Are you wondering what the home furnishing trends are for 2024? High Point Fall 2023 Market just took place, and several home furnishing trends for 2024 were out in full force. Color has slowly evolved and has become richer, bolder, and more soulful. Interior designers were out in full force and now comprise a whopping 60% of the attendees at market. It is hard to believe that not too long ago there were signs on showroom doors turning designers away. At that time, the majority of High Point Market catered to the retail sector, but since 2008, that has changed. The High Point Market Authority has shifted and has tailored programming to appeal to this new demographic. Manufacturers have followed suit in tailoring their lines and offering customization to appeal to the growing interior design sector.
At this past market, I found that manufacturers are experimenting with new materials, scale, color and many are looking back to the past for inspiration (hello, 80s). So, what were my biggest home furnishing trends takeaways from the High Point Fall 2023 Market? Below is what is coming to market in the near future and what I see for the furniture trends for 2024:
Home Furnishing Trends for 2024
1. Softer Edges
Curved furniture shapes have been popular, and their popularity continues. However, manufacturers are also going back to more traditional, non-curved shapes. They are changing up these more traditional furniture shapes with softer edges and incorporating scallops, fringe, and passementerie. These details add a touch of elegance and playfulness. Now, it is not so much about the shape of the upholstery but more about the material and how it is manipulated.
2. A New Twist on Old Money
Echoing the “Quiet Luxury” trend, Old Money offers a masculine, 80s-inspired style commonly seen behind the doors of exclusive old boys’ clubs. Additionally, the dark, rich color, plaid patterns, and traditional design elements evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time of cigars, whiskey, and timeless sophistication.
The addition of non-traditional elements gives this new home furnishings trend for 2024 a new twist.
3. Preppy Granny
The more feminine counterpart to Old Money, Preppy Granny combines traditional elements with vibrant pastel colors, stripes, and checks. Additionally, skirted furniture and dressmaker details add a touch of nostalgia and femininity to this charming design trend.
4. Furniture and Lighting as Art
Furniture and lighting are no longer just functional pieces but have transformed into sculptural works of art. These stand-alone pieces are designed to be admired and enjoyed from all angles. These functional pieces of sculpture can easily stand alone in a room to make a statement.
5. Glass
Glass has not historically been a staple material for furniture other than table tops or lighting. But more recently, the use of glass has taken off in home furnishings and can be found across all price points. Cast glass, fused glass, slumped glass, hand-blown glass, and colored glass are now used as the main materials in furnishings, mainly tables. The transparent quality of glass keeps the functional pieces from looking heavy and allows items displayed on top to float effortlessly.
7. 80s Invasion
Yep – the 80s are back in many ways. “Old Money” and “Preppy Granny” are a flashback to the 80s era, in some respect. They are a twist on what was popular in the 80s. You might be familiar with Memphis Group and Karl Springer if you are as old as I am. Well, both are also back.
Below, check out two interpretations of the same fabric and Memphis Group design: the first from Precedent and the next from Thayer Coggin.
Next is the resurgence of parchment (which is actually goat skin). Parchment grew in popularity in the US in the 80s with Karl Springer’s iconic furniture pieces. However, its popularity in Europe has existed for many years. On a recent trip to Mercanteinfiera, the flea market in Parma, Italy, I saw several examples of vintage midcentury parchment accessories and furniture from Italian artist Aldo Tura.
Antonio makes the most beautiful, bespoke parchment pieces. Their furniture is made in the same factory that Karl Springer’s iconic pieces were back in the day. Antonia and her husband Luis took over the factory from their father, who made Karl Springer’s pieces that we have become so familiar with. Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since the 80s, and techniques that were impossible in the 80s are now possible. One such advance is seamlessly joining parchment with wood and metal.
8. As You Like It
Because now 60% of the High Point Market attendees are interior designers, the trade has shifted to accommodate the designer’s needs. Today, so much of the products are found online, so those catering to the design trade have developed custom programs. This has helped designers to set their work apart from the rest.
One of my favorite introductions was the collaboration between Dunes and Duchess and Thibaut. Thibaut’s latest fabrics were used as a tabletop for the colorful, lacquered pedestal that Dunes and Duchess have become known for.
Hubbardton Forge’s custom program allows you to do any powder-coated RAL color. In addition, you can choose any one of their standard 11 interior finishes. It doesn’t get any more custom than that.
9. COLOR: Warm and Spicy accented with Cool and Classic
The color palette above pretty much sums up the predominant color palette I saw throughout the High Point Fall 2023 Market. Each color story I saw at market was derived from this core color palette.
Interestingly, the 2024 color trends I saw at Heimtextil last year translated into actual product at market.
9. Designer/Brand Collaborations
Designer/brand collaborations continue to be a thing. Whether it is designing a space in a showroom for market like my friend Christopher Todd did for Fairfield Chair…
…or designing an entire collection for a brand, collaborations are on the rise. Perhaps this is because brands have fostered solid relationships with designers as a result of their changing demographics.
Denise McGaha x Vervain (and Wildwood too)
Denise’s collection for Vervain is exactly what I expect from her. Colorful and a fresh take on classic but with an edge.
Lisa Kahn x Chelsea House
Lisa Kahn’s collection for Chelsea House is centered around sanctuary. Her thoughtfully designed pieces take into account the shapes and juxtaposition of materials that promote a space of well-being where we can thrive.
Benjamin Johnston x Chaddock
Benjamin Johnston’s collection for Chaddock must have been tailored to cater to the designer. #CraftYourStory is an invitation to play with scale, color, finish, and details – exactly what every designer looks for in a line.
Before I conclude, there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss because I have a love/hate relationship with it. Let’s delve into the topic of travertine. Last fall, I introduced travertine as a trend and fell in love with all the vintage pieces resurfacing in the market. Manufacturers were employing it in predictable ways – big blocks of stone. In fact, I think one designer referred to it as the Flintstone or “Bam Bam” trend. However, now it has become ubiquitous, much like bouclé – which, by the way, I am officially tired of. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that people are utilizing travertine in different ways. For instance, cladding the entire surface of a dresser in travertine, adds an interesting touch, don’t you think? It will be interesting to see how this trend evolves ….or will it just be more of the same?
So there you have it – our High Point Market Fall 2023 round up which covers the furniture trends for 2024. I’m giving you a head start on what is to come, so you may not see these trends in the marketplace yet, but you will in the upcoming year.
If you are interested in anything we’ve presented in our trend round up, reach out – we’d love to hear from you. Our retail and to the trade showroom can assist in sourcing and purchasing for your project. We have a robust trade program for interior designers and architects that includes furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles and wallcoverings, hardware, and high end kitchen fittings from our vetted vendors.
