so, awhile back i totally geeked out that i was given the chance to attend the high point furniture market in october with my full-time job. remember that? yeah, well that ended up being one of the coolest trips ever and managed to cross something off of my travel bucket list! (thanks to my amazing boss + my super cool client for making this possible!)

alright, let’s get to the fun stuff. what did i see in my three days of bliss, walking through showroom after showroom of nothing but furniture + home decor? i took about a thousand pictures while i was there + i’ve managed to narrow down the trends to a top four. let’s go!

1. neutrals have officially shifted. it’s time to throw out your circa-2000 pottery barn tans, maroons + greens (trust me, i worked at pottery barn from 2002-2004, i know….), and replace with a cooler, calmer neutral palette. honestly, if you’ve never believed in the power of color in the home to help influence a mood, now is the time to start. not to mention, the colors i saw during the market were just right up my personal taste alley! there’s gorgeous greys, silvers, and blues that belong anywhere and everywhere throughout the home. 

the new neutrals. soft, house-brightening + lovely!

2. metal, metal, everywhere. metals in furniture are really nothing new, but this year, what i think is so different are the tones of the metals i saw. sure, we’ve seen the antique bronze + traditional pewter in accents like drawer pulls, but now the range of metal color tones is so expansive! and, the way metal is being used…oh my gosh! we’re talking grommets, nailheads on leather + fabric sofas, chairs and bedroom sets, casters on everything from traditional leather chairs to occasional tables (which, by the way, makes tables totally functional for small spaces with the ability to move them around!) 

check out the metal accents on this accent table!

3. if you love blue, you are in luck. see #1 above. seriously, blue is everywhere. there were gorgeous navy velvet sofas (to die for!), blues incorporated into fabric patterns, even blue undertones in wood stains. blue is such a cooling, calming + modern neutral that helps shift the feel of a space. if you haven’t tested it in your space, it’s easy to try it out – start small with something like throw pillows or a piece of art that complements your existing space. 

seriously. i need this chair in my life.

4. the design is in the details. i already mentioned some of the lovely metal accents in furniture, but the design elements don’t stop there. chair and sofa legs are everything from wood blocks to metal mid-century modern-inspired feet to casters. occasional tables have ranges of different stains and finishes that expand beyond the typical cherry or honey finishes. the blend of materials on occasional tables is massive too with some designers blending modern and traditional with concrete + wood. sofas and sectionals feature unique stitching to add a little something extra to the solid look of leather. 

this. i just love this idea. riding boots with feathers.

and, besides these amazing details + design trends, i also got the totally exciting chance to walk through the magnolia home showroom too….but, no pictures because we’re asked not to take any. but i can tell assure you that everything in the line is one thousand percent in the style of joanna! just gorgeous materials, designs, lines + textures!

finally, i have to say that if you are as home-decor obsessed as me, and you ever get a chance to go to high point, go. it’s seriously something like you’ve never seen before!