By Claire Schwab, ASID, Claire Schwab Interior Design, Inc.
Upon my recent colorful adventure to the furniture market in High Point, NC, I returned feeling more inspired and excited about interior design than I have in a long time. My team and I hit the ground running on Day One, thinking we’d spot a few tasteful sofas and lamps, and maybe snag a free tote bag. We resurfaced three days later with bags of fabric swatches, photos, and catalogs – ready to revamp our studio and our presentations.
Color Me Surprised (and Saturated)
Let’s talk color. If you’re still decorating in neutrals, tonals, and safe quiet patterns, High Point wants to stage an intervention. The dominant trend is saturated tones with a purpose. Painted furniture in rich, earthy and saturated tones offers a handcrafted feel that brings personality and warmth into the home.
Think forest greens, sages, peacock and hydrangea blues, blush, rose quartz, burnt orange, deep plums, and enough mustard yellow to start a condiment war. These aren’t just accent colors anymore; they are showing up on wallpapers, sofa pillows, ottomans, rugs, and even patterned lampshades. Consumers are done with plain and monochromatic. There’s a joy and energy in surrounding yourself with layers of color and print.
It’s a Texture Thing
At the same time, natural textures – think woven fibers, raw wood, cane, and stone – anchor spaces in a sense of organic calm. I saw chunky wood grains, raw edges on tables, rough chiseled sides of marble tops, and velvet upholstery that called out my name for a long weekend nap. It’s all about creating depth and visual interest while keeping the space livable and inviting. It’s like the forest walked into your family room and said, “Let’s get cozy.”
The Verdict
Pattern, paint, and paper are in, and I hope this trend of “Organic Sophisticate” is here to stay. It’s clear that furniture is no longer just furniture – it’s art, it’s therapy, it wants to relieve our stress, it’s personality with legs. Whether you’re redecorating your entire home, doing a refresh, or just replacing that one suspiciously wobbly end table, take heart: Color and pattern are back. We should embrace their triumphant return.
Claire Schwab, A.S.I.D., and her team have been adorning and freshening homes for the past 36 years. Claire Schwab Interior Design, Inc., 3163 Woodland Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309. 703-615-9495; claireschwab.com; Insta: claireschwabinterior
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