Emerging design trends from High Point Market Spring 2022

I promised you more emerging design trends from High Point Market and here it is. In case you missed my color trend report form Fall 2021 you can read it HERE. Most of the emerging design trends from High Point this past April are the same trends I spotted from previous markets, only more pronounced and in greater quantity.

Rounded and curved shapes for upholstery was clearly dominant. Capsule shapes for tables and consoles, biophilia (nature inspired) was prominent, sculptural furniture, texture, and a return of leather. Most of these trends have been building for the past few years.

As always, photos tell the story best. I have chosen a selection of images to show you the emerging design trends from High Point market. Some I have already pointed out but there were a few surprises as well.

Round and round we go

It is impossible to ignore this trend. Rounded shapes were everywhere! Large curved or circular sectionals were in most of the showrooms as new introductions. Not too surprising since gathering at home seems to be the new way of socializing.

The image below was very representative of the trends. Rounded shapes in the furniture, the lamps, the vases and even the artwork!

These body hugging curved shapes, covered in soft nubby fabrics certainly makes one feel safe and cozy. It’s as if a giant teddy bear had been deconstructed and turned into furniture.

Speaking of teddy bears, pillows and throws had the same cozy soft vibe.

Swivel chairs are back in a big way! They are very practical and now almost every furniture manufacture has jumped on the swivel chair trend.

Arched shapes

I noted that arches as an emerging design trends last Fall and you can read all about that HERE. Arches are a variation on the rounded shape but I wanted to note arches separately because I spotted the arch shape used in decorative ways as well.

An arched shape sectional and natural elements such as the rattan pendant, natural tone wood table and chairs.

Arched shaped benches and pendant below.

The arch shape showed up as decorative elements in a lot of casegoods I saw.

More arched shaped pendant lights.

Curio cabinets seem to be having a resurgence and I spotted many in an updated arched shape like this one from Selamat Designs.

Capsule shapes

I can’t talk about emerging design trends from High Point Market without pointing out all the capsule shaped tables I saw.

A capsule shaped coffee table was doubly on trend with the cain accent around the side.

The capsule shape was not only for tables but spotted in upholstery pieces as well.

A rattan bench below had the capsule shape as well as “enough already” boucle fabric.

Furniture as sculpture

One of the more interesting emerging design trends from High Point Market for me was furniture as sculpture. The raw wood console below was truly a work of art. Notice the cluster pendants which I highlight below as another emerging design trend.

This rounded sculptural bench had what appeared to be bowling balls for feet. I spoke to the designer and the round balls were somewhat of an engineering feat (no pun intended) especially designed and made by a local artist.

Another sculptural, high relief console, in raw unstained wood.

I spotted lot’s of small accessory pieces that can be used as seating or side tables; also very sculptural in design.

More unstained natural wood sculptural tables and side pieces below.

The lightly stained table below reminded me of one of those mechanical claw arms, used to try and grab a stuffed toy out of a big plastic box.

The return of leather

This emerging design trend caught me somewhat off guard. Lot’s of leather sofas and chairs, but also leather used on pillows and in combination with other fabrics and even wood.

Cognac or caramel colored leather was what I saw the most of.

A cognac colored Leather pillows adds a different texture to this pillow mix.

Traditional leather wing chairs are updated with a more modern shape. Notice as well, the repeating arches on the console table on the left.

Although I have never been a huge fan of leather chairs, this caramel colored, buttery soft leather chair was divine.

A leather and wood sculptural coffee table also from Bruce Andrews Designs.

I love these leather woven chairs which is a modern take on the traditional fabric woven shaker chairs.

Fringe, trim and skirts!

Another emerging design trends from High Point Market I spotted was fringe, trim and the return of skirts on sofas and chairs.

I had seen a few skirted and fringe trimmed pieces last Fall. This trend is definitely gathering steam as I saw at least twice the amount that I had seen previously.

Skirts on furniture fits in perfectly with the hot new tik tok trend coastal grandmother but I have zero plans of incorporating this in my home. I grew up with this look and country cottage chic is not something I want to repeat in my modern condo.

Now if I ever get that dream house on Nantucket, that’s a different story!

Cat owners beware but below is a fun chair if you’re into fringe.

A new furniture line for Tov Furniture designed by my friend, Miami designer Nicole White , featured lots of fringe and trim.

Bullion fringe on the bottom and white trim on the cushion adorned this new red sofa.

Biophilia: Organic shapes and elements

Biophilia, aka, living with nature and natural elements, and is always on trend. What I spotted more of this market was different ways of incorporating living plants.

These black and white wall tiles can be pieced together to create a living wall in your home. It can be as big or small as you like since the tiles are sold individually.

At first glance I thought one would need to put dirt into each hole and then plant, but that is not the case. The holes are made so that the plant along with the pot it came in fits directly into the opening. When it’s time to water, the plant along with the pot or container, slides right out so that it can be taken to the sink and watered….brilliant!

Accent walls are usually either painted a different color or wallpapered. How about an accent wall fully decorated with silk and faux flowers and greenery? Dust might become a problem over time but it was a fun display never the less.

Natural materials such as wicker, cain, rattan and grass continued to be very heavily represented this Spring at Market.

Every single showroom had a display of plants, flowers or branches.

Cluster pendants

Small individual pendant lights, suspended from a single canopy, is an emerging design trend for lighting. This trend is really gathering speed. I saw only a few of these a year ago but this past Spring they seemed to be everywhere!

Currey Company had a great selection of cluster pendant lights.

These blue glass cluster pendants were very pretty.

Floor paper

You’ve heard of wallpaper…but how about floor paper? I had discovered this company last year while at market but this Spring I had the time to go in and speak with the owner and creator.

Of course all the designs can be used on the walls but they are durable enough to be used on floors. The best part..they are an affordable option if you have an ugly concrete or damaged wood flooring that is not worth saving or painting.

They had so many fun, bright and bold options.

I hope you enjoyed my pictorial tour of the emerging design trends from High Point Market. Let me know in the comments below if you be incorporating any of these emerging trends in your home?