The furniture market in the United States is booming — in fact, it accounts for nearly $63 billion in revenue annually. Now that spring is here, the furniture market will soon be in full bloom.
Spring is a highly anticipated and exciting time for home decor lovers. Aside from the satisfaction of leaving a long and cold winter in the past, spring is also an excellent time to experiment with new romantic home decor and design trends.
So which trends are worth watching in spring 2015? Mid-century modern, Art Deco, bold textures, organic modern (a delicate blend of contemporary and rustic styles) and a color palette consisting of sophisticated pastels are all slated to become en vogue this season.
Exotic, culturally inspired motifs from the Far East, Morocco and India still remain strong, while Greek and South American aesthetics are also making a debut. Hellenic patterns, including deep blues paired with sharp, crisp whites, and colorful woven textiles and baskets, are expected to become popular.
Ikat and chevron, long considered the go-to prints of home decor, are slowly being phased out in favor of medallion and tiled prints, strong preppy stripes, different versions of damask, geometric shapes, color blocks and watercolor prints. In collaboration with Kate Spade, West Elm recently debuted a new spring collection which includes chairs and bedding in fun, vibrant, and elegant graphics, florals, and prints.
In addition, designers are mixing things up a bit but combining styles to create unique statements, such as pairing a Bentwood chair with a shiny red desk, or placing a rustic flat-weave rug in front of a 19th century marble mantel. A common juxtaposition is that of placing a simple farmhouse table under an ornate glass chandelier.
“Design pros have always known it’s the combination of finishes that give a room style – it takes the sleek with the matte; textured with flat; and a mix of painted, wood, ceramic and metallic finishes for a room to look ‘done,” explains Elaine Griffin, a New York-based designer.
Thanks to the steady popularity of home-design TV shows and social media, even homeowners with no formal design training are better equipped to find inspiration and create designer-inspired looks.
Also, large retailers are not only offering more style-forward pieces, but they’re doing a much better job of creating in-store displays that show how to use them. This not only encourages shoppers to buy, but allows them to envision how the pieces will look in their living space.