Lisa J. Gotto
EtuHome showroom at High Point Market
The Highlights from High Point
Two times every year interior designers from across the country descend on High Point, North Carolina, to tour and shop hundreds of High Point Market showrooms showcasing furnishings, accent pieces, and various elements of décor. This eye-popping, globally-sourced exposition seeks to inspire consumers and the design professionals to whom they look for guidance with interior goals for nearly every corner of the home.
Suffice it to say that few people ever leave High Point Market without a satchel full of swag and an imagination bursting with ideas. Here are the latest showcase takeaways from the experts.
Most Loved Showrooms
While the scope of the experience at High Point can be mind boggling, key designers on the scene last fall definitely took notes on the showrooms that resonated with them the most and explained why.
Furniture: There were several exceptional furnishing showrooms that overlapped in designer blog and post mentions.
Known for meeting the moment with their widely-prized sculpted look in furnishings, Sunpan’s showroom was a hot spot for curve cravers with their supple curved sofa designs. Wholesaler and leading global designer Four Hands was also in the house. This Austin, Texas-based company designs for real life by studying the ways that people actually live to better assess their ever evolving needs at home. This year influencers and experts were loving their cozy, warm, yet modern takes on conversational living room groupings and refreshing approaches to dining rooms.
Lighting: There were several companies lighting things up at High Point including the designer showroom at Visual Comfort & Co., a known go-to for many of our fine designers here in the Chesapeake region.
This year it was a gorgeous glowing orb known as the Allister Globe, a framed spherical chandelier from Schumacher, that shined its way into designers’ hearts and Instagram feeds. The hand-cut leather fringe chandeliers from Ngala Trading Co. probably got the most votes for best use of a non-traditional material in their category, and the always-popular Hudson Valley Lighting Group showroom was a-buzz with the debut of the Lauren Liess x Troy Lighting Collection, where nature, history, and handcrafted artistry is drawn on for each design.
Décor: The seemingly endless amount of accent and décor items at the show is only disadvantaged by the fact that it is not possible to see it all, but one particular showroom was particularly feed-worthy.
Designers fluttered about the Blue Ocean Traders Gypsy Marketplace, a 20,000-square-foot cash and carry warehouse where they say, “You can touch it, feel it, and take it with you.” This one-of-a-kind-finds merchandiser specializes in exquisite and unique furnishings, vintage pieces, and architectural salvage that you just can’t find anywhere else—items that we can definitely see finding their way into homes here and around Annapolis.
Most Noticed Trends
Oh So, Seventies: The return of 1970s glamour is back, according to one high-profile designer and social influencer.
So, what does ’70s glamour look like? This notable comeback includes the use of deep, rich colors such as chartreuse, gold, and plum. It is also seen in the application of high-gloss finishes on select furnishings such as tables and chairs, and the infusion of accent pieces and décor items featuring heavily textured smokey glass. Other materials making a comeback in this category are rattan and burlwood.
A Personality-Driven Approach to Natural Themes: Organic materials and earth-inspired hues also dominated High Point showrooms. Wood, marble, woven textiles, and earthy color stories continued to be strong—but designers aren’t merely replicating nature.
As in the case of the Taracea Furniture showroom where consumers and designers were treated to their own expressive, one-of-a kind approach to tables cut from the trunks of whole trees. Color wise, greens—both muted and lush—alongside warm neutrals, browns, and rich blues also anchored collections from multiple brands. Organic textiles and natural weaves appeared on everything from daybeds to lighting fixtures, signaling that nature-inspired interiors continue to evolve with rustic to refined interpretations. This movement aligns with broader 2026 color forecasts emphasizing earthy vibrancy and deep, grounding palettes that still offer emotional resonance and warmth.
Emotion in Design: One of the Market’s most buzzed-about themes was what insiders call, “Ode to Joy”, a movement toward interiors that evoke happiness, optimism, and emotional well-being.
Instead of sterile minimalism, designers are embracing color, texture, and layers that just feel good to live with. This approach is a push toward spaces that aren’t just beautiful but are emotionally nourishing, as well, that are inspired in part by a broader cultural interest in wellness and psychological comfort. This trend isn’t manifested in loud, clashing patterns, but more so in uplifting palettes (think warm goldenrod, blush pinks, and those rich plums) and tactile materials that invite touch and connection. In fact, the overall trend aesthetic leaned into really delicious textures combined with clever designs that are modern and interesting, according to one on-site interiors expert.
Texture Plays a Central Role: Across showrooms, texture wasn’t just an accent—it was a central theme.
Designers emphasized weighty textures from mohair and velvet upholstery to structured leather and artisan wood finishes. These “touch-me” surfaces lend rooms presence and physical depth, making interiors feel intentional rather than just pre-selected via catalog. This focus signals a shift away from flat, digital aesthetics toward spaces that reward the act of touch and experience. In a world where so much interaction happens through screens, tactile richness in the home becomes a form of sensory grounding.
Sensual Curves & Sculptural Forms: Curves, as we mentioned in our prior furnishings discussion, continued their reign as a defining silhouette trend in 2026.
From gently rounded sofas and armchairs to biomorphic coffee tables and arched cabinetry, designers are favoring forms that evoke softness and flow. These shapes move interiors away from rigid geometry and toward a more inviting, human-centered aesthetic. Curved forms aren’t just visual—they’re emotional as in they help foster intimacy and comfort, inviting the body to truly relax not just vegetate. Think of these as hug-like moments in furniture form: approachable, warm, and inherently tactile.
Final Thoughts: What High Point Market made clear is that interior design for 2026 isn’t about uniformity or trend chasing. It’s about curation—the intentional assembly of forms, colors, materials, and objects that reflect deeper values: comfort, joy, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance.
