The ability to mix and match finishes within large and smaller collections is helping drive case goods business at the High Point Market at both upper-end and lower-priced resources.

The goal is to appeal to consumers not by overwhelming them with options, but offering enough different looks to tweak their imaginations.

The approach is opening the doors for bedroom and dining room furniture sources at both existing and new brick-and-mortar accounts as well as nontraditional online channels of distribution.

Stanley Furniture says the approach is working with its mid-century modern-inspired Crestaire, a 68-piece contemporary leaning collection that draws inspiration from an original Crestaire line the company sold in the mid-1960s. Made with American walnut veneers, it offers six finishes, including a dark walnut, a white pearlescent, and gold and silver leaf on various accent items.

The size of the collection allows the company to tap into multiple channels of distribution, including designers, brick and mortar retailers, e-tailers and international accounts, said Adam Tilley, vice president of product.

“Because we have a multiple-channel distribution strategy, it allows us to do big collections rather than take a narrow focus,” he said. “Different channels have different consumers — that is why they exist.”

He said the company is having positive response to the collection.

Hooker Furniture is also seeing strong response to its Studio 7H collection, a 70-piece offering that combines Scandinavian, mid-century modern and rustic styling. Pieces are available in three main finishes that complement the mix of walnut and acacia veneers, which allows them to be mixed and matched.

Hooker’s Sanctuary line is also doing well, also due in part to the ability to mix and match various pieces that use a variety of veneers and several finishes.

These and other upper-end resources such as Councill, Bernhardt and Century have long touted the ability to mix and match finishes within collections. Century’s Litchfield collection continues that trend this market by offering dark brown, slate gray and linen finishes on a mix of bedroom, dining room and occasional pieces.

“It just makes a group feel a little more unique and not so matchy matchy,” said Annie Trinklein, an interior designer at Century, who said the collection is receiving positive reaction from customers here.

But the trend also is gaining traction at lower-priced resources such as Ashley, Somerton Dwelling, Riverside Furniture and Progressive Furniture.

Progressive’s 54-piece Emporium collection includes two distinct groups — one casual with bamboo shapes and the other more traditional — available in three finishes, Parisian white, rich espresso and vintage mahogany.

“We are taking something fresh to appeal to all kinds of people,” said Stephanie Austin, merchandising manager. “A consumer can come in and get to be their own designer.”

Made in Indonesia, Emporium is priced at the top of the Progressive line, with four-piece bedrooms priced from $1,999 to $2,299.

“It has opened up some avenues with customers that are coming in and taking a look,” said Dan Kendrick, president, noting that some accounts that haven’t shopped the line in a while may remember it as a laminate resource. “Some of the customers that perceive us as a laminate company are surprised by what we are today.”

Riverside Furniture’s Vintage Market is also receiving strong response to dealers who like the way the company has three looks and finishes within a single collection. Made with ash veneers, the finishes in the 90-piece collection include toasted pecan, weathered black and weathered white.

With four-piece bedrooms retailing from $1,699 to $1,999 and dining tables retailing around $799, the line is toward the top of Riverside’s price points. But buyers are responding well to the looks, which include some mixed media elements such as metal dining table legs and woven water hyacinth on headboards and footboards.

Some buyers also are purchasing the entire collection to be able to mix and match the various looks and finishes on their floors.

“The ability of having three finishes on the floor and the ability for the customer to mix and match those finishes is powerful,” said Mike Charlton, senior vice president of product development and merchandising.

Licensed collections that also offer a mix of finishes and materials and are doing well here at market include Southern Pines, the latest addition to Klaussner’s licensed William Mangum collection, and Thomasville’s latest Ernest Hemingway licensed collection.