In the past few years of attending the largest home furnishings trade show in the world, our team has observed High Point Market trends like romantic touches and feminine lines, sustainable furniture and wellness-minded design, fluted details and intriguing textures, bold patterns and varying shades of the same color used in one space, and so much more. This season surprised us with the return of black leather, masculine patterns, deep color palettes, and dark woods among more expected trends like color-drenching and ’70s-inspired interiors. Read on for our favorite interior design trends from the April 2025 HPMKT.
10 High Point Market Interior Design Trends Our Team Noticed This April
#1 Dark Woods (and Dark Finishes)
Surprisingly dominant for a Spring market, deep wood tones like walnut and espresso replaced the breezy pale woods typically associated with this season. These rich finishes brought warmth and depth to showrooms while grounding many of the spaces we toured. Last year, Homes & Gardens teased the trend, adding that “Rich, deep, chocolatey wood tones imbued with an old-meets-new warmth, charm, and character are on the rise.”
Our designers agree that finishes like mahogany and stained oak are gaining popularity because they bring depth and character to interiors. This trend also complements the broader shift toward warmer color palettes and natural materials—whether that be in a dining room, living room, or primary suite.
While once thought to be suited only to traditional or period homes, dark woods are now making bold statements in contemporary design, too, through cabinetry, flooring, or accent pieces. But be sure to incorporate them thoughtfully: pair with warm tones like burgundy or ochre, use them to ground a room, or introduce them subtly with key furniture pieces.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Replacing the typical light and pale woods were deep walnuts and other rich finishes.”
LUDC COO Melissa Grove
#2 Black Leather
LUDC CEO and Founder Laura Umansky loved the design and balance of this black leather chair from the Century showroom.
Black leather made a bold comeback, which was another surprise for us at LUDC. Most commonly seen in oversized seating, black leather upholstery added edge, structure, and masculinity; it was especially impactful when paired with modern silhouettes, feminine edges, or vintage-inspired details.
Interestingly, black leather is making an equally valiant comeback in women’s fashion—stemming most notably from Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer show, where the wardrobe staple was reimagined. The garment’s material is the same, but silhouettes and shapes are different now—just like in interiors. As Alice Newbold and Madeline Fass write in a Vogue article published early last month, “The leather jacket is not a new wardrobe staple, but something about Saint Laurent’s drop-shouldered, buckled, supple style feels particularly fresh for now.”
We love to see fashion and furnishings borrow from each other!
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Leather upholstery was shown in a big way, particularly large pieces in black leather, which we haven’t seen in years.”
LUDC Director of Interior Design Shannon Smith
#3 Curved and Rounded Everything
From sofas and chairs to beds and headboards, soft yet sculptural lines were everywhere in the living spaces crafted for HPMKT showrooms this April. Curves truly ruled the market floor. These shapes added dynamism to spaces without sacrificing the comfort that plush textures and rounded silhouettes allow. Our team noticed that curved furniture pieces were often paired with luxurious finishes like velvet or lacquer.
Of course, curves have been on-trend for a couple of years now. As DesignDash’s recent article “8 Curvy Furniture Pieces to Help You Capture the 2025 Trend” observes, “This season’s most compelling silhouettes trade sharp angles for softened lines, with furniture that feels sculptural, sensual, and quietly bold…[but] the curved sofa has been a mainstay in recent years.” In general, geometric shapes have been overtaken by more organic ones.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Curved Everything – Sofas, chairs, even beds are bending the rules (literally).”
Senior Interior Designer Olevia Nguyen
“Unique, curved pieces displayed in jewel tones made for a moody vibe that really set them apart!”
Lisa Sheppard, describing Caracole’s show room
#4 Stacked and Layered Console and Cocktail Tables
Multifunctional and sculptural, console and cocktail tables at this Market were designed in layered, nested, or stacked formats—perfect for smaller spaces or for homeowners seeking flexibility in how interiors are used. We saw two-tier cocktail tables, nesting consoles, and asymmetrical stacking surfaces that simultaneously added visual interest and enhanced functionality.
Though furniture can lean utilitarian, these designs did not focus solely on utility; they also explored materiality. We saw combinations of metal, glass, stone, and wood—all layered to create contrast and depth. We believe that this trend reflects a growing demand for furniture that works harder and smarter while still feeling intentional and fashion-forward. The nesting tables from Vanguard (pictured above) certainly accomplish both.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Layered cocktail tables were another trend we saw at multiple showrooms.”
Shannon Smith
#5 Beaded and String Lighting
As for lighting trends, intriguing design elements like beading, string, and metal straps graced numerous light fixtures. Lighting at this Market was much more expressive, tactile, and handcrafted than in years past. Whether seen in chandeliers, sconces, or pendant groupings, these designs introduced a playfulness to lighting that still felt elevated.
Beaded and string lighting played particularly well in moody, organic palettes and rooms grounded by dark finishes. Rather than dominating the room, these fixtures softened it. Though they were all unique and intriguing, each felt beautifully hand-crafted and caught the eye without “shouting” at you.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Beaded and String Lighting adds texture and elegance with a touch of whimsy.”
Olevia Nguyen
#6 Masculine Patterns on “Softer” Furniture
It was interesting to see checks, stripes, tweeds, and richer patterns often paired with feminine, rounded silhouettes like in Thom’s collection. This trend seemed to be more about contrast than nostalgia.
Masculine patterns added structure and formality to curvier pieces, providing just enough rigidity to ground designs without overwhelming them. This approach made such pieces refined yet unexpected. Interestingly, we first identified the return of masculine motifs like stripes and plaids at last year’s High Point Market, but this spring confirmed it.
In both cases, rather than feeling stiff or traditional, these timeless textiles have been reimagined with a contemporary sensibility. We saw designers apply them across upholstery, soft goods, and even case pieces in a way that felt fresh, tailored, and incredibly livable.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“A trend toward more masculine patterns on furniture with feminine curves and rounded profiles [could be found throughout Thom Filicia’s collection].”
Melissa Grove
About 2024’s Market, she said…
“We noticed lots of stripes and plaid patterns, executed very handsomely in a modern way. This really fresh take on something more masculine stood out across the showrooms.”
Melissa Grove
#7 ’70s–’80s Throwbacks
Vintage elements (whether from the period itself or reimagined for contemporary spaces) were everywhere at this spring’s Market. From smoky glass and amber tones to tubular forms and lacquered finishes, the influence of late 20th-century design was unmistakable but rendered with a clear 2025 perspective.
The near-rocket shape of these Kelly Wearstler (and the brass finishing) is distinctly Space Age. We love them!
As proponents of postmodern furniture, we were pleased to see these elements integrated into contemporary layouts with a focus on proportion, tone, and materiality instead of used solely as retro novelties. Rather than mimicking the past, designers truly refined it. Chunky forms were reimagined in soft materials. Warm amber hues felt rich, not dated. And the iconic glass-and-chrome look of the ’80s returned in a more elegant, elevated manner.
Altogether, this trend reflects a broader design sentiment: we’re tapping into nostalgia while looking forward.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“’70s–’80s throwbacks with a modern twist; think chunky forms, but chic.”
Olevia Nguyen
“We saw a lot of influences from the 70s and 80s that have been at High Point… but they were really prominent in this market.”
Melissa Grove
#8 Deep Color Palettes
Saturated hues, moody tones, and lush textures dominated at this season’s Market; bold is still beautiful! If light and airy once defined spring interiors, this year proved that moodier hues are as seasonless as they are statement-making.
Maroon, deep blue, olive green, and oxblood tones deepened many of the rooms we visited. Even black and brown made head-to-toe appearances. Often layered tone-on-tone, these palettes created a sense of intimacy and sophistication without ever feeling heavy or overdone.
What made this trend feel fresh was how color was used across multiple materials: velvet upholstery, lacquered finishes, painted walls, and even stained woods. By successfully balancing richness with texture and light, designers created rooms that felt curated, cocooning, and emotionally resonant. Even five years after COVID, we all seem to still want these personal, comforting interiors.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
“Maroon Mania! Sophisticated, rich, and making a major comeback.”
Olevia Nguyen
#9 Traditional Skirting, Pleating, and Draping
Refined upholstery details made an elegant return to Market this season. Skirts, pleats, bullion fringe, and full-length draping were seen across a range of seating. These elements were often paired with modern shapes and luxe materials while referencing classic design while feeling intentional and current.
The key here was in the balance: Designers weren’t leaning into maximalist traditionalism, but rather using these embellishments to soften a space, introduce movement, or add a hint of nostalgia. Think waterfall skirts on velvet sofas, or bullion fringe on a curved slipper chair—pieces that felt storied, not stuffy.
It was interesting to see this very formal, polished version of the skirting trend at High Point when slipcovers have been everywhere in recent months. A few months ago, DesignDash noted that “When done well, large, loosely arranged fabrics envelop furniture in an unstudied yet sophisticated way. But when executed poorly, these sofas simply look messy.” Our team is pleased to see pleats and more elegant draping take over.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
Madi Hurley captured this trend, noting the prevalence of…
“Traditional skirting and draping; [think] bullion trim.”
LUDC Marketing Lead Madi Hurley
#10 Dramatic Monochromatic Rooms
Single-hue spaces in rich tones created immersive environments at High Point. As we predicted, dopamine decorating continues and color drenching is here to stay.
Designers embraced single-color schemes across walls, upholstery, millwork, and accessories—often using deep hues like navy, aubergine, or rust. These spaces felt immersive and emotionally charged. They demonstrated how color can define both a palette and a room’s mood.
What made this iteration different from last year’s “dopamine decor” was its restraint. These monochrome rooms were intentional, textural, and deeply layered like our Highland Village Contemporary project pictured above. Instead of chasing joy with neon, designers leaned into depth, saturation, and richness to create spaces with staying power.
If you love dopamine decor, give our latest post a read here.
What Our Team Has to Say About This Trend
Lisa Sheppard described Caracole’s rooms as…
“Fully drenched, monochromatic color palette… made for a moody vibe that really set them apart!”
Lisa Sheppard
Creating Spaces with Laura U Design Collective
Trends come and go, but a space that suits your family’s evolving lifestyle while capturing your unique aesthetic with a designer’s eye is timeless. At Laura U Design Collective, we believe in creating interiors that are as functional as they are beautiful.
These spaces should reflect who you are, how you live, and where you’re going next. Whether inspired by a color-drenched room, a sculptural silhouette, or a nostalgic finish seen at High Point Market, our work is always rooted in the primary goal to design environments that feel deeply personal, richly layered, and effortlessly livable.
