Top Trade Show Furniture Trends for 2019

Earthy and rustic. Warm and inviting. Quirky and unconventional. The latest trends in trade show furniture reveal the industry moving away from glitz and shine in favor of more textured, natural-looking, lounge-inspired booth designs. If you've been thinking of freshening up your exhibit with a trade show furniture makeover, read on for more inspiration.

Relaxed, Immersive Environments

The biophilic trend in its infancy just three years ago was long considered impractical and off-brand by many exhibitors. Since then, it has evolved into a more mainstream design approach. By blending soft, contemporary seating with dark, rich accents inspired by Mother Nature, the top furniture rental companies have created an enchanting booth design recipe that quietly beckons weary trade show attendees to come on in, kick back and decompress.

The Baja Collection from Cort Events seamlessly blends contemporary seating with natural-looking accents.

Organic, Modern Accents

From faux boxwood and tree trunks to seashells and wood, in 2019 it's all about bringing the outdoors in. Accent pieces made of natural-looking materials add texture and warmth along with an element of surprise to your exhibit's seating or conference area.

Shown above: (1) Azaria Accent Table (AFR Tradeshow); (2) Honeycomb Side Table (FormDecor); (3) Porto Seashell Accent Table (AFR Tradeshow); (4) Chevron Boxwood Screen (FormDecor); (5) Woodland Pedestal (AFR Tradeshow); (6) Cross Wood Coffee Table (FormDecor); (7) Timberland Shelf (FormDecor).

Trending Colors

The most popular color palette for 2019 trade show furniture includes white and neutral tones (gray, black brown, taupe) combined with bold, vivid colors like lime, cobalt blue and mustard. Or, if it works with your brand, you might want to try incorporating the 2019 PANTONE color of the year Living Coral into your exhibit.

The Dune Collection from Cort Events showcases some of 2019's trending trade show colors.

Stay on trend with these coral-colored throw pillows from Wayfair.

Soft, Casual Seating

If you have the space, soft seating like poufs, ottomans, benches and lounge chairs introduce a pleasant pop of color while bringing a fun, contemporary vibe to your display.

Shown above: (1) Beverly Bench Ottoman (Cort Events); (2) Grammercy Round Ottoman (AFR Tradeshow); (3) Cube Seat (FormDecor); (4) Cynthia Rowley Mongolian Pouf (FormDecor); (5) Oliver Lounge Chair (AFR Tradeshow).

Funky, Unconventional Styling

Each year, we see designers stretching their imaginations and adding their own delightful sense of flair to trade show furniture. 2019 will be no exception. Quirky, funky pieces work well for the right brands and can help make your display more unique and memorable.

Shown above: (1) Grass Loveseat and Ottoman (AFR Tradeshow); (2) Copenhagen Side Table (FormDecor); (3) Brutalist Stool 1 (FormDecor); (4) Concrete Lounge Chair (FormDecor); (5) Adrian Chair (FormDecor); (6) Ribbon Chair (FormDecor).

Charging Furniture

Despite the industry's leaning toward nature-based trade show furnishings, we're still a technology-based society, which means your booth visitors will still need a comfortable place to charge their devices. While certainly not a new trend, charging furniture will continue to grow in popularity with exhibitors as manufacturers expand their offerings in this area.

LED-Lighted Everything

LED is the eco-friendly lighting of choice for most exhibitors, but no one could have predicted 10 years ago just how versatile and creative LED lighting would become. What used to be used primarily for simple back wall and banner stand lighting has gradually evolved into a full-on mood enhancer and interior design statement. It will be interesting to see how exhibitors blend LED-lighted furnishings with organic-looking contemporary décor in 2019.

Should You Rent or Buy?

If you rent trade show furniture, you have the luxury of trying new styles and colors each season. You can even change things up for different shows throughout the year, depending on your target audience. Plus, you never have to worry about your booth looking old or outdated because of worn, torn, stained or faded furnishings. On the other hand, buying trade show furniture has benefits, too. For example, you may be able to repurpose trade show furniture to outfit your office lobby, conference rooms or auditorium when not in use at a show. In addition, buying your trade show furniture ensures that you will always have access to the exact pieces in the exact colors that you desire. Besides your initial shopping budget, the biggest questions to ask yourself when considering purchasing trade show furniture should be:

1. Do we have a clean, climate-controlled place to store it off-season?
2. Can we afford to ship it?

Get Help from the Experts

If you're looking to upgrade your trade show booth but you just don't know where to start, we'd love to help! Give us a call or contact us today.