Latest Looks In Furniture Include Comfortable Fabrics On Overscaled Furnishings
What will we start seeing in furniture stores this fall? Here’s a quick tour of the latest looks from the spring International Home Furnishings Market where 2,300 manufacturers exhibit:
Color: Red reigns, alone and teamed with other colors, especially gold. Beiges darken to coffee-bar colors such as cappuccino or transform into taupes, smokey grays, silvers and natural linens. Look for buttercream, paprika, greens and blues. Clear brights stop short of neon.
Fabric: Comfort continues. Chenilles everywhere. Natural fabrics. Soft sells (brushed, suede, washed). Tons of texture. Metallic threads make fabrics shimmer. Menswear looks. Florals, Moroccan influences. Swirl motifs.
Upholstery: Fabric and leather combinations continue. Leather is rubbed and aged, tooled and stamped. Sofa seatbacks are tighter and legs are showing again. Slipcovers are tighter.
Wood: Exotic veneers such as Madrona, wenge and primavera. Solids include mahogany, walnut, maple, oak and cherry. Carving is deep and ornamental. Popular motifs include plumes and canthus leaves.
Finishes: Washed whites are being replaced with neutral finishes that are browner and warmer. Key words are wheat, caramel and sand. Shine is fading. Woods are hand-rubbed, highlighted and dry-brushed. Distressing is not so obvious.
Details: French nailhead trim everywhere; from small to almost as big as a quarter. More dressmaker details - contrasting welts, flanges, contrasting fabric pillows. Crests are lifted from apparel.
Style: Biggest news is “Sensuous Contemporary.” Other prime looks include Mission, Nouvelle Mediterranean, Relaxed Traditional, French.
Scale: Bigger is still considered better in everything from chairs to consoles. Some beds need step stools. Lots of overscaled furniture for foyers, bedrooms and living rooms.
Ideas
Can’t afford to go furniture shopping but crave a new look? Never fear. You can update your existing home furnishings with these six stealable ideas from the spring International Home Furnishings Market:
Mobile society: Add inexpensive casters to the bottoms of chair and table legs or bookcases.
Primary colors: Think major furniture pieces - sofas and chairs - are too expensive for fad fabrics and bright colors? Stay with the neutrals on main pieces and update with pillows in the new fresh-squeezed citrus colors.
Initially yours: Monogram a slipcover or removable throw pillows for a personal touch. Use three letters of your name or just one.
Nail one on: Nailhead trim is hot, especially in jumbo size. Outline your chair’s back and bottom. If you are really daring, use double rows of nailheads.
Cut ups: The next time you decide to recover furniture with a plaid or a batik, cut out one strip of the pattern and use it as a flange on a solid color pillow.
Wild with wicker: Give your white wicker furniture new life with accents of lime green, pink and yellow. Outline the draws with stripes and paint the wooden knobs.