Interior Design & Furnishing Trends from High Point Market

A few members of our team recently had the opportunity to attend the High Point Market in North Carolina, the largest home furnishings trade show in the world. During our time there, we were able to tour the latest trends shaping the interior design industry for the upcoming year of 2025. In this blog post, we'll share the key design trends we observed across furniture, accessories, and decor throughout the show.

Team members: Anna Cofrin, Morgan Rolighed, Blakely Pancratz

Key Interior DesignTrends from High Point Market

Tactile Textures & Touchable Furnishings

- Channeled fabric: Adding depth and visual interest to upholstery
- Fur and faux fur: Fluffy, inviting chairs, couches, and ottomans
- Fringe: Adding a playful, textural element to furniture, lighting, and accessories

One of the first trends we observed at High Point Market was a focus on "tactile textures" -materials and finishes that invite touch and create a sense of depth and visual interest. Channeled fabric was a prime example, adding subtle grooves and ridges to upholstered pieces like sofas and armchairs. The textural quality of the channeled fabric not only elevates the aesthetic, but makes you want to run your hands along the furniture.

Another example of touchable furnishings was the prevalence of fur and faux fur accents throughout the show. Fluffy, inviting chairs and ottomans with plush, shaggy upholstery created an irresistible tactile allure. We were immediately drawn to reach out and sink our handsinto the soft, luxurious surfaces, experiencing a sense of comfort and indulgence. We also made sure to sit-test a lot of the furniture we liked in order to gain an idea of the comfort level for our clients.

In addition to the fuzzy, textural appeal of fur, fringe was another element that added a playful, tactile quality to furniture and accessories. Whether adorning the bottom of an accent chair, the trim of ottomans, or the base of lighting fixtures, the delicate fringe creates a sense of movement and visual interest, and of course is fun to touch.

Overall, the prominence of tactile textures at High Point Market reflects a larger industry trend towards creating spaces that engage multiple senses. Designers and manufacturers are clearly placing a premium on furnishings and decor that not only look beautiful, but also invite physical
interaction and connection.

Curves: Soft, organic shapes in furniture and accessories

There’s no denying it! Curved furniture and accessories were ubiquitous across the market. This has been an on-going trend but it’s here to stay throughout this next year. Soft, organic shapes in items like sofas, coffee tables, decor and lighting fixtures lent a sense of fluidity and approachability to the designs. Rather than harsh, angular lines, these curved pieces have a welcoming quality that make you want to sink right in (and we did!). We’ve noticed this trend takeover our own projects, incorporated into our Modern Sanctuary project and beyond. We think you will definitely notice this trend taking over mainstream furnishings, if you haven’t already!

Playful Prints and Colors

- Fun prints: Bold, eye-catching patterns on pillows, rugs, and ottomans

- Warm tones: Earthy, cozy color palettes featuring browns, neturals, greens

- Moody Marble: Rich, saturated stone finishes in various decor (especially nesting tables!)

Another prominent trend we noticed at High Point Market was a focus on playful prints and moody color palettes. After a prolonged period of neutral and muted tones, the interior design industry appears to be embracing a more vibrant, expressive aesthetic.

Bold, eye-catching patterns were everywhere, from statement-making ottomans and accent chairs to bold area rugs and even lighting. These fun, playful tones added an energetic dose of personality to the various showroom vignettes.

Moody marble - rich, saturated stone finishes that added astriking, elevated presence to various furnishings and décor was a standout trend we spotted early on. Rather than the crisp, cool tones typically associated with marble, these moody variations featured deep, earthy hues like emerald greens, reds or paired with dark wood accents.

The use of these richer, more dramatic marble tones created a sense of visual weight and substance, lending an air of sophistication and refinement to the designs. We saw this moody marble aesthetic applied across a wide range of products, from the sleek, curved surfaces of nesting coffee tables to the bold, sculptural bases of lamps. In fact, nesting tables quickly emerged as a central focalpoint, with designers layering these modular, marble-topped pieces to create dynamic, multi-dimensional coffee table arrangements.

Complementing these dynamic prints were warm, earthy color schemes featuring rich, saturated hues. Shades of browns, greens, and neutrals created a cozy, inviting ambiance, evoking feelings of comfort andcoziness. These color palettes felt simultaneously modern and timeless, blending seamlessly with both contemporary and traditional design styles.

Lighting Innovations

- Alabaster lighting: Soft, glowing fixtures with a natural, earthy aesthetic
- Corded lighting: Exposed cords and cables as a design feature

One of the most exciting areas of innovation we always encounter at High Point Market is in the realm of lighting. Designers and manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of traditional lighting design, each year introducing new fixtures and features that elevate the role of illumination in interior spaces.

A chief trend we noticed among these lighting innovations were the prevalence of alabaster fixtures. These soft, glowing light sources have a distinctly natural, earthy aesthetic that create a soothing, ambient glow. The unique materiality and form of these fixtures made them feel more like sculptural art pieces than utilitarian light sources.

Complementing the rise of alabaster lighting, we also noticed a trend towards exposed cords and cables as an intentional design element. In many pieces, the hanging cords were left visible as an intricate dynamic of the overall lighting fixture. This "corded" aesthetic added an industrial, loft-inspired feel, subverting traditional notions of concealed, discreet lighting infrastructure.

As consumers continue to crave interiors that feel warm, tactile, and visually captivating, we anticipate the demand for these types of lighting innovations to only increase. As a team lighting selections are one of our designers’ favorite parts of the selection process and visiting High Point to see all of the new lighting offerings was a standout favorite of the trip. We look forward to bringing our favorite pieces to the table for your interior visions.

Elevated Accents

- Colored cast glass: Unique coffee tables, side tables, and lighting fixtures

Another key trend that caught our eye at High Point Market was the prevalence of "elevated accents" - unique, statement-making pieces that elevated the overall design aesthetic. One of the standout examples was the abundance of colored cast glass furnishings and decor. Rather than the ubiquitous clear glass, we encountered coffee tables, side tables, and bar carts featuring rich, jewel-toned hues. These colored glass pieces have depth, texture, and a sculptural quality to them. What unifies these elevated accent pieces is their abilityto elevate the overall design of a space -- rather than blending into the background.

The High Point Market once again proved to be a treasure trove of inspiration, showcasing the latest and greatest in interior design. It is clear that the industry is catering to consumers' desires for spaces that are both visually stunning and physically inviting. We're excited to see how these trends will evolve and influence the future of home design and in our upcoming projects. We'll leave you with a few of our favorite findings and some snapshots of all of the fun!

Thanks for reading,

The Carbon 6 Team

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