Interior Design Trends for 2019
By Claudia Ricciardone of Claudia Josephine Design (Charlotte, NC)
and Cate Holcombe of Cate Holcombe Interiors (Raleigh, NC)
Even though our philosophy at Claudia Josephine Design is focused on creating timeless and classic spaces, I still keep an eye on trends. Why? Because, whether we realize it or not, we are all subconsciously influenced by what’s trending. Design trends are what we’re most exposed to in print, online, and in stores; therefore, they are typically what clients request when I’m designing their home. Knowing what the trends are before they reach the mass market helps keep my designs ahead of the curve and gives them longevity. It also assists me both in helping clients choose classic pieces among the trends and in swaying clients away from fads that will quickly date their home. Additionally, it’s exciting to see how the interior design industry keeps evolving and reinventing itself.
With that in mind, I made my yearly trek to High Point Furniture Market (HPMKT) this past fall to discover the trends we’d be seeing in 2019. High Point Market is a bi-annual furnishings and home decor market open to trade professionals. It’s essentially the size of a small city, with thousands of exhibitors filling over 180 buildings. I was joined by my designer bestie, Cate Holcombe of Cate Holcombe Interiors. We explored some of our favorite show rooms and observed many repeating themes. Keep reading as I cover the trends in color and texture while Cate tackles form and style.
Our day started at Hudson Valley Lighting, as I was eager to check out Mark D. Sikes new lighting collection. Luckily for us, Mark was at the showroom and graciously offered to give us a personal tour of his collection. Prominent in his lighting fixtures were the colors white, black, and brass and I loved the juxtaposition of shiny and matte surfaces he incorporated. Most notable was his use of plaster in pendant lighting, which he explained will develop a beautiful patina as it ages. Matte finishes were prevalent throughout HPMKT, as was the use of brass and neutral colors.
We saw a large uptick in the use of neutrals, especially in contrast with Fall Market of 2017. While grey was still heavily represented, creams, beiges, and taupes dominated many showrooms. These neutrals paired easily with the organic materials, such as jute, grasscloth, sisal, rattan—even oyster shells, that were found in abundance. At Palecek, we saw a sea of neutrals and organic materials, especially rattan and bamboo. In neutral spaces, layering in texture adds dimension and richness.
Despite all these neutrals, there was plenty of color to be found. Blue, which in my opinion is always classic, was found in all hues, including dusty blue, dark teal, denim, and navy. Thibaut’s showroom paired blue with fresh greens, as well as a preppy combination of navy with white and red. Bungalow 5 partnered both blue and green with lots of white, keeping things fresh and young.
Green, which plays well with so many colors that it is sometimes considered a neutral (think green in nature), was seen in lovely shades of olive, spring, and hunter. Although blush was still hanging on strong, it appears to be morphing into more of a mauve. Since growing up in the 80’s has left me a little mauve adverse, that was one trend I found challenging to embrace. However, it became more palatable when paired with olive green.
In contrast to all the cool tones we’ve been seeing the past few years, we found lots of warm caramel color, primarily in leather upholstered furniture and accessories. Small hits of caramel paired with neutrals can provide the warmth that people are craving after almost a decade of grays. It looks fabulous with olive and navy too. Caramel colored leather adds richness and is associated with class and understated elegance—think supple seating in a luxury vehicle, a hand-tooled, unstructured briefcase, or Ferragamo loafers.
Velvet upholstered furniture was prevalent at HPMKT and is another great way to add texture, softness, and opulence to one’s decor. These textures and luxe materials are important, especially when designing a more minimalist space. They lend an air of coziness to a room that can otherwise feel cold and sterile.
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Claudia’s points about the necessity of watching and understanding trends are spot on. For clients of Cate Holcombe Interiors, I also prefer to design with a solid base of classic, timeless fixtures and foundation pieces. So, knowing what’s coming and going in trends allows us to choose elements from an informed perspective.
As far as the shape and style of seating, we saw a few themes repeating. Most of the showrooms we visited had multiple options of exposed frame chairs. Some were very simple and clean lined wood frames, and others were more intricate and constructed of natural fibers, repeating the textural theme Claudia mentioned above. These chairs have deep, plush cushions, meant for lounging, but the details in the arms and frames create a structured, textual contrast to fully upholstered pieces.
While we did see curved furniture at Market in 2017, it had a much bigger presence this year. The curves are reminiscent of simple mid-century modern silhouettes, as we saw in the Bernhardt showroom. At Hickory Chair, curves graced more traditional pieces as well, complete with preppy pleated skirts and contrast piping. Curved (in contrast to straight) lines evoke a more welcoming, cozy feel. Combine that with the richly textured velvet, and comfort is clearly a key factor in current design.
Now, prepare for a mouthful on this next trend. In showroom after showroom we saw modular armless sectional sofas, many with integrated end tables. These deep, wide, low, and plush seating options seem to come right from the 1970s and invite you to really lounge and relax. Each of the elements in these sectionals are interchangeable, so they offer the ability to switch up the configuration on a whim. The tables are the same height and depth as the upholstered pieces, and fit in the configurations seamlessly. This would be a great option in a bonus room or casual den, but may feel too relaxed for a primary living room.
As often happens with trends, we saw a big revival of some past shapes and colors, juxtaposed in new ways and in fresh combinations. No matter what the trends are, I believe that most of our biggest investments should stand the test of time. Then we can be a bit more adventurous with the trends in less permanent, less expensive decor. Choose no more than one or two trends to incorporate in a room, and you will likely love the space for a long while. When you do feel the need for change, you can easily switch up some smaller elements. Which of these, if any, will you incorporate in your home?
