12 Tips to Survive High Point Market

The Mydoma Studio team has been hitting up High Point Market for over 10 years, so trust us—we know how incredible (and a little overwhelming) it can be for interior designers. As the biggest home furnishings trade show in the world, High Point Market 2025 is the ultimate place to spot fresh trends, meet amazing new vendors, and connect with fellow design pros. But with over 12 million square feet of showrooms and a jam-packed lineup of events, it’s easy to feel like you’re running a design marathon. That’s why we put together this High Point Market Survival Guide, packed with real tips from our team and our amazing design community. Whether it’s your very first Market or you’ve been around the block a few times, these tips will help you stay on top of things, make the most of every minute, and leave inspired for all your upcoming projects.

Special thank you to designers Jenna Gauidesk,  April Waltrip, Wendy Woloshchuk, Robin Carter Jackson, and Quintin Tate for answering our burning questions about High Point Market!

Table of Contents

Where are the best places to stay during High Point Market?

Planning your accommodations for High Point Market is essential.
Each Market brings in over 75,000 attendees, which is more than two-thirds of High Point’s year-round population. That means finding a place to stay is highly competitive, and it pays to plan early.

In addition to traditional hotels, there are a wide range of private rentals available through Airbnb, VRBO, and local Market Rentals. The High Point Market website has a great planning section to help you with accommodation booking, transportation, and more.

Here’s how our insiders approach their High Point stays:

• “Any Marriott in Greensboro on the shuttle schedule.” – @April Waltrip

• “We love renting a small house with just a couple of people, so that we have a place to chill at the end of a long day.” – @Wendy Woloshchuk

• “Greensboro or High Point.” – @Robin Carter Jackson

Pro Tip: When choosing where to stay, consider which airport you’re flying into and your distance from the Market.
Shuttles are available between select hotels and the Market, but they only run at scheduled times. Ride shares like Uber may be unreliable in smaller areas, and a taxi from some airports can cost upwards of $200. Book early, coordinate with your travel companions, and check the shuttle schedule!

What’s Your Top Tip for Getting the Most Out of Your Day at High Point Market?

A well-planned visit to High Point Market can make all the difference between feeling overwhelmed and walking away inspired and productive. To make the most of your experience, be sure to schedule showroom appointments in advance, map out must-see exhibitors, and allocate time for seminars, networking events, meals—and rest!

Pro Tip: Before you go, set your goals. Are you there to source furniture? Build vendor relationships? Discover new trends? Having clear objectives will help you stay focused and maximize your time on the ground.

Here’s how our expert panelists plan for success:

• “Plan, plan, plan with the HPMKT app! I favorite the places I want to go and group them by location in the app—starting at IHFC.” – @April Waltrip

• “Make a plan! Build your day by building or neighborhood so you’re not running back and forth. Consolidate your walking.” – @Wendy Woloshchuk

• “Take breaks. Plan your day by building and/or area of town. Use Go-Anywhere shuttles.” – @Robin Carter Jackson

• “Please utilize the HPMKT App! Plan out the top 10 showrooms you want to visit. Make sure to browse the various panels happening at Market so that you can attend when it’s time. Knowledge is power—and there’s so much free knowledge being shared at these events.” – @Quintin Tate

Whether it’s your first Market or your tenth, the key takeaway is clear: Don’t wing it. Plan it.

What shoes should you wear to High Point Market?

It’s all about the shoes! Never underestimate how much walking you’ll do at High Point Market—our team consistently logs over 18,000 steps a day. Choosing the right footwear is essential. While style matters (of course!), comfort is key. The shoes you put on in the morning will likely be the ones you’re wearing well into the evening.

Pro tip: Don’t wear brand-new shoes. Break them in ahead of time to avoid those dreaded blisters. If you can’t resist new shoes be sure to purchase some blister stick. This will save your feet and you can thank us later.

Here’s what our community recommends for comfortable-yet-stylish shoes at High Point Market:

• “Birdies—so comfortable and very stylish! $20 off using the link.” – @April Waltrip

• “Clarks Women’s Layton Pace Sneaker.” – @Wendy Woloshchuk

• “White or bling-studded sneakers!” – @Robin Carter Jackson

• “Sneakers or loafers! I love walking to all the various showrooms and events, but my feet like it even more when they’re comfortable. Lol.” – @Quintin Tate

It’s clear: sneakers are the unofficial shoe of choice at High Point Market. Go for something that lets you move confidently from showroom to showroom without missing a step!

Who has the best designer lounge to rest your feet?

There is no prize ribbon for staying on your feet the entire day. You need to plan in some dedicated R&R. Not a full nap here but but some dedicated time to rest your feet, check and email and share on social.

• “Universal or Rowe/Robin Bruce” – April Waltrip
• “Universal or IDS” – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Vanguard” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “The Showplace building. Inside and outside! It’s a central location, therefore you can still enjoy all the activities happening on the sound stage, food trucks, and your peers.” – Quintin Tate
• Congdon Yards is a great place to relax with free wifi – Jane Dagmi from HPXD

What’s the best bag to carry?

• “Portland Leather backpack” – April Waltrip  
• “Something small with a long strap. Ask that anything large be shipped to you.”  – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “None. Use a small profile rolling briefcase” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “A back pack! Definitely something you don’t necessarily have to dangling down, because with all the showroom material, tote bags can become extremely heavy.” – Quintin Tate

What are the must haves in your bag at Market?

• “Water bottle, phone charger, trail mix, business cards, Ibuprophen (ha!)” – April Waltrip
• “Extra hair ties, lip gloss, a phone charger and Advil” – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Motrin, Carmex, backup charger, business cards, kleenex, hairbrush. PHONE for pictures.” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “Phone charger, business cards, pen, notebook, and a bottle of water.” – Quintin Tate

Best Spots for Lunch at High Point Market

With all those steps you’ll be taking, staying fueled is a must!
High Point Market isn’t short on food, but there’s only so many passed hors d’oeuvres one can enjoy before craving a full meal with all the food groups. A proper lunch helps you recharge so you can power through the afternoon of showroom visits, networking, and inspiration gathering.

Pro Tip: Plan your daily schedule to include a showroom known for great lunches. It’s the perfect way to rest your feet, refuel, and even enjoy a drink with fellow designers.

Here’s where our designer panelists love to grab lunch during High Point Market:

• “Pizza food truck outside of the C&D building.” – @April Waltrip

• “I know there are great free lunches at Universal etc., but sometimes you need to have a seat and a little cocktail with your friends. We love a little restaurant inside Market Square.” – @Wendy Woloshchuk

• “Theodore Alexander or Thibaut.” – @Robin Carter Jackson

• “The Phillips Collection showroom. I love Mark & Jason! They really know how to feed my soul.” – @Quintin Tate

Other  top-rated lunch spots:

• Universal

• Jaipur Living

• Currey & Company

• Norwalk

• Schonbek

• Baker Furniture

Pro-level tip: These showrooms often offer more than just a meal—they’re a great chance to connect with reps, see product up close, and take a well-earned breather.

Discover how you can use Mydoma to save time & impress more clients

See a Demo

What are Your Tech tips for Capturing High Point Market?

There’s no shortage of stunning showrooms and products at High Point Market – you’ll want to photograph everything. But with all the excitement, it’s easy to forget where each photo or video came from.

Keep your phone charged and your camera ready. You’ll be snapping pictures of textiles, lighting, furniture, signage, inspiration boards—you name it. That content is gold for your portfolio, social media, or future sourcing.

Here are some tried-and-true tech tips from designers who’ve been there:

• Take a photo of the showroom signage first.
  “If you go into a showroom and take videos and pictures, make sure you take a picture of the showroom that you’re in so that you remember where the pictures came from.” – @Jenna Gaidusek

• Bring a portable charger. Your phone will drain quickly from all the photos, social media, and navigation.

• Consider using a cloud service like Google Photos or iCloud to automatically back up your images in case your phone fills up or you need to access them from another device.

• Use your Notes app or voice memos to jot down product names, follow-up tasks, or rep contact info while it’s fresh in your mind. 

• Use the Mydoma mobile app to clip (save) products into your personal product catalog. You can add the vendor, pricing and use the products to design boards! 

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to share content later on Instagram or with your team, take a quick moment to record voice memos describing what you loved about a product or why it stood out. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re trying to remember which velvet sofa had the perfect olive tone.

What are your personal favorite showrooms?

• “Universal, Gabby, Norwalk, Wildwood, Trowbridge Gallery, Jaipur, Visual Comfort, Thibaut” – April Waltrip
• “Madegoods has great inspiration. We love to visit David at Ted Scott Designs!”  – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Too many to list! Thibaut, TA, Tempo at Market Square, Gabby, Visual Comfort” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “Harp and Finial, Phillips Collection, Regina Andrew, Uttermost, Pasha, Eichholtz and Leftbank” – Quintin Tate

What do you suggest designers NOT do at High Point Market?

• “Don’t carry a ton of stuff – take business cards but leave the pamphlets and go digital- it’s too much to carry!” – April Waltrip
• “Don’t try to see it all! It’s impossible! Make a list of your priorities, and don’t forget to leave time to chat with new friends and find new show rooms as you go along.” – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Don’t Go without a plan, wear high heels, or try to see EVERYTHING in one market” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “Do not stay in the IHFC Building! Market is huge!!! I highly encourage everyone to explore the outside brick and mortar showrooms, because they are truly hidden gems” – Quintin Tate

What educational panels to attend?

• Rugs 101 at Jaipur, Ask an Expert! At Market Square re antiques, Increasing Profitability & Revenue Streams at Norwalk” – April Waltrip
• “Any panel with LuAnn Nigara or Nancy Quinn (Ganzekaufer) are musts for me”  – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Some education. Lots of the vendors official parties and product debut events.” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “Sherwin Williams panels are always informative, however The Black Interior Designers Network really do it for me. Being amongst my peers that are walking the same road as me, is humbling! We have such a good time! Like an old fashion cookout or family reunion.” – Quintin Tate
• Mydoma and Studio Designer are hosting a number of exciting educational panels and events in collaboration with vendors and industry partners RSVP today!

Any other tips that We’ve found useful for Market

• “Make time for socials and connections! Sign up for a tour or educational course. As an introvert, I have to be intentional about talking to reps and other designers.” – April Waltrip
• “When it comes to footwear, go for comfort! Save your heels for another day.”  – Wendy Woloshchuk
• “Make new friends!” – Robin Carter Jackson
• “Network! Network! Network! Be yourself and be free! Know what you want to take from experiencing Market and do it. Check off those boxes and make new connections. I personally tell my friends, that on departure day, you should have at least 5 new showrooms that you can add to your personal design brand and 5 new professional/personal connections.” – Quintin Tate
• Pack layers! You never know what kind of weather to expect – Maddie Landers from IDS

Attending High Point Market can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience for anyone in the interior design industry. But with so much to see and do, it can also feel overwhelming—especially if it’s your first time. Our hope is that these tips help you make the most of your visit: from discovering the latest interior design trends to building valuable connections and navigating the Market with purpose.

Remember: plan ahead, stay organized, wear comfortable shoes, and take breaks when needed to avoid burnout. With a little preparation, you’ll be able to experience High Point Market with confidence and clarity.

🎉 Don’t forget to check out all the exciting events Mydoma is hosting for Spring Market!
We’ve got a fantastic lineup of panels featuring industry experts, in partnership with some of our favorite vendors. It’s a great chance to connect, learn, and be inspired.

Follow @mydomastudio on Instagram for behind-the-scenes looks, live event coverage, and exclusive Market moments.

Discover how you can use Mydoma to save time & impress more clients

Get a Demo


See a Demo