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Atlanta Furnishings Show Reveals 5 New Decorating Trends for 2019


Tue 22 Jan 2019 | 10:29 AM
Yassmine Elsayed

 

By: Yassmine ElSayed

CAIRO, Jan. 22 (SEE) - Every day, designers search for new ideas to add more comfort and elegance to homes. A recent piece by Houzz.com revealed that thousands of designers, store owners and design reporters were hoofing it around the 2019 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart Atlanta recently, checking out more than 9,000 brands of home furnishings, decor and gifts.

This year’s market was alive with a range of textures.

Below, are five of the standout trends from the Jan. 8-15 Atlanta market.

1. Layers of Textures

A wide range of textures dominated the Atlanta market. Layers of natural and nature-inspired textures make a space decorated in a neutral scheme come alive. There were boxes made of oyster shells and bone inlay, dressers and nightstands wrapped in raffias and linens, hair-on-hide upholstered stools, faux-shagreen trays and faux-horn casework.

2. Velvet Upholstery and Accents

Another tempting texture seen everywhere at the market was that of a textile: luxurious velvet. Deep jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue were favorites, with ruby pink and topaz yellow also making an appearance. Velvet throw pillows were a favorite too. “Raised velvet patterns, also known as high-low velvet, are one of our most popular fabrics right now,” says Timothy Stroud of Signature Pillows.

3. Strong Curves

In addition to the velvet upholstery in jewel tones on furniture, curves continued to wind their way through the market this year. Whether seen in the curves of an elegant piece like the Dior sofa from Taylor Burke Home, seen here, the curved slopes of an armchair’s arms or the wingback shape of a bed’s headboard, strict straight lines gave way to something softer.

4. Handcrafted Items and Artful Pieces

“Everyone wants a story behind a product, so we are definitely seeing a trend toward handcrafted items,” says Lawsen Ricketts, cofounder of Ngala Trading Co., a company specializing in furniture and decor designed in Africa and made of sustainably sourced indigenous African materials. The company’s hand-stripped leather chandeliers — like its Whisper Chandelier, seen here — are handcrafted by South African women.

5. Relaxed European Simplicity

“We offer our blankets in a range of colors, but the majority of our customers are getting back to basics,” says Mary Maxwell of Brahms Mount, a textile company that uses only natural fibers in its products. “People are drawn to classic whites that lend a relaxed European-bed feel. Not a lot of fussy throw pillows; just simple, neutral linens.”

Sightings of elements like rustic rough wood, rusty-crusty finishes, Edison light bulbs and barn lights were few and far between. There were definitely more refined European inspirations influencing country style, with smoother wood surfaces, tailored linen upholstery and Belgian, French and Scandinavian-inspired silhouettes for chairs and sofas.