This week at ICFF, held at the Javitz Center in New York, global and bespoke manufacturers showed off the latest trends in contemporary and luxury home furnishings. In addition to the newest products introduced to these markets from companies as local as Brooklyn, NY, to as far away as Greece, Italy, Spain and Denmark, there were student competitions and more to showcase up and coming design and innovation.
ICFF covered the entire home with exhibitors who focused on everything from lighting, kitchen and bath fixtures to decorative wallpaper, rugs, wall art and of course, indoor and outdoor furniture. An eclectic mix of materials was on display, and displays themselves were eye-catching. According to exhibitors, this show was strong, with good attendance and good audience connections. The show ended Wednesday with a “public” day that allowed exhibitors to connect with consumers as well.
There was lots of “new” to see at this show with designs focused on customization, easy configurability and functionality as well as a playful sense of whimsy. There were mixed materials, metallics with a continued focus on warm gold tones leaning toward brass, and soft seating with an emphasis on velvets.
In addition, here are five trends that incorporate those above and stood out across the aisles and exhibitor booths.
Bold and Bright
From brights to jewel tones, color is definitely a primary focus for home furnishings this year, particularly deeper greens and golds. Color was accessible on everything from upholstered furniture to rugs, lighting fixtures and even bath and kitchen fixtures.
Curve Appeal
Many introductions at this year’s ICFF paid homage to midcentury modern styling with clean, minimalist design. There was a focus on organic shapes and curves were apparent in seating, case goods and even lighting for a soft juxtaposition to more linear counterparts in collections.
Au Natural
Playing off the color of upholstery and accents, wood tones were decidedly lighter and more natural, designed to lighten up rooms and create the appearance of space. From light blondes to mid-tones, case goods and accents showed off the natural appeal of fine woods that spoke for themselves. On the flip side, woods stained in matte black were also trending, offering something for everyone.
Technically Speaking
From a motion sofa that conforms to the person sitting in the seat to touch lighting and table runners that connect to play music, technology continues to be a growing focus in home furnishings design, creating products that provide clever functionality for the end user.
Throwback to Yesteryear
Global influences mired in history were also trending at ICFF, with nods to company beginnings, patterns that represent a region or the use of vintage materials that bring new life and use to something older. The influence of sustainable practices along with repurposing older materials and designs make for good product stories that will resonate with buyers and consumers.
Beyond these five trends, we saw so much up and coming product this week. We’ll be sharing more from this show in our July issue and visit our gallery, which continues our trend coverage from ICFF.
