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Not everyone is looking to decorate their homes with trendy styles that look hip today and need updating in a few years, yet trends in home furnishing should not be ignored. The latest styles in furniture design frequently reflect modern lifestyles and can bring added comfort to a home. For this reason, I am constantly looking for new ideas to offer my clients.

Recently, I attended the High Point Furniture Market, which is one of my favorite places to check out the hottest industry trends. This year’s market showcased a number of interesting styles that are sure to invigorate interiors.  

The overall theme that I noticed at this year’s market was subtlety. Finishes were refined and understated. Blown-glass lighting pendants had replaced the shiny metal fixture popular at past shows.  

Industry insiders have been saying for some time that water is a top trend of 2011. If you’re wondering how something as basic as water can morph into a top trend, you are not alone. I was wondering how water would play out as a trend, and saw water-themed art, water features, sea creatures and plenty of blue and blue-greens. Though the color blue most definitely had a strong hold in accessory showrooms, I saw some — though not a lot — of prints featuring octopuses, frogs and turtles. Water features like tabletop fountains were present at the show, but not in large quantities.  

Here are a few of my favorite themes:

• Flexibility. This included modular seating, upholstered sectionals with multiple configuration options and stacking storage cubes offering practical living solutions.

• Nautical/beach. The look has been reinvented somewhat with nautical ship knots being featured and roped tabletop accessories, lamps and accent furniture. Simple, clean furniture profiles reminiscent of captain’s quarters had a strong presence. The crisp reds, blues and yellows frequently reserved for nautical flags are now the hot hues for painted chairs, tables and chests.  

• Color and pattern. There was a great deal of modern art featured — everything from original color-blocked canvases to prints. The clean, graphic nature combines beautifully with the transitional furniture styles still very popular in the marketplace. I personally love the bold geometric patterns that are now popular, and was pleased to see the trend going strong. There were fun accent trays, frette work chairs, tables, screens and Asian-inspired garden stools.

• Organic. The trend to go organic is still going strong. The industrial-chic style seen at the last few markets is still very much in vogue, with a touch of French added to the mix. The weathered bleached woods are no longer just for the industrial-styled pieces, and are now featured on carved wood-framed Bergere chairs paired with lovely organic cotton and hemp fabrics. The look is very “European Flea Market” and can be integrated easily with other design styles.

• Outdoor living. The soft hues of nature and the luxury of indoor fabrics have been incorporated into most outdoor upholstery lines. The overall look and style of outdoor upholstery, rugs and fabrics continues to evolve, making outdoor spaces almost indistinguishable from indoor spaces. The look is comfy, relaxing and stylish.

• Say it with words. Formal script, calligraphy and graffiti-printed fabrics and rugs were a fun trend still in the pipeline. Words were featured on everything from pillows to wall accessories.

• Made in the USA. I was pleased to see the Made in America signs displayed prominently. Manufacturers are realizing that we all have choices, and buying local is important.

Jessica Dauray is owner of EOS Interiors. Have questions for a Design Wise column? Contact Dauray at jess@elementsofstyleinc.com.