Colors, Trends and New Products
There is lots to love about January… but what we look forward to most is our semi-annual visit to the Atlanta Home and Gift Market. After a busy holiday season, it is great to get out of our local area to get a glimpse of some of the themes and trends for the new year. Our buying trip is the perfect way to start the year off fresh with ideas and inspiration from some of the leading names in the industry.
Over the past two years, we’ve found that there is no substitute for being physically at the markets and buying shows. We have to see, feel and touch the products we bring into our stores. And we get energized from browsing the showrooms, curating our own collections, and creating our gift boxes in person. Here are some of our favorite ideas and take-aways from this year’s market:
Nature-inspired Color Trends
Last fall, we got a sneak peek of what was coming in terms of 2022 color trends when both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams selected shades of green for their ‘colors of the year.’ At market, we saw the organic, nature-inspired green hues displayed differently in many of the showrooms. Misty greens, emerald greens, olive greens – all the shades were carried through in various ways through the décor and accessory color palettes. They were often paired with other nature-inspired colors such as nautical blues, sand-toned neutrals and warm beiges while aged brass metallic pieces and floral textiles added a bit of interest and color as accents.
Woven Textures
Texture, texture and texture is another common theme woven through 2022’s accent furniture pieces, tabletop accessories and floor coverings. Natural and organic fibers are the featured material in many of the decorative accents on display. Trays, frames and serving pieces as well as intricately woven Rattan light fixtures, lanterns and serving pieces were popular. We especially loved the delicate, handmade paper ‘sheets’ (think airy wallpaper) that are being used as wall décor and in sculptures. The trend is to layer several of these coordinating woven pieces -- rugs, furniture, textiles – over each other to create beautiful interior spaces.
Plants
Being confined to home has led consumers to crave the outdoors. Designers have embraced the trend by creating artwork with colorful flowers and incorporating exotic plants throughout their collections. Pressed flowers have made their way into everything from gift cards and stationery to candle vessels, vases and glass-framed artwork. We are planning to add several pressed flower glass pieces to our stores this year such as vases and canisters with delicate fern and flower detailing.
Gifts for the little ones
Our baby category continues to grow so we were very interested to see new products for the little ones. We’re very particular when selecting blankets, apparel and plush toys -- it’s all about the feel. Only the softest and cuddliest will do! Our favorite designers echo the sentiment and have brought their best to this category. We found some incredibly soft bamboo sleepers, organic swaddles and cozy blankets that will make wonderful additions to this gift category. We’re also expanding our collection of plush animals and coordinating books from Jellycat with the addition of several new books and animals in this popular toy category (look for these items to arrive later this spring).
Make your Own Gift Boxes
It's still a bit of a secret... but one of our focus areas this year is a 'make your own' gift box program. In Atlanta, we were busy sourcing unique products specifically for this new segment of our business. While other companies offer this service, we know our customers don't want cookie cutter gift boxes stuffed with off-brand trinkets and cheap fillers. They want beautifully wrapped, personalized gifts with the same high quality, brand name products we offer in our shop. We're so excited about this new venture and thrilled with the products we've found. Stay tuned for more information coming out in the next few weeks.
Final thoughts…
Clearly, the pandemic has played a big role in the look and feel of products made for gift and home décor markets. Minimalist and contemporary styles that featured rigid lines and cool, gray colors have been replaced with inviting, curved furniture, soft textiles, pastels and nature-inspired palettes. The styles are cozy, comfortable, soft and simple. They illustrate our desire for our homes to be kinder, softer, more welcoming places to relax and simply live.
Stay in touch for updates and announcements as our new products make their way into our physical and online stores over the next several months. Be sure to sign up for our email updates to learn when new products arrive. And follow us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for a regular posts photos, ideas and inspiration!
