With trade and consumer shows aplenty, and joy of joy, London Design Week, I’ve had lots of opportunity to see what is going to be heading our way interiors trends wise this season.
You’ll be pleased to know it’s looking great out there. Pattern, colour and great design is all taking centre stage and can be adapted to suit all styles and tastes, and budgets.
Shower Walls
The first stand out for me was spotted at the Kitchen, Bedroom Bathroom show in Birmingham – the shower wall. This isn’t a new concept, however, the number of companies now offering these as a simple, fuss-free alternative to tiling for homes, seems to be on the rise. The design and quality has taken a leap forward and I was honestly surprised by some of the stylish offerings.
The appropriately named Showerwall had designs that really wowed, including a fantastic over-size botanical design. Used in the right setting, this would really add some wow factor. It also had designs including marble effect and a traditional tile effect. But, in my opinion if you’re going for this kind of material, why not make it as different to tile as possible? It is a great option if you don’t want to remove the tiles from your existing walls – and think of all that grouting time you’ll save too!
Bring out the pattern
At London Design Week I couldn’t help but be wooed by the fantastic fabrics on display in every showroom. Romo, the go-to for many interior designers was showing off its fantastic new range, Pluma. A stunning design featuring exotic birds in soft, muted colours. If you like something a little more bold, it also was showing another new range featuring Geometric patterns with chevrons, stripes and bold colours. Great for adding some real interest to a tired looking decor.
With the bicentenary of the reading of hieroglyphs by Champollion, and Egypt featuring on many of our must-visit places list, it wasn’t a surprise to see Egypt related designs. Pierre Frey, the high end fabric house, offered Merveilles d’Egypt a collection that is breathtaking. Working in partnership with the Louvre, its designs feature a range of motifs and drawings that are a mix of faithful reproductions and a modern take. Bold, beautiful and exquisitely designed I’ll be adding them to my wish list that’s for sure. Although a little on the pricey side, you could really add some impact with just a small amount- a statement chair for example.
Have a good look online or in department stores and find a fabric that really speaks to you and use it to spruce up a lacklustre scheme, or have a new roman blind made to brighten up a kitchen. Pattern used well can really lift a rooms design.
Colour in the home
Don’t shy away from colour this year either. That’s the message I’m hearing loud and clear. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to paint your whole house bright orange – although the deep umber and terracotta colours are there if you want them. You can use colour in a more subtle way and still get huge impact. Green is still very much a firm favourite as I predicted at the beginning of the year. Many of us are loving the earthy greens and lighter shades like Little Greene’s Sage Green or Coat Paints, Home Grown. We are also stepping more in to the dark side with colours like Bobby Green and Freddy Green from Paint Magic.
Paint ‘wrapping’ as it’s known – where a room is painted in one whole colour – is gaining momentum too. You may have seen some of the bolder projects in magazines and on TV recently. Whole rooms painted black – stunning! But you do have to step out of your comfort zone to embrace this. If you try a more neutral colour such as Lick’s beige palette, you’ll find it easier to cope with. Add texture and interest with pattern though to avoid the ‘safe room’ feel.
Garden Rooms
Still reeling from the pandemic and the events of the world, our homes are very much our sanctuary and this is being seen in the number of hobby rooms being added/converted in homes up and down the country. From yoga studios and spa bathrooms, to crafting rooms and knitting nooks. If you have a spare room that barely gets used it’s a great idea to use the space for something you love. Outside rooms are popular for this too and you’ll be hard pressed to find a garden room company that has much availability this side of Autumn.
If you want to create a sanctuary of your own, consider what it is you’d like to find more time for. Plan the room around the equipment, furniture or space you need and ensure you allow for being able to use the space for its original purpose still when needed. Screens are a good way to section of larger rooms and hide a multitude of mess. Storage is also a big consideration. Treat yourself to something that reflects you and your hobby and have some fun with it.
Biophilic Design
If you’ve followed me for a while you will know I’m a big fan of biophilc design and believe me, it’s going nowhere soon. Essentially bringing nature in to your home in various forms is the very basic idea (it’s way more complicated than that so look at my previous blog for more info).
The easiest, most simple way to do this is to bring more plants in to your home. Plant Drop and Patch Plants both offer some amazing specimens that really can become a talking point and add a dramatic focal point in a room. If, like me, you’re a little on the ‘black thumbed’ side, get some advice on which plants work well in what room. Light, humidity and heat all play a part in keeping plants alive and well.
Plants as part of an interior design scheme is something I do regularly and I know other designers that do this too. Greg Harrington, a bathroom designer over at Tec Lifestyle in Maldon showed me a design he’d recently worked on that featured a gorgeous Philippe Starck range called White Tulip (aptly enough). All along one of the walls he’d included boxing for plants – it really lifted the whole scheme.
Living walls, living canvases and grass roofs are no longer just for commercial projects and I for one am looking at ways to make them a real option for clients in their homes.
70’s and 80s revival
From velvet sofas and macrame wallhangings, through to rattan shelving and wicker lights you can’t have failed to notice the resurgence of all things 70’s. But it doesn’t stop there, the 80s are going to be getting a look in too. Perhaps this is about us all longing for a time before social media (and a certain C word). Whilst the 80’s may be a harder step for some with coloured bathroom suites and pastel walls still leaving a bitter taste in peoples mouths, there are many elements of this decades style that can be seen in today’s interiors. Dusty pink and gold palm tree accessories anyone? This trend has been seen everywhere from The Ivy to Aunt Ivy’s and actually harks back to this era.
To keep your foot firmly on the trend pedal without going all out you can add some 70’s and 80’s style fairy easily. Opt for coloured glass vases or bowls, vintage sideboards and a fringed rug maybe.
Bold geometric designs on floors and walls will be seen paired with statement furniture in bold, contrasting colours. To avoid overdoing it, choose your contrast carefully and be selective – less is definitely more here.
This longing to look back goes even further than the 70’s too with many vintage inspired rooms being replicated in homes throughout the country. William Morris wallpaper, fine bone china and antique tablecloths lend a touch of elegant charm to any dining room. Have a route around your granny’s linen chest if you can, you are sure to find something that will make your table sing. If not, head out to one of the many great antique shops and interior stores dotted around.
Sustainability in design
Sustainable and more eco conscious home improvements will, without doubt, be front and centre in 2022. As a designer it’s certainly something I’m keen for my clients to embrace. Be it mileage furniture has travelled, the manufacturing processes or recyclability, most of us are now taking things a little more seriously planet wise.
With this in mind, up-cycling of all kinds is going to keep on growing. What were once the haunt of those in the know, antique markets and vintage stores are now a regular stop for many of us, and rightly so. I encourage clients to repurpose pieces they have already or to consider a trip to their nearest vintage store before going straight to the big stores. You can re-paint most furniture if you really can’t stand the colour and if you’re not confident doing this yourself, there are lots of clever experts that can help. Something as simple as new legs on an old desk can make a big difference.
Kitchen makeovers
Where once people would rip out whole kitchens and replace with new, this year I think we will begin to be a little more subtle. With many businesses still feeling the pinch, we are all watching our pennies. Often big projects like a kitchen re-fit are about the room feeling out dated rather lacking in function. A client I recently spoke to admitted she loved her kitchen just as it was, ‘it just needed a facelift’. Perfect, let’s do that then I said. New cupboard doors and worktops and a made to measure statement splash-back (that could be fitted over the top of her existing tiles) was what we went with.
So instead of weeks of work and a hefty dent in their bank balance, we updated their kitchen without the stress – or environmental impact – of starting from scratch. It looks stunning and you wouldn’t know it hadn’t been replaced completely.
With all big projects, including extensions and re-builds, I think more and more designers will try to encourage clients to see the bigger picture and not just rip it out and start again. Hopefully saving the planet and some heritage in the process.
Curves in interiors
Curves make a statement in our homes this year. I have spotted many of what I’ve dubbed ‘sofa hugs’ recently; sofas that wrap gently around. They literally soften the edges of our modern, hectic lifestyles. Many also happen to be covered in boucle. Itself the most touchable and stroke-able fabric outside of velvet. You’ll see this gorgeous nubby material covering many a chair, sofa or soft furnishing in 2022. Frato are one company who, whilst not the most wallet friendly, has some gorgeous designs. Its Gstaad sofa has exquisite detailing and stands out for me out as being one to add to the wish list.
Rugs
Statement rugs are also big – literally and actually – this year. I think this is two-fold. Firstly as more of us opt for hard flooring (way more practical and child/pet friendly) we do feel our feet need a little bit of cosy’ing. They also add colour and interest to a room. Some of them are more like works of art and should literally be hung on the wall and therefore add a talking point too. Knots Rugs are top of the aspirational pile for me, although for a slightly more practical option, take a look at the fabulous range from Ruggable. If you haven’t heard of them, you will. Washable – in the washing machine! – these are making great headway in the flooring world.
Barkitecture
This last ‘trend’ is possible no surprise for a nation obsessed with their pets. Pinterest are calling it Barkitecture. Yes, really!
Apparently with more and more of us owning pets we are taking way more interest in how THEY are living in the home too. I’ve seen this at Decorex already with exhibitors selling beds designed exclusively for pooches or feline friends. With choices of fabric, height, shape and finish the sky is literally the limit. But it doesn’t stop at beds. Whole rooms designed for your cat, fish tanks that are the centre piece of a room, and showers especially for your dog. Sounds barking mad right?
But, I have a confession to make here – I do have a shower for my dogs. We fitted one just inside the back door when the house was being built. It takes up about as much room as a regular kitchen cupboard and is the best thing I’ve installed in the house – saves me so much mess and stress. I now suggest it to many clients who have dogs.
