10 Furniture Trends From the Fall 2021 High Point Market
Curvaceous shapes, light woods, gilded surfaces and plush fabrics are among the looks on tap at the design trade show
Comfort, curves and a connection to nature remain strong influences for new furnishings and accessories at the fall 2021 High Point Market, which opens to the design trade this weekend in High Point, North Carolina. Sofas and chairs in luxe and cozy fabrics are rounded and contoured, sometimes with a touch of humor. Furniture crafted of organic woods and rattan are combined with black to dramatic effect. Nature prints are inspired by the plants and animals of Africa, Europe and beyond.
Read on to see these trends and more from the Oct. 16-20 show, then tell us in the Comments which looks you like best.
Read on to see these trends and more from the Oct. 16-20 show, then tell us in the Comments which looks you like best.
A beautiful formation of open circles of different sizes supports the steel-and-glass Roger console table by CFC.
Large symmetrical columns inspired by ancient Greek architecture ground the marble-and-cement Pillar dining table by Ditre Italia. The smooth lines and colors nod to the table’s sculptural and minimalist influences.
Browse dining room tables in the Houzz Shop
Browse dining room tables in the Houzz Shop
2. Curved and Contoured Forms
Sofas, sectionals and chairs that embrace the body with rounded edges, circular forms and curves dominated seating shown at the event.
Moe’s Home Collection showed their curved, rust-colored Yoon sectional in a modern-retro room full of neutrals, woods, rich blue leather and a round black-and-white coffee table with gold accents.
Sofas, sectionals and chairs that embrace the body with rounded edges, circular forms and curves dominated seating shown at the event.
Moe’s Home Collection showed their curved, rust-colored Yoon sectional in a modern-retro room full of neutrals, woods, rich blue leather and a round black-and-white coffee table with gold accents.
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Curves and smooth lines from top to bottom, front to back and side to side were seen in Nathan Anthony Furniture’s whimsical Alais collection of accent chair, bench and bed. The solid wood spherical legs in a blonde finish seen on this chair are featured throughout the collection.
The traditional and midcentury-style of this chair by Camerich plays up waves, contours and symmetry in its design. It’s a great example of how brands are using curved and rounded edges to envelop the body and provide extra support. The Echo Petite chair is available in fabric or leather.
8 Design Trends From the Milan Furniture Fair
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3. Organic Wood
An emphasis on the raw beauty of wood was a key theme this season at High Point Market. Makers big and small showed how wood furniture can be sophisticated, attainable and locally made.
Artist and furniture maker Aspen Golann showed these black walnut Simple chairs that reimagine the classic Windsor chair. Each piece is handmade from logs felled on her Penland, North Carolina, property using a sustainable process that requires no electricity or power tools.
An emphasis on the raw beauty of wood was a key theme this season at High Point Market. Makers big and small showed how wood furniture can be sophisticated, attainable and locally made.
Artist and furniture maker Aspen Golann showed these black walnut Simple chairs that reimagine the classic Windsor chair. Each piece is handmade from logs felled on her Penland, North Carolina, property using a sustainable process that requires no electricity or power tools.
4. Rattan and Cane
Natural plant fibers have been having a moment in the design world, and this season brands revealed furniture pieces from light, breezy and beachy to moody, dark and alluring.
This mahogany sideboard is wrapped in natural rattan and embellished with a subtle diamond motif. Storage cupboards and cabinets throughout High Point showed a range of styles and fibrous materials. The Santa Monica sideboard is by Jamie Young Co.
Natural plant fibers have been having a moment in the design world, and this season brands revealed furniture pieces from light, breezy and beachy to moody, dark and alluring.
This mahogany sideboard is wrapped in natural rattan and embellished with a subtle diamond motif. Storage cupboards and cabinets throughout High Point showed a range of styles and fibrous materials. The Santa Monica sideboard is by Jamie Young Co.
Chairs, tables and desks that mixed deep blacks and caning were prevalent at the market, as seen in this midcentury modern Edward club chair by Noir.
Currey & Co. introduced this handmade wooden chest with split rattan patterns on the doors. Aesthetics aside, the Santos chest has functional features such as dovetail drawer boxes, soft-close drawer slides and adjustable glides.
5. Gilded
Gold and brass furniture and lighting appeared throughout High Point in various forms. Some items were covered in gold all over, others used glimmer in more subtle ways.
For example, this Fenwich hall cabinet by Bassett Mirror Co. has an exaggerated shiny gold leaf finish on its door handles and frame. Back-painted glass panels in a bluish-gray hue bring a bit of balance to the high-gloss hardware and trim.
Gold and brass furniture and lighting appeared throughout High Point in various forms. Some items were covered in gold all over, others used glimmer in more subtle ways.
For example, this Fenwich hall cabinet by Bassett Mirror Co. has an exaggerated shiny gold leaf finish on its door handles and frame. Back-painted glass panels in a bluish-gray hue bring a bit of balance to the high-gloss hardware and trim.
Arteriors introduced a chandelier inspired by ruffles and the circle skirt. The Katya light, made by hand-layering vintage brass sheets, has nine lights that create a soft glow and subtle shine.
This season, furniture designers showed a handful of black-and-white pieces with gilded hardware. Here, Bungalow 5 used shiny brass sabots on its black lacquered mahogany Tamara armchair with white linen upholstery.
Find chairs for your home on Houzz
Find chairs for your home on Houzz
6. Playing With Perspective
Furniture that can create optical illusions or provide unique points of view can add depth to your space. Designers and brands showed new pieces that are striking from several perspectives.
Studio A Home debuted the Sienna collection of end tables with alternating mango wood, bovine bone and walnut in vertical and horizontal patterns. These shifts between materials and orientations change the way each table is experienced.
Furniture that can create optical illusions or provide unique points of view can add depth to your space. Designers and brands showed new pieces that are striking from several perspectives.
Studio A Home debuted the Sienna collection of end tables with alternating mango wood, bovine bone and walnut in vertical and horizontal patterns. These shifts between materials and orientations change the way each table is experienced.
A sunburst pattern in a neutral tone tops a contoured, slatted base on the Breeze dining room table by Theodore Alexander. Depending on your point of view, it looks like the slats are creating a lattice pattern or disappearing into one another.
The vertical, horizontal, triangular and circular grooves on the ceramic Serenity side table by Laura Muller for Seasonal Living form elegant patterns and shapes that create tons of viewing angles for the eye to enjoy.
7. Velvet
This smooth fabric showed up on seating in colors ranging from lilac to cognac. The comfy nature of velvet is perfect for relaxing at home.
The curved velvet Kendall sofa by TOV Furniture falls in line with many paint brands’ 2022 Color of the Year: green.
This smooth fabric showed up on seating in colors ranging from lilac to cognac. The comfy nature of velvet is perfect for relaxing at home.
The curved velvet Kendall sofa by TOV Furniture falls in line with many paint brands’ 2022 Color of the Year: green.
Kenneth Cobonpue’s Sage plush velvet sofa was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the pint-sized Thumbelina and the desire to bring the outdoors in. The lines, folds and crevices of this dark green piece bring to mind leaves in a forest.
Green Is the Top Paint Color for 2022
Green Is the Top Paint Color for 2022
The pink velvet on the Cordial dining room chair by Modway isn’t just for looks. It’s a performance fabric that’s perfect for preventing set-in food stains.
8. The Natural World
Plant and animal motifs made a big impact at the event. The world has been yearning to get back outside and to appreciate nature, which can be seen in these new designs.
Furniture brand Hickory White unveiled their graphic maple Aimee Hall chest with doors that echo the richness of zebra hide. Brass touches on the pulls and base add warmth to balance the bold white-and-black pattern.
Plant and animal motifs made a big impact at the event. The world has been yearning to get back outside and to appreciate nature, which can be seen in these new designs.
Furniture brand Hickory White unveiled their graphic maple Aimee Hall chest with doors that echo the richness of zebra hide. Brass touches on the pulls and base add warmth to balance the bold white-and-black pattern.
Poetic Pillow showed pillows with colorful vignettes of birds, flowers, plants and trees. This Amazonian Parrots print features birds against a backdrop of creamy yellow azaleas and blue sky.
Flowering trees, rocky mounds, wading birds, reeds, grasses and flowers fill the Kensington White Work wall covering by The Mural Source. This six-panel mural was inspired by English bed curtains embroidered in chinoiserie style around 1690-1730.
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9. Ribbing
A handful of the new releases at the market incorporated ribbing in their designs. Hard textured surfaces that are rhythmic and balanced, like these, showed up in a few furniture categories.
For example, Eloquence introduced Corinthian side tables in a white plaster finish that resemble slices of an ancient Greek column. The ebb and flow of the ribbing on the low tables imbues them with texture and dimension.
A handful of the new releases at the market incorporated ribbing in their designs. Hard textured surfaces that are rhythmic and balanced, like these, showed up in a few furniture categories.
For example, Eloquence introduced Corinthian side tables in a white plaster finish that resemble slices of an ancient Greek column. The ebb and flow of the ribbing on the low tables imbues them with texture and dimension.
The Lyla bar table by Union Home takes its inspiration from classic pedestal-style tables. The statement ribbed base and smooth top are handcrafted from sustainably sourced hardwoods.
Comfortable Classics and Sustainability at Danish Design Show
Comfortable Classics and Sustainability at Danish Design Show
10. Hide, Sheepskin and Bouclé
Cowhide and leather, shearling, faux sheepskin and bouclé were used in the upholstery of a wide range of formal and casual seating. The textured fabrics and skins reference the natural world and the feeling of comfort that people are seeking during this pandemic era.
The cylindrical Zahavi ottoman by Mercana is covered in natural hair-on-hide leather finished in mottled shades of white and gray.
Cowhide and leather, shearling, faux sheepskin and bouclé were used in the upholstery of a wide range of formal and casual seating. The textured fabrics and skins reference the natural world and the feeling of comfort that people are seeking during this pandemic era.
The cylindrical Zahavi ottoman by Mercana is covered in natural hair-on-hide leather finished in mottled shades of white and gray.
A creamy bouclé fabric wraps the soft curves, tapered arms and cloud-like design of the Bower sofa by Dovetail.
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Eye-catching bases first showed up as a trend during the spring 2021 High Point Market. This season, designers and brands are showcasing table foundations with bigger and bolder shapes.
Bungalow 5 debuted their Atomic center table, which has a glass top and a dramatic base in a brushed brass finish that models the structure of an atom.
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