What We Really Saw at High Point: A Shift Toward the Personal Side of Modern Design

High Point Furniture Market Showroom

Every season, High Point Market gives us a front-row seat to the latest in interior design—new materials, silhouettes, and styling ideas from across the industry. But this year, the biggest takeaway wasn’t a single trend or color story. It was a mindset shift.

As interior designers focused on modern, intentional spaces, we couldn’t help but notice that the most meaningful designs were the ones that felt personal—not overly curated, not copied-and-pasted from someone else’s Pinterest board. Real. Lived-in. Individual.

Sure, we still saw plenty of what’s “hot” right now: curved furniture, bouclé textures, warm wood tones, and vintage-inspired lines. But the mood was different. The focus is moving away from mass appeal and toward what actually resonates on a personal level.

At Studio Fifth Sunday, we’ve always believed that modern design doesn’t have to mean cold, stark, or trendy. For us, it means clarity, honesty, and purpose. And while we don’t design based on what’s trending, we do stay tuned in to how tastes are shifting—because it helps us understand what people are craving in their spaces.

Right now? People are craving connection.

We saw a return to soul—spaces built around warmth, memory, and texture. Richer woods. Intentional layering. Pieces that feel collected, not bought all at once. Rooms that invite you in and let you exhale.

As Chicago based interior designers, we’ve always aimed to balance modern aesthetics with real-life personality. And this season at High Point affirmed that we’re not alone—design is moving in a direction that’s more human, less perfect. More expressive, less formulaic.

It’s not about the latest trend.

It’s about creating a home that reflects who you really are.

And that’s something we’ll always design for.

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