19
AREA RUGS
Swapping out a rug can bring new life to a room
without requiring consumers to buy new furniture
or repaint rooms to freshen their looks. Today, soft
flooring is either natural, neutral and calming, with
quiet colors and patterns that provide versatility,
elegance and a classic feel, or it is an explosion of
color and pattern. While rugs with geometric patterns,
including check, herringbone, diamond and art deco
are still popular, new designs with vibrant patterns
and bold "Technicolor" hues are capturing the interest
of today's most daring and sophisticated decorators
and consumers. While animal hides and zebra prints
remain on point for 2022, why not offer your customers
something entirely new?
A top trend today is area rugs in new, irregular and
unconventional shapes, often with eye-catching prints
and/or complex textures. And, according to Ruggable.com,
there are other trends in rugs to consider, with "vintage" being
the big one. Note, however, that rugs don't have to actually be
vintage; they just have to look vintage.
Flat-weave rugs are also becoming highly sought. While people still like
natural rugs such as sisal and hemp, many consumers are gravitating to rugs
that have a similar look but feel softer and plusher underfoot, have more
intricate patterns, and are easier to clean and more durable—for high-traffic
areas. Flat-weave rugs can be used in both indoor and protected
outdoor spaces.
Studio-TheBlueBoy.com
THROW PILLOWS continued
For retailers looking to provide more
luxurious looks, the use of velvets and
metallic fabrics, along with crystals
and other ornamentation, can create
pillows and pillow covers that are,
perhaps, less functional and more
decorative—even works of art.
DesignersGuild.com, Pillow by Christian Lacroix
