A Design Lover’s Guide to High Point, the ‘Furniture Capital of the World’

High Point’s reputation for design is well-earned. We’ll show you where to shop, learn, and stay in this North Carolina city known across the world for furniture. 

Every April and October, HGTV stars, interior designers and furniture retailers descend on High Point, North Carolina, for the biannual High Point Market. With more than 10 million square feet of showrooms spread across around 180 buildings, the High Point Market is the largest home furnishings trade show in the world, making the city’s moniker of “The Furniture Capital of the World” apt. 

But while the market is only open to members of the home furnishings industry, design lovers can still get their furniture fix year-round throughout downtown High Point. 

We’ll tell you where to visit, where to shop, and even where to stay if you want to make your adventure into an overnight excursion into an overnight.

Visit: High Point by Design (HPxD)

In spring 2020, a group of furniture industry movers and shakers gathered in High Point to figure out a way to harness the excitement of the market year-round. 

After much debate, High Point by Design was born. The initiative includes around 60 brands with showrooms in downtown who are willing to open their doors on a monthly, and in some cases daily, basis. 

While some of these showrooms are only open to interior designers, others like South+English, Capel Rugs, Oly and Red Egg, are open to the public. Check the HPxD website for the monthly schedule.

Shop: The Sherrod and Fiddle Figs

Housed in a restored 1914 prairie-style home in downtown High Point, The Sherrod serves as the home base and retail outlet of interior designers Patti Allen and Stephanie James of Allen and James Interiors. 

While their offices are upstairs, the first floor is a chic retail space filled with furniture and decor, along with gift items like candles, artisan jewelry, and even teas and chocolates. 

And because Allen and James have partnerships with local furniture producers, Sherrod shoppers can score deals on high-end pieces from market showrooms. The designers also recently expanded their retail business to include Fiddle Figs—a plant shop housed in the sunny backroom and on the expansive porch, featuring everything from succulents and annuals to statement plants like the namesake fiddle fig.

Shop: Furnitureland South

In the “Furniture Capital of the World,” you expect the home goods shopping to be next-level, and Furnitureland South delivers. 

Dubbed “The World’s Largest Furniture Store,” Furnitureland boasts 1.3 million square feet of showroom space spread across a multi-building campus. 

You’ll find everything from trendy to traditional for every room of the home at Furnitureland, including pieces from North Carolina brands such as Vanguard, Phillips Collection, Bernhardt and Hickory White. And while Furnitureland is known for offering top brands at a discount price, shoppers in the know visit the store’s outlet immediately after the April and October High Point Markets to get deals on showroom samples.

Learn: Bienenstock Furniture Library

Want to really geek out on design? Then head to the Bienenstock Furniture Library, the world’s largest collection of publications on the history of design, furniture, architecture, textiles and more. 

Founded by Sandy and Bernice Bienenstock, the library houses their collection—which dates to 1922—along with contemporary and rare books from around the globe, including a complete collection of original works by 18th century furniture masters Chippendale, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite.

Stay: Pandora’s Manor Bed and Breakfast

Located just steps from High Point Market showrooms, Pandora’s Manor Bed and Breakfast not only offers proximity to the action, but also the chance to sleep in high design. 

Built in 1905 by local furniture maker Henry Fraser, the home was renovated in 2016 with big-name designers like original “Queer Eye” star Thom Filicia. Local luminaries Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke of Madcap Cottage also lend their prowess to transform the bedrooms into dream-worthy design havens.