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7 New Trends in Contemporary Furniture and Decor From New York

Vibrant botanicals, playful shapes and natural materials reigned at the 2021 International Contemporary Furniture Fair

Kyle Troutman 27 November 2021

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Furnishings with a focus on materials, function, flora and form made an impact recently at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) during New York Design Week. The show, held from 14 to 15 November 2021, welcomed architects, designers and industry professionals back to its first in-person event since 2019.

On display were beautiful blends of marble and stone and hardwoods moulded into dramatic shapes, showcasing an attention to natural materials. A wave of new furnishings and wall coverings embraced an emerging design trend: the squiggle. And outdoor furniture got bolder and brighter as the world gets back outside. Read on to see these trends and more from the show, then tell us in the Comments which products inspire you the most.

1. Stone, marble and cement
Designers, makers and brands showcased new stone furnishings that marry different textures, hues and materials into artful designs.

CAM Design took inspiration from traditional Japanese wood joinery techniques to fuse Calacatta gold and nero marquina stone for the Marble Jointed Bench. The hybrid nature of this bench-table strikes a note with the global trend of creating multi-functional furniture that’s highly adaptable.

The texture and grooves on the Fracture Mirror by Simon Johns nods to the natural crevices and geometries of sedimentary stone. Glass, gypsum cement and wood come together in this sculptural mirror with stony white pillars and a contemporary design.

Find an interior decorator or designer on Houzz to help you embrace new trends in a timeless way

2. Warm and vibrant botanicals
Flora-inspired pieces have been appearing steadily at design shows, from Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy, to High Point Market in North Carolina, USA. At ICFF, rugs, wallpaper and accessories showed up in warm and vibrant hues.

Nanimarquina showed its collection of hand-tufted Bloom wool rugs featuring earthy tones. Warm greens, oranges and yellows mixed with deep blacks and reds give the 150 x 166-centimetre rug, seen here, a punch of sophisticated colour.

7 Trend Highlights From the 2021 ICFF Design Show

Down the hall from ICFF at the Boutique Design New York (BDNY) show, Arte wall coverings unveiled its Décors & Panoramiques collection. The wallpaper seen here, Ciel Tropical, is made of ultra-soft velvet and depicts a surrealist tropical jungle in vibrant blues and greens.

3. Squiggles and waves
Organic and energetic shapes such as waves and squiggles are emerging as a design trend that’s both quirky and sophisticated. From wallpaper and lighting to mirrors and chairs, squiggles and waves are having a moment.

Merenda Wallpaper debuted Under Water Wave, a collection of wallpapers inspired by Japanese depictions of waves and graffiti-drip techniques. This colourway, Autumn Wave, features earthy green and brown tones in a subtle gradient.

Browse beautifully styled living rooms for inspiration

The Squiggle Mirror by CAM Design is made of solid American black walnut and features a long, prominent squiggle. The full-length mirror can be hung vertically or horizontally, depending on how you want to highlight its stunning shape.

4. Hardwoods in exaggerated shapes and curves
Timber is one material to always keep an eye out for when it comes to American design and sustainability. This year, hardwood furnishings had elegant curves and dramatic forms.

Long Island, New York-based Ian Love Design debuted shapely wooden tables during ICFF’s virtual showcase in 2020. However, this year it showed new tables and a chair inspired by mystical symbolism and crop circles, made from local trees that were taken down and marked as garbage.

Bold forms hand-carved out of bleached holly and hard maple shape the two tables. Imprinted circles and arrows of different sizes on the poplar chair’s backrest, and a large square cut-out on the trapezoidal base, create interesting geometries.

An hourglass shape, see-through tambour screens and brushed-brass supports, outfit Topolino Design’s Dragonfly cabinet, pictured here. The designers carved white oak into graceful curves and contours that give this piece a light and ethereal feel.

5. Bold hues for outdoor furniture
As the world inches back outside, designers and brands are making outdoor furnishings with a brighter and bolder attitude.

Outdoor furniture company Tidelli introduced new collections of sofas, chairs, benches and tables in saturated hues and modern designs. This sofa from the Kauai collection has clean lines, fire-engine red upholstered seating and a matching aluminum base.

Shore’s handmade Monochrome Lounger, Square, Bench and Stools are made of a handwoven silicone textile that’s stretched over high-performance marine-grade foam for extra protection from the elements. Smooth curves, modern design and vibrant colours make these pieces great for outdoor relaxing and entertaining.

6. Rattan and cane
Natural plant fibers such as rattan and cane can give spaces a relaxed tone. At ICFF and beyond, these materials continue to resonate with makers and brands around the world for their strength, durability and beauty.

The Laura collection of seating and bar stools by Sossego is made of rounded and arched solid timber with woven rattan backrests and plush fabric or leather seats.

Bared Design crafted this Sails room divider in white oak and natural rattan caning. Each of the three panels is anchored by a hand-polished stainless steel base that can rotate to create different configurations and moods.

7 Trends in Contemporary Furniture from ICFF 2021

7. Jagged edges
Furniture and accessories with uneven and jagged edges were mainstays at ICFF. Whether for function or looks, these elements leave a lasting impression.

Together and Apart is a modular furniture system comprising two interlocking saw-toothed wedges that are fully adjustable to create different shapes and heights. In its most compact form, it measures 50 x 30 x 30 centimetres and can be configured as a stool, coffee table, laptop desk and more.

This multi-functional piece by Bjarke Ballisager is available in solid white oak or ebonised ash, as well as paper stone and high-density cork.

The twisted and off-centre sides and edges of the Origin side table by Bizmuth, pictured here, were inspired by the naturally occurring crystalline metal substance, bismuth. This small black-walnut table can add an interesting, modern aesthetic to a bedroom or living space.

Your turn
Which of these seven trends are you excited to see on our shores? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.

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Have you seen the latest and greatest emerging designs from Australian creators? Read this story cast your Vote Now: 2021 Decor+Design VIVID x Houzz People’s Choice Awards

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dlb98

I love the outdoor furniture but I have my doubts about the foam. The “outdoor” rug I put on my patio became green with mildew after a rainy week and despite extensive cleaning, mildewed with every rain after that

Like 24 November 2021 at 11:25pm