Keeping up with the latest trends in fashion is one thing but in your home… Sure, you might like picking up some new seasonal accessories, but the big pieces, you buy to last. (To do otherwise would get expensive in a hurry!)

That said, foretelling the future of home decor is more than just fun–it’s a way to make sure that the pieces you buy today will still be the pieces you love tomorrow. After all, without a clear understanding of where the furnishings industry is headed, it’s hard to tell if a piece is destined to be a classic or more likely to be a flop. That’s why we sent two lead writers to High Point Market. There, they discovered three emerging trends you’ll want to bring into your home. What’s more, they’ll explain how you can bring those trends home even if you’re not in the market for new furniture right now. Over the next few days, we’ll look at some gorgeous pieces for your home office, but for today, let’s look at what designers and manufacturers are unveiling and how you can keep your home up to date without spending a fortune.

Trend: Storybook pieces

As you might anticipate, green was everywhere at Market 2009. Recycled/reclaimed and re-purposed were big buzzwords, splashed on every brochure and stall sign. Where the manufacturer selections really shone, though, were in the booths that offered something beyond just taking a standard railroad tie and turning it into a dining room bench. Instead, one manufacturer offered pieces that actually had life before being turned into gorgeous console tables and storage pieces. From the genuinely time-worn to the well-loved, these pieces combined two big trends: sustainability and one-of-a-kind. Turns out, manufacturers think people are ready to bring home something that either isn’t or doesn’t look mass produced.

How to bring it home:
Pieces with back story can be a little expensive (though we think they’re generally well worth the price tag). If an official storied piece is out of the budget right now, though, you can hunt thrift shops and consignment stores. Best choices are pieces that had a former life doing something else entirely–like the chest of drawers with beautiful detailing that you convert into a office storage piece on casters. Pieces don’t need perfect finishes, and in fact, a patina or bit of distress adds to the piece’s charm. Old school furniture, business pieces (like factory tables) all offer a wonderful dimension to a space and can often be picked up at great prices.

Then, tell your own story about a piece–if you don’t know its history, make one up. No one will ever know that leather chair in the corner didn’t originally call the town’s old library home. For inspiration, think J Peterman or Wisteria catalog. We saw a lot of tags that told romantic tales of coming upon a piece sitting “just so” in an old Indian marketplace.

Trend: Rustic Glam

We’re big fans of the bling–you’d have to be on a site called GirlyPC. But, there’s something about downplaying the glitz ever so slightly, letting it get just a little bit rough and tumble, that bumps up the sophistication and takes Glam a step further. Tarnished mirrors, less-than-glass-smooth finishes (like the desk that almost looked like it had been carved from graphite with its subtly shiny finish–sadly, that shop wouldn’t spill its finishing secrets to our intrepid, and curious, reporters) and patinaed leather all had the look of family heirlooms from a decidedly more tasteful Kardashian. It was sinisterly sexy and kept the space from looking like it was trying too hard (the way mirrored chests sometimes do).

How to bring it home:
These sophisticated pieces will really make a space and it only takes one or two to elevate the style of a room. That said, you can diy the look by heading to stores like Habitat’s ReStore for old glass doors to turn into distressed wall-propped mirrors. (This is an easy one–buy Krylon’s Looking Glass paint, apply two coats, and rub some off with steel wool. Then, apply a coat of oil-based wood stain before sealing the whole shebang.)

Trend: Artisanal Flare

Handmade was a huge trend and we saw it at all price points. From mismatched drawer pulls to square nails to delicate metal trimming, it looks like the bespoke furniture industry has manufacturers feeling inspired. The stuff that was well done was generally spectacular and oozed quality. The stuff that wasn’t, well, didn’t. (This wasn’t necessarily indicated by price point–we saw some quality stuff that wasn’t expensive.) These aren’t the kind of pieces you’ll want to buy online–rather, make sure to take the time to examine them in person before buying. Like all new trends, there will be a rash of copycats and you want to make sure that the piece you buy is well made and sturdy.

How to bring it home:
There’s nothing like investing in a quality artisanal piece, but you can also get creative and add a similar touch to a piece you already own. Instead of buying a set of drawer pulls, hit up Ebay for odds and ends you love. (Stick to the same finish for easy coordination, or, if you’re feeling bolder, venture out and really mix and match.) Add specialty molding to the fronts of drawers. Give the feet of a piece a special paint treatment to make the piece look especially custom. Punch a pattern in thin metal sheets and apply them to the apron of a table. Let your imagination run wild with ideas for customizing your home and making that special piece of furniture truly one-of-a-kind.

Then there were the trends we’ll be skipping…

Room Packages

These were being sold hard to buyers because of the “ease” they offer consumers. After seeing the packages in person, we’d sum them up in one word: soulless. Sure, some of them were actually quite lovely, but none of them looked like they’d ever feel lived in. You know your home should evolve over time and purchasing one of these packages isn’t a quick, easy way to get a room “finished” but rather a ticket to a vapid space that represents neither you nor your needs.

Borrowed Credibility

Ick. Just ick. Sure, celebrity partnerships that result in a “signature label” are nothing new. But, there was an extra edge of desperation to the lines that wanted to copy spreads straight out of the magazines right down to the placement of the dog’s leash. Some partnerships make sense. Amy Butler-designed rugs? Sign us up. Others just smacked of despondency, especially when the salesman tried to sell us on the pieces’ “no-brain buy” status for consumers just looking at the label.

Phony Distressing

Nothing is quite so cheesy looking as an obviously brand new piece of furniture with a “distressed” finish. Mind you, we think faux distressing can be done really well–these pieces, on the other hand, deserved the air quotes. This wasn’t a faux finish, it was a fake finish and it won’t fool anyone. Pieces that had chings taken out of them at carefully measured intervals, or gouges dug out with something clawed (making that two grand console table looking like your cat’s been using it as a scratching post isn’t really a must-have look for us) say desperate to follow a trend, not time-worn family heirloom. Skip ‘em.

High Point Market 2009

All in all, High Point Market 2009 was amazing. We were delighted to hunt through the wares and find some fabulous office trends (watch for these over the next few days) and even more delighted to get to meet some of the actual furniture manufacturers. By and large, everyone was so lovely and enthusiastic about what’s ahead for 2010 and beyond. (Sure, there were a few sales people who wanted to talk more about how slow the economy is, but many others were delighted to talk about the innovation they’re seeing and the things they’re excited about.)

It was also really clear how mixing in a few new pieces with the old will be easier than ever this year–so many of the pieces we saw were highly adaptable and would be a lovely addition to a space of any style. More than ever, manufacturers don’t expect consumers to toss out all their furniture every three years and it was obvious more of the pieces they were showing had been made to really last both with top-quality construction and with classic lines.

We hate that it took an economic downturn for manufacturers to catch on that we don’t want disposable home furnishings, but it was reassuring to see they’re getting the message loud and clear!

When I got an email from Denise about the hallway office she shares with her kids, my mind immediately started churning out small-office decor ideas. I know all too well about being productive in a super small space (my first home office was a teeny coat closet) and while it’s fun to design and decorate a large office, it’s also fun to squeeze every last bit of potential out of a smaller space.

Here’s how Denise describes the situation:

We need help! We have a wide entry hall and that’s the only space in our whole house that really works as an office. The kids and I work on the same laptop (Denise does part time bookkeeping, the kids do homework and play games) and I’d love a longer desk area so both kids can be working there together. Right now, we use my old college desk but it’s deeper than I’d like for the space, and a lot shorter than is ideal. One thing I do like is that the desk has a bit of storage–if you can’t find something long and narrow with storage, we’ll need another resting spot for pens and paper because I hate having that stuff out in the open.

My style is really modern, but the living room is currently furnished in a Pottery Barn style–if you can keep the office space clean but also homey, that’d be perfect. As you can see, we’ve partially stripped the 60-year-old wallpaper (grass cloth), so we need to finish that project and then we’ll need a wall color. I’d also like a new ceiling light fixture as the one that’s there currently is pretty darn ugly. The ceilings in the hall aren’t high, so it’ll need to be something close to the ceiling instead of something that dangles.

We have a budget of $1000. I’m happy to hunt for bargains at the thrift store, so feel free to suggest a piece or two that you think I should find something “similar to.”

Thanks!

So, what we need in this case is a long narrow workspace, plenty of accessible storage and seating for two. Also, because there’s no outlet in the entry hall, Denise plans to have an electrician come out and wire one. Here’s what I put together for Denise and her family.

Since Denise’s budget is important, I’ve included current prices on each item–notice, we bring the whole thing in under budget!

1. One of the best ways to make two (kid-friendly) workspaces in a tight space is to use a bench because it takes up less room than two chairs. Along with relatively modern lines and a low price tag, this piano bench also has the benefit of hidden storage under the seat making it a real asset in the space. $110
2. This darling speech bubble message board brings a spot of playfulness to the space–it adheres to the wall and works as a chalkboard for sharing messages. $15
3. The Pottery Barn Wall-Mounted Craft Organizer has plenty of nooks and crannies to store all the small school/work related stuff like paperclips and rubber bands. $229
4. The Ikea sofa table has just the right dimensions for the space–it’s both a lot longer and a lot narrower than the current desk, and it also has that extra shelf for more storage. $199
5. Instead of a ceiling fixture, I recommend Denise have the electrician install three of these wall sconces. They’ll provide both better task lighting and can function as mood lighting. Overhead fixtures tend to be a bit glaring for living rooms and the sleek lines and friendly price of the Turner Sconces are perfect for the space. Plus, this means we won’t need a desk lamp which would take up space we can’t spare. $49/each
6. For the wall color, the current living room is a warm beige, and I suggest bringing the aqua that’s used heavily in the living room (as accents) into the entry as a light color on the walls. One with plenty of green, like Sherwin Williams’ Hazel will go nicely with the carpeting, though Denise plans to replace that with tile in the next year or two.
7. And, of course, we need flowers! Though this is the entry way and something fresh would be especially lovely, since we’re mixing kids and computers, I recommend something that doesn’t require water like these coffee filter roses.

So, there you have it, a tiny workspace for just $700. To save additional money, Denise could scour Craig’s List for the sofa table–you’ll usually save about 40% that way and can often find the furniture in good condition. A second hand piano bench is also a good option.

That’s how we’d bring modern yet warm style to Denise’s tiny office space. If you happen to be in the mood for a board of your own, click here to score some home office decorating advice for yourself.

Here at the GirlyPC home office, we have a big, clumsy, slobbery dog and he has a floppy cushion in the corner to cuddle up on. (Though he prefers to lay in front of the French doors and guard the garden from renegade squirrels and wicked blue jays.)

It’s getting a little worn and I was eyeballing it today wondering if I wanted to try tackling sewing something new or just buying something new.

I found a bunch of great sewing patterns that might be perfect, and spent about an hour drooling over fabric patterns that would look great on the dark hardwood floors in the office.

Then I started thinking about how much time sewing a dog bed would take (especially to make it super durable which means a liner, lots of interfacing, and double and triple stitching the seams)… And stuffing the darn thing, because he likes an extra cushy bed. That’d be both costly and a pain–wrestling all that stuffing in!

So, I’m back at square one, figuring out whether it’s worth it to make one or if I ought to just buy something less-than-perfect.

Your turn! Where does your pet sleep in the office?

All of this weekend pondering led to a question–does your pet(s) have a special spot in your home office?

Are pets banned entirely? Or have they claimed a spot you’d prefer they vacated (like your computer keyboard)?

Did you purchase a bed that goes with your home office decor or do you just use an old towel?

I’d love to hear how you tackle the challenge of where the pets sleep in your home office!