Spring 2015 Home Furnishings & Decor Trendspotting at The High Point Market

TREND: STINGRAY -- real or faux, this exotic skin design is subtle yet identifiable, and has steadily gained in popularity not such for small leather goods and accessories but as great decor options for the home.

TREND: ETHNIC EMBROIDERY -- it's not necessarily a newcomer to the design scene, yet beautifully designed and executed embroidery, seen here on pillows, sets a sophisticated yet comfortable tone for both the home and fashion categories.

TREND: RE-PURPOSED DIY - Thanks to Pinterest and Etsy, DIY for fashion & home is stronger, and easier than ever. I loved the mixing of both worlds via this Performance Art Collection Featuring Sunbrella® Fabrics bracelet that re-imagined a fabric used for the home with much greater design possibilities.

TREND: BRUSH STROKE DESIGNS -- this was huge in fashion this past year (think Celine, and many, many knock-offs of its painterly prints), so it makes sense that the loose brush stroke design will also appear on other canvases, found here via temporary wallpaper by Tempaper.

TREND: PAINTED WOOD -- especially in silver, this is extremely of-the-moment in jewelry, and looks great as part of a home's decor element. An accent of color seems to work best, with all-over hues appearing most popular in faceted shapes.

TREND: (CRUELTY-FREE) ANIMAL DECOR -- the "it" moment for actual taxidermy has come and gone, and now we look to natural and synthetic materials for our critter fix. In fashion, the faux version of fur is extremely popular for coats, vests, bags and even shoes, while animal graphics on tees & sweatshirts has really taken off, and is no longer just for the kiddies.

TREND: VICTORIAN FASHION -- turn of (last century) fashion, seen on the runways and in accessories such as lace-up boots and even ornate mourning dress, currently the subject of an exhibit at The Met. For home, the era translates via heritage pieces popular in that period, such as exquisitely-made leather trunks, chairs, and sofas.