Interior designers have firmly aligned themselves with the sustainability and biophilia movements this year. They are asking the right questions such as “Who is producing this piece? What materials do they use, and where do they source them from?”. They are also leveraging their purchasing power in a more strategic and purposeful way that fully embraces the use of handcrafted and recycled items, whilst also gravitating towards natural, organic and sustainable materials ranging from wood to stone, granite, jute, rice paper, and clay.
These kinds of spaces emphasize the connections between humans and nature by bringing outside elements into our living spaces in a very grounding way that contrasts strongly with the fast-paced, artificial and technological world that surrounds us. These spaces feature a variety of plantlife, patterns replicated from nature for walls and furniture, and an abundance of natural light. The closest decade in terms of design might be the 70s in this case, due to the similar uses of wood, earthy tones, and macrame.
The reign of minimalism of Scandinavian design is finally coming to an end. After decades of uniformity, neutral colors, clean edges, and almost sterile spaces in our households, there seems to be a shift in the complete opposite direction. The maximalist design style embraces freedom and rejects limitations by allowing for mixed colors, patterns and textures. As such, we have been seeing more and more homes that elegantly incorporate bold colors, graphic patterns, exuberant furnishings, large-scale pieces, organic shapes and more! It’s definitely a better way for the owner’s personality to shine through in the space, and its tendency towards coziness will certainly be appreciated in the colder months as the year closes.
Keep in mind that the underlying “more is more” philosophy can easily get out of hand. The advice of professionals is to keep a well-judged edit and visual consistency so that the overall feel does not seem overcrowded.
Incorporating a few different types of metals in the styling of a room can be a tasteful way to evoke a vintage feel with balance and definition. We would suggest mixing no more than two or three different metal accents, for example, brass, iron, and pewter, gold, and nickel, or silver and bronze - perhaps staying away from rose gold, officially last year’s most overused trend. With some moderation and depending on the context, designers recommend this kind of metal mixing to make a space look as though it is steeped in history since a home that has been lived in will have changed through styles over time.
The metal trend can also be a unique addition to your space through the use of stamped tin panels or tin ceilings, which are in fact a fairly easy and inexpensive way to add texture.
Black is back and it’s here to stay. It’s back in our furniture, walls, finishes, fixtures, prints, replacing last year’s obsession with cooler neutral gray tones. The easiest way to incorporate it is through subtle hints in the accessories of your space. However, if you are comfortable with it you can also choose to go all out by painting an entire feature wall in black in your kitchen, living room, or bedroom - or installing a dark patterned wallpaper! Even bathroom and kitchen design is shifting away from the traditional clean and white decor to a darker, and thus more elegant and sultry, design. The main thing that you have to consider is the natural lighting of the room since it will help to prevent the room from feeling too dark and smaller in size. To help with this, it’s also recommended to balance the black with plants and splashes of white in the furnishings.
Using striking statement pieces is a sure-fire way to make a room more visually interesting. Choose your piece carefully: shapely or colorful chairs and console tables can be good options since they can be moved to different corners and rooms, and they are not as heavy in the space as large tables or sofas. Interior designers are also moving away from the standard pieces by opting instead for bench seats, mixed chairs, chaise longue, or settees. This trend is evocative of the Memphis movement in that it embraces the primary colors and graphic shapes of the 80s in a very dynamic and fun way.
As we have seen, the main trends for interiors will focus heavily on naturalness and personality. Here at Convelio, we have added insight into these trends from our designer clients and, of course, from having transported many of these pieces ourselves in the past months and in those to come. It’s important to remember, however, that you should always decorate your space with your personal taste. Just pick the things that are beautiful to you, and we will take care of the rest!