High Point Market Design Inspiration: Color, Lighting & Connection

10 hours ago

2 min read

Updated: 10 minutes ago

Abstract portrait of a nude figure with hands covering face, partly hidden by red, white, and peach flowers on a textured canvas.

High Point Market: Design Beyond the Showroom

After eight years of attending High Point Market, I still find something that makes me pause, look closer, and imagine new possibilities for my clients.

My goal is to attend at least once a year. For me, the experience goes beyond discovering what’s new. I believe design continually evolves—familiar forms, colors, and materials find fresh expression through the way we bring them together.

Here’s what stayed with me from this visit:

Color with confidence.

Rust, warm gold, deep teal, and rich earth tones appeared in textiles and beautifully layered displays. A sweeping, colorful mural made an entire seating area feel expressive and alive. These moments reminded me how color can give a room both personality and soul.

Woman sitting on a brown sofa in a stylish lounge with a large abstract mural, marble table, and warm lighting. — Color With Confidence, Wallpaper + Paint + Texture

Lighting as art.

From cascading glass to sculptural, botanical forms, lighting invited a closer look. The fixtures offered more than illumination; their shape, texture, and scale became part of the room’s story.

Modern showroom with four tiered hanging chandeliers of white tubes and orange accents over a wood floor. — Lighting As Art

Comfort with presence.

Generous seating, tactile upholstery, patterned drapery, and layered pillows offered inspiration for rooms that feel refined and welcoming. Beauty and everyday comfort belong together.

Modern living room with beige sectional sofa, patterned pillows, framed landscape art, lamp, and curtains in warm neutral tones. — Tactile Upholster+ Pattern Drapery + Layered Pillow

The people behind the design.

Some of my most meaningful Market moments happened in conversation. I was blessed to connect with designers whose wisdom, warmth, and generosity left a lasting impression.

One memorable encounter included meeting a talented designer and speaking with her mother. Listening to the designer share her expertise on a panel, then experiencing that personal connection, made her work even more meaningful to me.

We often see the beautiful finished spaces. Meeting the people behind them—and feeling a connection to their spirit—adds something a photograph alone cannot capture.

And to the people who help make Market possible: thank you. The hotel teams, bus drivers, showroom hosts, and those holding doors open through rain and cold—your patience and kindness are part of the experience, too.

I came home with fresh inspiration, meaningful connections, and ideas I look forward to interpreting for my clients.

Which would you bring into your home: richer color, statement lighting, or more layers of texture?