A new year means new styles, materials and colours – in short, an excuse to get creative. Local interior designers reveal the biggest interiors trends for the year ahead
Seasonal shades, mixed materials and statement lighting are all tipped to be huge, as is mixing interior with exterior – think concrete materials, minerals and statement green plants. Artisanal goods will continue to make waves, so opt for unique, individually crafted pieces. The bohemian vibes of 2015 aren’t going away just yet, with repurposed, ‘upcycled’ goods remaining on trend. If it’s hard to know where to start; we’ve compiled a list of the key trends to look out for to help with your new year overhaul.
Patterns
Encaustic tiles and geometric patterns – on everything from wallpaper to soft furnishings – are set to be everywhere in 2016. Audrey recommends pairing different patterns for a unique, out-there statement: “I predict more confidence with pattern – and combining different types,” she says. “Painterly florals with geometrics, for example – it can be done!”
She suggests mixing up different materials for a similar effect – think marble with metallics and painted surfaces with textured woods. “2016 will no doubt see people becoming even more confident about combining a wide mix of materials in their homes – different pieces in different finishes, as we move further away from the more traditional idea of ‘matching’ items of furnishings in a room.” Time to start experimenting.
Blue and green
Aqua, emerald and teal are set to make a splash next year, so incorporate them into your living area to bring a harmonious feel to your home.
And colour clashing is in next season when it comes to blue and green, according to interior designer Clare Williams, who has worked on projects in Hampstead. “Although we were always told blue and green should never be seen, I’m very excited that they are back for 2016, emanating coolness and calm,” she says. “Try painting walls in these colours or even a piece of furniture that needs an uplift.”
Colours of nature
2016 is all about deep, winter hues, so opt for contemporary style with warm roses, dark purples and state-ment greys. “Dusty blue-mauve, winter berry, and blue-reds will be trending,” says designer Wendy Hooper, of Wendy Hooper Interiors. “This will go well with the Scandinavian influences we’ll see, such as untreated woods and mid-century lines.” Other colours inspired by nature are also set to be big for the year, so embrace the wider trend of mixing ex-terior with interior through wood hues that whisper something of the great outdoors.
Layering
Be experimental with how you incorporate colour into the home. The key, according to Islington-based de-signer Audrey Whelan, is to build it up through different textures and to move away from flat paint.
“The obsession with colour having to be brought in mainly through paint will gradually fade as people start to appreciate that colour is all about layering,” she says. “So in some cases a calm backdrop might just be what you need in order to bring in furnishings with a strong mix of materials, colour, pattern and texture.”
Urban cool
Exposed brickwork, industrial lighting, concrete materials... the urban trend is here to stay. Wendy suggests mixing it up with the nature trend for a 2016 twist: “Think weathered wood meets smooth cement, spirited bohemian meets organised architect,” she says.
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