Just as designers and retailers attend “market” twice a year to view the latest collection of furniture and fabrics, they also attend the International Gift Fair (IGF) held in several cities across the nation.  The recent gift fair in NY disclosed several  accessory trends that you can expect to see in the upcoming months.

• The green movement is alive and well in the accessory market.  Natural wood and organic shapes continue to be popular.  We are moving away from dark, heavy stains and seeing more wood in its natural, unstained form. Other sustainable materials are popular including cork and bamboo found in everything from candles to placemats to wall art.
• Mixed metals is a popular trend.  This look combines a shiny smooth metal with a matte or textured finish or it combines two different metals like silver and bronze.  You will see this combination in candlesticks, bowls, vases, picture frames and lamps.  The mixture of metals makes it easy to introduce a new piece into your home without worrying about whether it “matches” or not.
• The ethnic look has been around for a couple of years now.  The goal is to create a room that appears to be decorated with items collected from travels around the world. This would include pillows made from ethnic fabrics like suzanni or Ikat.  Animal figurines, statuary, carved candlesticks, woven baskets, in fact anything that appears to be handcrafted, will complete the look.  Lanterns and exotic mosaics will add an adventurous and ethnic feel to your rooms.
• Turquoise is certainly the color of the year but it can also be found in accessories.  A bowl of turquoise stones in their natural form, a turquoise lamp base, even pretty hand soaps can all be found in this color thought to have healing qualities.

Accessorizing with the latest in trendy items is an affordable way to update your home for a season or the entire year without breaking the bank.