We are just back from High Point Market Fall 2024 where we spent our time scouring the market to spot the top home decor trends for 2025. With over 12 million square feet of show space, we didn't even scratch the surface, but we did see a LOT! This market there weren't as many large introductions as last market, but there was newness, so that's always a good thing. Some trends seen last market are dwindling into obscurity, others are at their peak, and then there are those that are in their infancy and we'll be seeing more of. One thing that was visibly noticeable was the shift in color palette.
Much of what we see in terms of trends in interior design are tied to what is going on in politics, the economy, and other factors in the world. We are past the post-pandemic age of rebirth and exuberance and we are buckling down. That being said, while some of the brighter hues that we saw the last few markets are still around, the majority is being replaced with safe. Safe, muted tones and a warmer color palette. It is common knowledge that when the economy is in flux and uncertain, manufacturers and retailers tend to play it safe. Which is why it comes to no surprise that the color palette seen at market was noticeably less vibrant. This was Benjamin Moore's 2025 color palette, as shown at their High Point Market Friday soirée:
The Home Decor Trends for 2025
- Color: Army Green/Olive
- Innovation in LED Lighting
- Hairy Textures
- Plaids and Stripes
- Caramel is the New Grey
- A Modern Take on Traditional
- Stone - Venturing Beyond Ordinary
- Motion Seating
- Performance
- Modern Marquetry and Parquetry
So let's take a deep dive into what I saw as the 2025 home decor trends at High Point Market.
COLOR: Army Green/ Olive
Benjamin Moore selected "Rosepine," AKA "Olive", for its 2025 Color Palette, and a color that was widely used at the High Point Fall 2024 Market.
It was more ubiquitous around market than their Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate, which reads as milk chocolate meets grape jelly. Purple tones may be interpreted as more feminine and aren't considered as safe, but green is! It is perceived as gender neutral and is connected to nature, which is ALWAYS safe.
Even if you have a safe color, it's what you do with that color, and the vendors at the High Point Market 2024 Fall Market added details and embellishments so that the color Olive looked anything but ordinary and safe.
Innovation in LED Lighting
LED lighting technology has evolved dramatically the past few years. Rechargeable LED table, floor lamps and sconces have been multiplying by the minute, with each show bringing in new players to the market. We can now place decorative light fixtures in places we never dreamed of. Also, how about color tunable light? That too, has changed how we perceive light in the home.
The biggest LED innovation, and gamechanger at High Point Fall 2024 Market was Hubbardton Forge's newest introduction, Snaps. Conceived by Hubbardton Forge designer, Andy Morter, Snaps is modular and scalable, and fully customizable. The metal is available in an endless amount of finishes (if you take into account all the RAL colors) Also, in addition to their standard leather options, you can also use any one of Spinneybeck's leathers. The fixtures can be configured in endless ways by positioning the anchors and changing the lengths by adding or subtracting the number of lights/straps. In essence, you can tailor the look to your space with the finishes, configuration, and the amount of light output. Snaps is a designer's dream as it allows for creativity. I was lucky to have gotten a sneak peek of Snaps when I visited the Hubbardton Forge factory in Vermont.
If customization isn't enough, the technology that goes into Snaps is pretty impressive. It uses conductive leather where low voltage goes through the leather straps. You can add, subtract, snap, unsnap, switch out the LEDs - all while the power is on, without having to worry about being electrocuted! The translucent alabaster provides a warm glow and you can easily snap on additional straps if more light is needed.
Hairy Textures
You know how you get a nice knitted or woven wool sweater and after a few wears the fibers become untwisted from the yarn and develops an unruly fuzz? Well that's what we're seeing in upholstery. Upholstery is not only about how it feels when you sit in it, but it's also about how it makes you feel when you enter the room. We crave that feeling of warmth and fuzziness both inside and out and this newest texture is just that. As imperfect as it is, it makes you feel secure inside. Move over cream bouclé...
Plaids and Stripes
The "plaid and stripes" trend is an evolution of the "new twist on old money" trend that has been around for the past year. Traditional design continues to be important as we hold on to what is familiar - especially in a time when other factors in the world seem unsteady and unpredictable.
Stripes can also take on a not so traditional approach when used as a detail using trim or with woven patterned ikat stripes.
Caramel is the New Grey
Cooler grey tones have dominated the market for quite some time, but thankfully we've evolved and have moved on. Grey and white has slowly transitioned out of our homes and has been replaced with a much warmer palette: Caramel and cream. The warmer palette evokes a feeling of comfort and blends in seamlessly with nature - our go to in times of uncertainty. Lighter woods - oak, ash and burl, honey/caramel-hued natural stone such as onyx and travertine, natural rawhide leather are some of the materials that comprise this trend. I predict that this home furnishings trend for 2025 will continue to evolve well beyond 2025 and will be with us for a while.
Barbara Barry's honey honed onyx pieces for McGuire reflects the new luxury, a return to nature and simplicity. The popularity of travertine continues, having evolved a few years ago from the resurgence of vintage pieces. From that, vendors recreated the past and put travertine pieces into their collections. The warm undertones along with the unfilled and honed texture of travertine have acted as a catalyst in introducing this modern yet warm and cozy palette. This goes to show that modern need not be cold and impersonal.
A Modern Take on Traditional
If you've been following along on my High Point Market trend reports, you know that traditional design has been back. Brown furniture is no longer a curse word, and we are embracing the familiarity of the past.
However, being designers, we have the urge to mix things up. We yearn for the past but at the same time crave fresh and modern. A mix of the past and present is exactly what we saw with several vendors at High Point Market.
Stone - Venturing beyond ordinary
We've been playing it safe with stone, going with the typical Calacatta, Carrara, Crema Marfil, or Nero Marquina if going for dark stone and feeling adventurous. However, I've seen a trend towards using more exotic, less predictable stone in the home. I can't pinpoint why that may be, except for perhaps the fatigue of seeing the same stone over and over!
MOTION SEATING
Growing up, recliners had a bad rap. It was something that only old or not very hip people had in their homes. With a few exceptions to the rule, recliners were big and bulky. You had to leave room both front and back to allow for the recliner to do its thing and you very rarely found options in the higher price points. More often than not, they could be found in the moderate market, which is why most designers kept them at a distance.
Even with our own projects, the husband always come in wanting his Sunday night football chair, where he can recline and be left unbothered. The wife, of course cringes at the mere mention of "recliner" because of its negative connotations. We have to get past the stigma because today's recliner is not the same as the ones in the past. Motion is no longer limited to just the moderate retail market but is now offered by the higher end lines that cater to the designer.
For High Point Market Fall 2024, I set out on a mission to find the best-looking motion seating that would feel at home in my own living room. One that I wouldn't be embarrassed by. And guess what - I found it!
The sofa above looks like your typical two over two track arm sofa...but it's not. Slip your hand between the cushion and arm, and the seat reclines. Actually, it INclines - you can position the sofa against the wall and the seat will move forward to recline. There is no need to leave a gap between the back of the sofa and the wall. That in itself is a game changer.
MOTION SEATING - LEE Industries Relaxor
This recliner is actually called a "Relaxor". When closed, it measures a petite 28" x 36" Our fearless leader, Ray decided to try it out, and here he is relaxing in the Relaxor. He liked it so much that this actual piece will be arriving on the CSC showroom floor before the holidays. I have a feeling it's going to be a hit! No one has to know it's a recliner....
PERFORMANCE
The demand for performance materials in interior design continues. Crypton, Fibreguard, Alta, Inside/Out, Revolution are brands that designers have come to know as offering performance fabrics for the home. These performance fabrics have allowed us to really LIVE in our homes and not have to worry about stains. Hard surfaces also have their versions of performance. Porcelain has been a good alternative to natural stone, which is porous and tends to etch when exposed to acid. Porcelain, however, can be exposed to lemon juice, ketchup, red wine without having to worry about etching or stains.
Performance is going one step further. It is now offered in materials that until now, were never used in the same sentence as "performance"...
Both LEE and Hickory Chair showed a performance nubuck - one that is hydrophobic and repels liquid, unlike your typical nubuck which tends to absorb liquid instantaneously. The hand is soft and buttery and knowing that you have time to blot any spills gives you peace of mind.
Sisal is the next material that has taken on more performance attributes. Sisal is a natural fiber and with Fibreworks' new performance solution, the rug is protected all the way through. Performance solution is added during the fiber stage - before the fibers are twisted into yarn. Why is this important? Most stain repellents are applied after the rug is woven, which brings it to a disadvantage. The treatment is topical, so only the top is protected. With the solution being added before the fiber is made into yarn, EVERY fiber is wrapped in the solution. Every fiber is protected, all the way through.
Modern Marquetry and Parquetry
Marquetry is the process of creating more complicated scenes or florals using wood veneers. Parquetry is similar, but instead of scenes, repeating geometric patterns are created. The two processes are very intricate and centuries old. Only true artisans have the ability to create the intricate patterns which requires a steady hand and an eye for detail.
Some of the furniture pieces replicate antique pieces while others embrace the process but create more modern motifs that are translated into contemporary furniture and spaces. I think it's quite fascinating how the process can be used to create entirely different looks, depending on the wood species, finishes, and motifs used.
Because of the skill required to create intricately detailed veneered surfaces, these pieces are generally offered in the higher end price points.
2025 Home Decor Trends Summary from High Point Market Fall 2024
Even though there weren't as many large scale introductions at High Point Market Fall 2024, there was plenty of newness. Home decor trends that we've been seeing for the past year have continued to evolve while others have slipped into anonymity...until it comes back around in 30+ years. Especially noticeable was the shift in color palette and textiles, with cream colored bouclé experiencing a slow slip into obscurity, right before our eyes. That's a big win, because as the saying goes, "too much of a good thing, is actually a bad thing" I have definitely been suffering from bouclé fatigue, so I'm glad to see it taking a back seat to the other newness at market. I can't wait to see what other 2025 home decor trends will be coming our way in the next few months. What are you looking forward to?
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