A recent visit to High Point Furniture Market provided a sneak peek of what lies ahead in home décor trends. Some exciting new yet approachable trends have appeared, as well as one that’s a bit of a flashy flashback. Incorporate these trends in your framing designs that your customers will love! Four distinct trends are noted here, with suggestions of how you can achieve these looks in your custom framing designs.
About High Point Market
High Point, North Carolina, also known as the Home Furnishings Capital of the World, hosts both a Spring and Fall market that attracts local and international exhibitors and buyers. While many home décor suppliers have permanent showrooms to host year-round visiting design professionals, there are also ample temporary exhibitor spaces where suppliers from around the globe come to show their wares during the biannual markets. Located in the heart of what was once America’s historic furniture manufacturing center, High Point now features furnishings and home décor items produced from all points around the world.
Call it the Blues
Dark blues are quite prominent now, but primarily in moody and muddied shades. Sherwin-Williams recently announced their 2020 Color of the Year to be Naval (SW 6244). Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, said the following about the 2020 color choice, “People want to feel grounded and inspired to pursue their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Naval is reminiscent of the night sky, which people have looked to for centuries for guidance, as a muse and as a reminder to live more mindfully."
Dark blues are showing up not just as wall colors, but also in furnishings, accent pieces and linens. You can easily incorporate the moody blue trend by incorporating dark blue matting into your framing designs. Here are some top Crescent favorites that will enhance and protect artwork for years to come.
Natural Wood Finishes
Wood finishes have shifted over the last several years that were dominated by gray driftwood, cerused and whitewashed hues. Now wood finishes are appearing in many different shades, grays included. Also coming forward are lighter and warmer wood tones such as blonde and honey finishes. While no single color family in wood finishes is standing out, what is uniting current wood trends is the texture. Satin and matte surfaces, plus textural effects such as hand scraping, wire brush and natural oil rubbed finishes are all very strong. In flooring, wide planks, mixed width planks, herringbone and diagonal designs are also standing out. Look for these design features in moulding selections to bring the same trends your customers are seeing in the furniture showrooms to their custom framing wall décor.
Retro Lux
There’s a surprising retro glam trend appearing right now that might make you want to polish up your disco ball. While not for everyone’s taste or lifestyle, this is a statement look with a nod to the 70’s and 80’s. This look can be achieved by combining luxury finishes with metallic touches, such as the hand-crafted Sinuous wall covering by Vahallan with distinctive rhythmic and sparkling swirls. You can achieve this sophisticated retro design style by combining luxury textured matting with metallic mats or moulding selections. Shown here are vintage photos of 70’s “It Girl” Edie Sedgwick enhanced with Crescent Couture top mat in 1313 Silver Leaf.
Going for the Gold
Silver tones and stainless steel have been center to design vernacular for over a decade, and although warmer metal tones have made occasional appearances, their dominance at Fall High Point Market suggest it’s time for silver to move over and let shimmery golden finishes take the spotlight. Not that silver, pewter, nickel and other cool metal finished are going fully away. They are becoming the supporting cast to gold, bronze and brass, all presented in a variety of finishes Dark blues are showing up not just as wall colors, but also in furnishings, accent pieces and linens. You can easily incorporate the moody blue trend by incorporating dark blue matting into your framing designs. Here are some top Crescent favorites that will enhance and protect artwork for years to come.
The most modern and interesting way to present metal finishes is in layered combinations, such as the subtly nuanced gold tones shown in this entryway arrangement. Just as wood trends are all about the texture, the trending warm metal surfaces feature interesting patinas, brushed finishes and more textural variations. Look for mouldings that feature warm metal finishes or add top mats with metallic tones such as those shown here
Selling Tips
As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Display framed pieces in your consultation area featuring these new trends as inspiration, and your customers will easily see how these sophisticated styles can be incorporated into their custom framing project. Seeing is believing! Let these design trends inspire you to create framing designs that will wow your customers!
