Fall Color and Pattern Trends

Last week the New York design world was abuzz with the semi-annual New York International Gift Fair , a fabulous trade show showcasing what’s new and exciting in the worlds of handmade, jewelry, baby, gifts, garden accessories and, of course, home design. Located on the west side of Manhattan on Pier 94 , the At Home section features the latest and greatest in home furnishing and accessories from companies around the world. I often forget just how extensive the show is, with so much to see and feast my eyes on. I truly love attending this show, as it’s not only a place to find great pieces for clients, the show spurs a conversation on design trends and practices! After recovering from sensory overload, I reflected on the commonalities I found amongst the booths. Here are my fall color and pattern trends as seen at the NYIGF :

Tribal Inspired

Tribal patterns like suzanis and ikats have been ultra-popular these past few years in the design world. These funky tribal fabrics made more than one appearance at the gift show, proving it is a trend that is here to stay…at least for a while longer!

The pattern adorned adorable pillows at the Barreveld booth, was splashed across the eco-friendly outdoor mats at Mad Mats, and upholstered on a beautiful Louis XVI chair at Manglam Arts and on ottomans at Patrick Charles ! It would add a touch of global glamour to any foyer or living room…Simply irresistible!

Pretty Pales

Muted, softer tones are proving to be this fall’s new neutrals. In place of the grays and taupes that have been ever present the past few years, are soft pinks, greens, blues and yellows. Not quite pastel, these white-washed shades add a subtle level of softness and feminity that their less colorful counterparts can! These hues popped up on vintage-inspired and worn-in furniture at booths including Bramble , where pale green wooden chairs mixed with a washed out blue demi-lune table.

Over at the Mr. Brown booth, traditionally bold patterns like houndstooth were reinvented in much softer hues. At the booth of Connecticut-based Oomph , lacquered mirrors, tables and barcarts were displayed in two contrasting vignettes: the pretty pales and the bold and the beautiful, another apparent color trend.

Bold and the Beautiful

Although the popularity of pale color schemes was undeniable, bright jewel-tones made their appearance in booths other than Oomph . Booth after booth popped with lime green, magenta and turquoise. At Legends of Asia , a favorite of mine, lacquered blue pottery in ancient Eastern shapes mixed and mingled with classic blue-and-white china.

At Carson & Company , the most adorable hot pink side table was bedazzled with silver studded flowers making for a chic little console.

Although many other colors and patterns made an appearance, these were the trends that stood out to me, loud and proud. Beautiful jewel-stoned colors, pale color schemes, or ikat patterns, there was something for everyone.