Hi friends.  Boy has it been a hectic day today.  I sat down this morning to write this post thinking I would have it done early this morning.  Little did I know that one little errand would turn into an all day affair. Anyhow, here’s my post on the design and color trends I spotted at the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings market a few weeks ago. Along with highlighting some of the key trends, I’m giving you my take one each of them.  Plus I’m sharing a few design tips in case you want to incorporate any of these looks into your decor.

Before I jump into the trends, here’s a little background on the market I attend each year.

 The market takes place twice a year and is the largest wholesale market for decor and gifts in the country.  Every January and July, manufacturers introduce new products that retail stores will be buying for the upcoming season.   The market is also where interior designers can go to source products for their clients.

I spent 9 days at market and walked away with a good take on what the hottest trends will be for spring and summer.  Here’s what I saw…

PRODUCT & COLOR TRENDS FOR 2019

Tassel embellishments have been popular for ages and will continue to be throughout 2019.  In fact, I don’t see this classic design detail loosing its appeal anytime soon.  While at market, I spotted tassels on a variety of items  including pillows, throws and everyday textiles.  I also noticed a few light fixtures with tassel details.  One slight change in the what I’ve seen in the past few years is that some tassel embellishments have gotten larger. These larger tassels added a bohemian and playful vibe to products.  If you love tassels, you’re in luck because they will be a major decor detail this year.

design tip:  tassel trims are an easy DIY way to UpStyle a plain pillow or add trim to a piece of furniture.  You can find tassel trim at any fabric store or shop for vintage yardage on Etsy.  

Textural designs have been and will continue to be an important statement in decor.  For the upcoming seasons, textured finishes seem to be more robust and impactful.  I saw lots of fun new texture treatments on pillows and furniture and lots of beautiful textured lamps.  While not always practical from an end-use standpoint, texture is key to adding visual interest in any room.

design tip:  don’t go overboard on texture when decorating.  Pair textured pieces with smooth finishes and surfaces to create the perfect balance. 

Velvet fabrics have been used in home decor for decades.  People often associate it with elegant and decor but designers and manufactures have taken a more casual approach to its use for 2019. I spotted art-deco designs and colorful stripe pattern on pillows and accent furniture.  I also saw lots of embossed and embellished velvet items too.

design tip:  if you’re looking to introduce a bold color into your decor, velvet fabrics are an ideal way to do it.  The traditional feel of velvet + a fun color can create a modern and youthful vibe.

Saying that wood is going to be a big trend in home decor is somewhat obvious but wood designs have taken on a new look for 2019.  This year you’re going to see the continuation of raw and organic finishes along with lots of hand-craved details. I also saw lots of rustic furniture designs that speak to the continued popularity of the farmhouse decor trend.

design tip:  don’t be afraid to mix different wood varieties and finishes into your decor.  The trick to use one wood finish as the dominant element and other contrasting wood decor as an accents. You also want to mix in other materials like metal or glass to provide balance and contrast. 

I didn’t expect to see as much woven furniture as I did but I’m excited that there are lots of new woven furniture and decor pieces being introduced for spring and summer.  I saw old-school styles like the wicker fan chair resurface along with new silhouettes that had a more refined look.   It’s good to see new version of classic pieces coming back into style.

design tip: when decorating inside, woven furniture is one design element that you don’t want go overboard on.  A little goes a long way so one large piece of furniture will make a dynamic impact in any room.  Once you have that statement piece in place, smaller elements like footstools or lighting can be added without the room feeling over-styled. 

In addition to lots of woven furniture, I also saw lots of wicker, bamboo and rattan decor at market. There was unique lighting and mirrors and baskets of every shape and size with paint details and woven embellishments.  Woven accessories are one of my favorite decor elements because they add a relaxed and casual feel to a room

design tip:   when considering woven accessories, look at your room and think about how you can add elements at different heights in the room.  A wall decor piece balanced with a tabletop piece plus the addition of baskets on the floor is a great formula.   

Leather furniture and decor is just about as classic as you can get when it comes to decor.  For 2019 I saw leather resurfacing in a new way.  Leather finishes with an aged vintage feel  on modern shapes were all over market. I also spotted lots of fun stitching details that gave leather pieces a more artistic feel.

design tip:  Introduce leather into a room with lots of soft textiles to add dimension and give the room additional character. 

I’m so excited to see that the color blue will continue as a hot trend for spring and summer.  Along with classic navy, I saw different  shades of blue in fabrics, tabletop items, lighting and wall decor.   I think the strength of blue as a dominant color in decor was also reinforced when Behr paint  picked a blue as their color of the year.

design tip:  when using different shades of one color in a room, try to create balance by having one shade be dominant, one secondary and the third a small accent. 

Black and white as a color trend was not surprise.  This classic color combo is one of the most versatile when it comes to decorating.  Black and white elements can easily be incorporated into every design style and look great with any other color to pair with it.

design tip:  black and white are a great neutral statement to introduce into room with lots of color.  Considered non-colors, black, white and the combination of the two and will help ground a room and make it feel anchored. 

The Boho Chic trend doesn’t seem to be dying off anytime soon.  I spotted lots of colorful and eclectic boho chic decor at market.  From colorful baskets and pillows to decorative accessories and wall hangings, I think the appeal is the unique personality that the boho style conveys.

design tip:  this is one trend where you really can’t have too much of one look.  If eclectic is your style, layer different color and patterns together to create your own style statement.

The last design trend that I saw  is another one that’s been around for some time–Mid-Century Modern.  As I walked by showrooms, I saw lots of  bold, abstract art, sleek furniture shapes and uncomplicated design details. While this trend may not be for everyone, it does appeal to a wide audience including both baby boomers and millennials.  Minimalistic home décor is definitely having a “moment” and mid-century styles are a direct off-shoot of that.

design tip: when working mid-century pieces into your home, choose one large statement piece to act as a focal point

There you have it, a look at some of the hot trends that were highlighted at the Atlanta market.  And if you’ve been thinking about adding one of the trends to your decor, I hope the design tips I shared will give you the confidence to go for it.

Which of these design trends has you most excited?  Leave me a comment and let me know.