The landscape of the interiors world is shifting, now looking inward and forward as the way homes make you feel and the effect they have on the earth take precedence. From how to express yourself with cheerful tones to innovative pieces made from unexpected materials, here are the key interiors trends to look out for this year to add a dose of positivity to your surroundings.
Harper Oak Dining Table, £7,010
Designers are looking outside for inspiration and embracing materials that can be foraged, sown and grown as we come to realise how much of a mental impact bringing nature into the home has. Pieces constructed from organic fibres, raw woods and woven grasses imbue a sense of calm, stilling and grounding the mind, as well as adding a rich, soulful feel to the space.
One of this year’s key interiors trends, creatives are turning to technology to make their wildest dreams come true, using 3D modelling to create spaces that are pure fantasy. Physically impossible rooms and Escher-esque staircases contrast hyper-real spaces that look as if you could walk right though them. Aside from being an incredibly practical, economical and democratic approach to interior and architectural design, these renderings elevate the creation of interiors into an art form of its own, opening up the door for unbridled expression, experimentation and escapism. Products that use interiors as their decorative subject are also on the rise, from sculptural objets to wallpaper featuring surreal architectural elements of the home.
Upcycle & Recycle
Materials which, not so long ago, would have most likely been consigned to landfill are now being ingeniously used to create beautiful pieces of furniture, home accessories and surfaces as the interiors set seek to do their bit for the planet in what looks like (we hope) a long term shift in outlook. Well-known designers and new brands alike have turned away from chemical-dense production processes, and now it seems everything in our waste streams can be transformed into an object of beauty. Smile Plastics turns used plastic bottles, plant pots and food packaging into decorative, terrazzo-like panels that have been used across the design industry, and even tea and coffee waste are being given a second chance.
Organic, Imperfect Shapes
As our love for natural materials comes to the fore, so our does our appreciation for shapes that are perfectly imperfect, showing the hand of their maker or of Mother Nature herself, perhaps as a reaction to the mathematical precision 3D printing brought to the design world. Objects that celebrate and emulate organic shapes have a sense of the bespoke about them, as if they can never be exactly replicated.
Colour With White Walls
Photography by Taran Wilkhu
Kaleidoscopic tones bring joy, energy and cheer to any space, yet bold colours can be difficult – and intimidating – to work into the home. Enter the vogue for bright hues on a plain white backdrop. By committing to keeping the walls plain, you grant yourself freedom to experiment with chromatic interior objects, rugs and artworks that can be easily moved around the house and juxtaposed with each other. A few block colours (the brighter the better) should compliment vivid multicoloured pieces and patterns; case in point is the London home of photographer Candice Lake, a playground of colour and elation.
Arches 2.0
One of the dominating interiors trends from the past few years, grand-yet-minimal arches have been springing up everywhere indoors, from newly realised architectural elements such as doors, hallways and room divides to flooring, furniture and fabrics. For 2020 the curves have taken a more vibrant turn, their sweeping lines accentuated in playful and colourful hues. New York and Moscow-based architectural design house Crosby Studio’s arched pink bathroom spread like wildfire though every design lover’s Instagram feed, and happily products such as furniture, rugs and accessories are now following suit, creating a series of indoor rainbows in every size.
