Although color may have been a vehicle of innovation at the Fall High Point Market, finish, fabric and patterns made a— sometimes— subtle impact on the aesthetic qualities of mass market home furnishings introductions. In fact, the treatment of finish, fabric and patterns as applied to ready-to-assemble introductions produced a sophistication referred to as “more furniture” when described as an element in product style.

Of course, in some plans, fabric wasn’t meant to make a subtle impact, as was the case with Z-Line Design’s leather furniture line expansion. Yet, the material isn’t the scope of the message as the company uses an array of color treatments and a careful attention to detail to provide a quality look in what is relatively inexpensive product. The leather line follows on Z-Line’s casual furniture introduction, which also focused on material, such as carefully fabricated and applied all-weather rattan, subtle design elements such as arched silhouettes and rich and durable upholstery fabric to create a similar price/quality statement.

Sauder Woodworking, for its part, applied a similar thought to its Avery Bridge and Barrister Lane, collections, which use paper and finish to add depth and texture to surfaces. In that way, Sauder provides furniture offering more the style and substantive impression.

Finish has become increasingly important to mass-market producers of RTA and value-priced case goods. The new Bombay collection from The Powell Co. rolled with an updated treatment on the brand’s classic style provided, in part, by five new finishes that captured the label’s international flavor in tones that suit today’s décor preferences.

The ability of finish, fabric and pattern to alter product character was a factor put to use by a number of vendors. A recent product line staple, bin organizers, have been expanding at Altra as back-to-college goods, and the Dorel division added more for the High Point market. However, Altra embellished the fabric constituting bins in one of its introductory products with an updated traditional pattern but not just to make the product more attractive to students who might have relatively conservative tastes. The company developed the product to appeal to anyone, including adults, who might want the flexibility bin storage brings, but in a form that compatible with décor preferences that are more classic than is typically found in a dorm room.

Linon Home Décor has been a leader in expanding the RTA accent chair segment in part by enhancing value through the use of more refined silhouettes, fabrics and patterns. The company continues to apply its developing expertise on products that it has fabricated to bring new dimensions to mass-market furnishings. Such was the case with a new group of ottomans that use burlap fabric embroidered with birds and butterflies on the top surface to qualify as step up items that can command a $79 retail price.

The Fall High Point Market closes today.