5 Trends Dominating the 2019 Atlanta Home Furnishings Market
Natural textures, jewel-tone velvets, curvy shapes and neutral palettes were among the big looks at the January show
Thousands of designers, store owners and design reporters were hoofing it around the 2019 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart Atlanta late last week, checking out more than 9,000 brands of home furnishings, decor and gifts. This year’s market was alive with a range of textures. Whether a faux-shagreen side table, a hand-stripped leather chandelier, an oyster shell box or geode-topped salt and pepper shakers, it was difficult not to reach out and touch the products on display there. Here are five of the standout trends from the Jan. 8-15 Atlanta market.
2. Velvet Upholstery and Accents
Another tempting texture seen everywhere at the market was a textile: luxurious velvet. Deep jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue were favorites, with a few ruby pinks and topaz yellow also making an appearance. Velvet throw pillows were a favorite too. “Raised velvet patterns, also known as high-low velvet, are one of our most popular fabrics right now,” says Timothy Stroud of Signature Pillows.
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Another tempting texture seen everywhere at the market was a textile: luxurious velvet. Deep jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue were favorites, with a few ruby pinks and topaz yellow also making an appearance. Velvet throw pillows were a favorite too. “Raised velvet patterns, also known as high-low velvet, are one of our most popular fabrics right now,” says Timothy Stroud of Signature Pillows.
Source velvet sofas on Houzz
3. Strong Curves
In addition to the velvet upholstery in jewel tones on upholstered furniture, curves continued to wind their way through market this year, just as we saw at the 2018 Las Vegas Winter Market. Whether on an elegant piece like the Dior Sofa from Taylor Burke Home, the curved slopes on an armchair’s arms or a wingback shape on a bed’s headboard, strict straight lines gave way to something softer.
In addition to the velvet upholstery in jewel tones on upholstered furniture, curves continued to wind their way through market this year, just as we saw at the 2018 Las Vegas Winter Market. Whether on an elegant piece like the Dior Sofa from Taylor Burke Home, the curved slopes on an armchair’s arms or a wingback shape on a bed’s headboard, strict straight lines gave way to something softer.
4. Handcrafted Items and Artful Pieces
“Everyone wants a story behind a product, so we are definitely seeing a trend toward handcrafted items,” says Lawsen Ricketts, co-founder of Ngala Trading Co., a company specializing in furniture and decor designed in Africa and handcrafted from sustainably sourced indigenous African materials. Hand-stripped leather chandeliers from the company, like its Whisper Chandelier seen here, are handcrafted by South African women.
“Everyone wants a story behind a product, so we are definitely seeing a trend toward handcrafted items,” says Lawsen Ricketts, co-founder of Ngala Trading Co., a company specializing in furniture and decor designed in Africa and handcrafted from sustainably sourced indigenous African materials. Hand-stripped leather chandeliers from the company, like its Whisper Chandelier seen here, are handcrafted by South African women.
5. Relaxed European Simplicity
“We offer our blankets in a range of colors, but the majority of our customers are getting back to basics,” says Mary Maxwell of Brahms Mount, a textile company that uses only natural fibers and eco-friendly dyes in their products. “People are drawn to classic whites that lend a relaxed European bed feel. Not a lot of fussy throw pillows, just simple neutral linens.”
And for those seeking the story behind products, theirs is interesting. Their blankets and other textiles are woven from American fibers, including North Carolina cotton, on antique shuttle looms in Monmouth, Maine, continuing the centuries-old textile manufacturing traditions of the region.
“We offer our blankets in a range of colors, but the majority of our customers are getting back to basics,” says Mary Maxwell of Brahms Mount, a textile company that uses only natural fibers and eco-friendly dyes in their products. “People are drawn to classic whites that lend a relaxed European bed feel. Not a lot of fussy throw pillows, just simple neutral linens.”
And for those seeking the story behind products, theirs is interesting. Their blankets and other textiles are woven from American fibers, including North Carolina cotton, on antique shuttle looms in Monmouth, Maine, continuing the centuries-old textile manufacturing traditions of the region.
And this was the first show in awhile that wasn’t dominated by American farmhouse and industrial style. Sightings of elements like rustic rough wood, rusty-crusty finishes, Edison light bulbs and barn lights were few and far between. There were definitely more refined European inspirations influencing country style, with smoother wood surfaces, tailored linen upholstery and Belgian, French and Scandinavian-inspired silhouettes for chairs and sofas.
Your thoughts: Which looks from the Atlanta show do you like best? Please share your favorites in the Comments.
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Your thoughts: Which looks from the Atlanta show do you like best? Please share your favorites in the Comments.
More on Houzz
32 Home Design Trends That Will Rule in 2019
Browse photos for ideas and inspiration
Source products for your home projects
A wide range of textures dominated the Atlanta market, which is wonderful news for home design. Layers of natural and nature-inspired textures make a space decorated in a neutral scheme come alive. There were boxes made of oyster shells and bone inlay, dressers and nightstands wrapped in raffias and linens, hair-on-hide upholstered stools, faux shagreen trays and faux horn casework. “Faux shagreen, faux horn and lots of shell textures are very popular with our customers right now,” says Rachel Baughman of Made Goods, a California company that specializes in show-stopping statement pieces like this one, the Dallon buffet table in faux shagreen.