skip ’em.

High Point Market 2009

All in all, High Point Market 2009 was amazing. We were delighted to hunt through the wares and find some fabulous office trends (watch for these over the next few days) and even more delighted to get to meet some of the actual furniture manufacturers. By and large, everyone was so lovely and enthusiastic about what’s ahead for 2010 and beyond. (Sure, there were a few sales people who wanted to talk more about how slow the economy is, but many others were delighted to talk about the innovation they’re seeing and the things they’re excited about.)

It was also really clear how mixing in a few new pieces with the old will be easier than ever this year–so many of the pieces we saw were highly adaptable and would be a lovely addition to a space of any style. More than ever, manufacturers don’t expect consumers to toss out all their furniture every three years and it was obvious more of the pieces they were showing had been made to really last both with top-quality construction and with classic lines.

We hate that it took an economic downturn for manufacturers to catch on that we don’t want disposable home furnishings, but it was reassuring to see they’re getting the message loud and clear!