What Happens in Las Vegas … Is Coming To Your Home

Like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is to the world of gadgets and electronic devices and the Detroit North American International Auto Show is to the automotive industry, World Market Center is poised to become the global stage for introducing new trends in home furnishings to retail buyers – and ultimately – the consumer.

Attendees of Las Vegas Market – the fastest growing international trade show dedicated to home furnishings and design industry professionals – saw 10 home furnishings trends dominate the recent show, held January 29 – February 2, 2007.

1. Wild Things Look for organic forms, wood grains, ceramics and shells, recycled materials, natural floral/botanical motifs. Minneapolis-based Trend Forecaster Michelle Lamb said, “We are seeing more wood products, lighting and decorative accessories made of found wood in its natural state.”

2.Give Me Shelter Four-posters, sleigh beds and padded headboards are all still top sellers, but bedroom furniture manufacturers are finding new popularity in the embrace of the sheltering bed.

3. Neutral Attitude Layering, tone-on-tone effects and accents of wood and metal create calming tones. Look for pale earth tones, vanillas and creams. Palm Springs, Calif.-based Designer, Dann Foley, said, "Today’s neutral settings are set off with punches of color in rich woods and striking metals. Works of art are then used to make a color statement in a room."

4. All That Glitters Metals create light touches of gold and silver, particularly in combination with black. Coppers and bronzes could be the next wave in this trend. Christine Chow, director of membership for the New York-based Color Association of the United States, said, “Today’s metallics are not flashy, but aged or patinaed, brushed, hammered or woven in hues of brass, pewter and copper.”

5. The Kids Are All Right The juvenile market is all grown up. What’s new here is the breadth of styles and designs, and the ability for customization. Styles run the gamut.

6. Now THAT’S Entertainment With changing dimensions, shapes and depths, hot electronics need updated home theater pieces to showcase them properly. Watch for the latest plasmas, multi-function seating and ample storage.

7. Modern Architecture Styles are as much art as furniture, floating tabletops (think Gehry rather than Gothic) metals, wood and glass.

8. Playing the Scales Look for grand-scale beds and dining furniture, as well as cozy tables-for-two and sleeker condo-sized sofas.

9. Cautious Carvings We’ve strayed away from carved case goods in recent years, but the look is coming back into play. Don’t think of the over-embellished woods of the past, this look is sleeker and more subtle.

10. Special Effects Watch for specialty bedding, or beds that are constructed with more than just the usual innerspring coils.