Will These be the Interiors Trends of 2018?
From 'cloud' tables to forest-green velvet, here's what we spotted at this year's Decorex design show
Did you visit Decorex this year? The interiors trade show was packed with beautiful products and intriguing trends – and we were there to soak it all in. These are our top nine picks from the show.
Forest-green velvet
Deep, rich shades of green velvet were out in force at Decorex – from jewel-bright emeralds to mossy woodland greens.
Dark green has been a slow-burn trend for a while (we reported on the demand for dark-green kitchens back in January 2017), but the combination of dark green and velvet upholstery was unavoidable at this year’s show. This trend also taps into the resurgence of Art Deco style. When teamed with mid- or dark-toned wood and slivers of gold accents, as shown above on the Amy Somerville stand, forest-green velvet takes on a decidedly 1930s feel.
11 reasons to choose a dark green kitchen
Deep, rich shades of green velvet were out in force at Decorex – from jewel-bright emeralds to mossy woodland greens.
Dark green has been a slow-burn trend for a while (we reported on the demand for dark-green kitchens back in January 2017), but the combination of dark green and velvet upholstery was unavoidable at this year’s show. This trend also taps into the resurgence of Art Deco style. When teamed with mid- or dark-toned wood and slivers of gold accents, as shown above on the Amy Somerville stand, forest-green velvet takes on a decidedly 1930s feel.
11 reasons to choose a dark green kitchen
Cloud shapes
These slim side tables crafted from a range of materials (marble, stone…) were a standout feature on the Tom Faulkner stand. The tops were cut in free-flowing ‘cloud’ shapes and each table was unique in height and size, lending them an artisan feel.
The mix of metals was also an interesting feature, as we’ve seen the trend for various metallics cycle through copper, brass and gold over previous seasons and several designers now seem to have settled on a mix of all three.
These slim side tables crafted from a range of materials (marble, stone…) were a standout feature on the Tom Faulkner stand. The tops were cut in free-flowing ‘cloud’ shapes and each table was unique in height and size, lending them an artisan feel.
The mix of metals was also an interesting feature, as we’ve seen the trend for various metallics cycle through copper, brass and gold over previous seasons and several designers now seem to have settled on a mix of all three.
Back to the 1980s
Eighties-influenced design isn’t a new trend, but it’s been quietly picking up speed over the past few seasons, and if Bluebellgray‘s bold and beautiful stand was anything to go by it’s very much having its moment.
Inspired by a trip to Marrakech’s medina, the abstract design of this sofa fabric combines abstract shapes in fluorescent pink with softer pastel tones that are a real change from Bluebellgray’s traditional floral prints of the past. The design is a modern twist on the abstract graphics of the 1980s.
Eighties-influenced design isn’t a new trend, but it’s been quietly picking up speed over the past few seasons, and if Bluebellgray‘s bold and beautiful stand was anything to go by it’s very much having its moment.
Inspired by a trip to Marrakech’s medina, the abstract design of this sofa fabric combines abstract shapes in fluorescent pink with softer pastel tones that are a real change from Bluebellgray’s traditional floral prints of the past. The design is a modern twist on the abstract graphics of the 1980s.
Textured velvet
Spotted at the Sofa.com stand, textured velvet was a striking variation on the standard smooth velvet sofas of previous seasons. This twist also brought an extra level of tactility to the strokable fabric.
With velvet having such a moment, it will be interesting to see if textured versions such as these take off when they hit the high street next year.
Spotted at the Sofa.com stand, textured velvet was a striking variation on the standard smooth velvet sofas of previous seasons. This twist also brought an extra level of tactility to the strokable fabric.
With velvet having such a moment, it will be interesting to see if textured versions such as these take off when they hit the high street next year.
Fabulous foliage
Houseplants have taken over our interiors at a rampant pace over the past few seasons, so the natural progression was bound to be foliage-inspired fabrics and wallpapers. This beautiful ivy wallpaper displayed on the Barneby Gates stand shows how it’s done. Stepping away from the trend for tropical foliage and plants, this paper champions the quiet beauty of the humble ivy plant instead.
Designed as a way to help blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, the colourway shown here creates a lush woodland feel.
Houseplants have taken over our interiors at a rampant pace over the past few seasons, so the natural progression was bound to be foliage-inspired fabrics and wallpapers. This beautiful ivy wallpaper displayed on the Barneby Gates stand shows how it’s done. Stepping away from the trend for tropical foliage and plants, this paper champions the quiet beauty of the humble ivy plant instead.
Designed as a way to help blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, the colourway shown here creates a lush woodland feel.
Art Deco
Walking into the central seating area at the show, you could have been forgiven for thinking you had stepped back in time to the golden age of Art Deco, as everything from the velvet club chairs to the gilded reading lamps referenced the plush extravagance of that period.
The velvet club chair by Amy Somerville, chequerboard monochrome flooring and curved gold reading lamp are all pure Art Deco, but the clean lines and pared-back shapes wouldn’t look out of place in a modern interior.
Rich colours, luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship were hallmarks of this style, and the seating area shown here is a perfect example of how interiors trends have lead us back almost full circle to this plush era.
Walking into the central seating area at the show, you could have been forgiven for thinking you had stepped back in time to the golden age of Art Deco, as everything from the velvet club chairs to the gilded reading lamps referenced the plush extravagance of that period.
The velvet club chair by Amy Somerville, chequerboard monochrome flooring and curved gold reading lamp are all pure Art Deco, but the clean lines and pared-back shapes wouldn’t look out of place in a modern interior.
Rich colours, luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship were hallmarks of this style, and the seating area shown here is a perfect example of how interiors trends have lead us back almost full circle to this plush era.
Acoustic panels
Although this oversized felt wall installation by Anne Kyyro Quinn looks like a piece of art, it’s actually a beautifully designed acoustic panel designed to dampen sound in a residential or commercial interior. Made from thousands of petals of cream felt, the organic shape and detailed pattern are a world away from functional acoustic panelling and make this piece stand alone as a work of art.
While this might stay firmly in the bespoke camp when it comes to interior décor, it’s an interesting way to step between the worlds of art and design.
Although this oversized felt wall installation by Anne Kyyro Quinn looks like a piece of art, it’s actually a beautifully designed acoustic panel designed to dampen sound in a residential or commercial interior. Made from thousands of petals of cream felt, the organic shape and detailed pattern are a world away from functional acoustic panelling and make this piece stand alone as a work of art.
While this might stay firmly in the bespoke camp when it comes to interior décor, it’s an interesting way to step between the worlds of art and design.
Exposed light bulbs – the update
Exposed filament light bulbs have been around for several years now, and some might say that the trend has reached saturation point. Indeed, no fancy coffee shop counter is without them these days.
But these neat metallic pendant ‘hat’ shades, spotted at the Benchmark stand, are a smart update on this trend, elevating the raw industrial look of the plain light bulb to something a little more refined, while still keeping the filament exposed.
Did you visit Decorex? What trends did you spot? Tell us in the Comments section.
Exposed filament light bulbs have been around for several years now, and some might say that the trend has reached saturation point. Indeed, no fancy coffee shop counter is without them these days.
But these neat metallic pendant ‘hat’ shades, spotted at the Benchmark stand, are a smart update on this trend, elevating the raw industrial look of the plain light bulb to something a little more refined, while still keeping the filament exposed.
Did you visit Decorex? What trends did you spot? Tell us in the Comments section.
The beautiful hand-crocheted lampshades by Naomi Paul were eye-catching in their simplicity and provided an interesting example of how traditional craft can meet modern design, resulting in an elegantly-refined hybrid.
The uniform stitching, clean shapes and bold colours of all of the lampshades brought a fresh twist to a traditional skill. The raw materials, in turn, added a soft luminescence to the shades, casting a beautifully diffused glow when lit.