Interior Trends for 2016
I’m kicking off with an interior trends hotlist for the year ahead. After a bit of a break from the blog to launch the our new online store, it feels good to get back to writing and my New Year resolution is to write shorter (you’ll be glad to hear) and more frequent posts …that and learning to speak German.
Before I do, I’d just like to say a big thank you to our families, friends and to everyone who has supported us in the run up to our launch. Last year was a milestone year for us, packing in our old secure life, going on an incredible European adventure before returning to begin our own art and interiors business. It’s been unbelievably hard work and we have long way to go in achieving our dream, every day presents a new challenge and an on-the-spot need to learn new skills (still getting to grips with all things social media, and website maintenance) but already its so rewarding to be putting our energies into something we love and we have very exciting plans in the pipeline!
Ok so back to the hotlist for 2016. Now I’m generally not one for following trends for the sake of it (more on that at a later date) and a ‘hotlist’ is often another name for those smug, lifestyle manifestos of ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ that are designed to make you feel bad. My motto is, ‘if you still love it, who cares!’. It is a fact though, that we’re affected by what we see around us and I find when coming up with ideas for interiors, knowing whats on trend can be a good starting point even if only to decide that you want to go against it – sometimes it’s easier to know what you don’t want and this helps you to focus on a look that brings out your own personality.
I’m a firm believer that if it speaks to you and excites you visually and emotionally then go for it – on trend or not.
It is with this sentiment that I’ve decided to focus on what I see spilling over or evolving from past years into strong trends for this year. I’m not saying I love all of them ( I have a constant struggle to warm to geometric patterns unless they are in bold black and white or ancient tribal form – no lemon triangle repeats on canvas for me please) and I have my personal rules for the Scandinavian vibe, mainly that all whites and neutrals be prevented from floating off to chilly heights by great earthy hunks of ruggedness (surfaces and furniture that is …as opposed to sculpted Nordic males) and wildly textural accessories.
I’ll be adding to my Pinterest boards throughout the year so feel free to have a nosey over there. Without anymore ado here it is… ta dahhh!
The 2016 Interior Trends Hotlist
Metallics – warm metallics are still as strong as ever- copper, brass, bronze and gold now balanced with the introduction of cool frosted silver to compliment white and pales grey schemes.
Botanicals – outsized botanical patterns, analytical plant studies, foresty florals arrangements, giant indoor leafy plants -real and faux and handpainted motifs all making an appearance.
Gorgeous Green – it seems to add magic from emeralds to sage in every shade, green marble, ceramics, tiles furniture and textiles.
Blues & Greys – the versatility of grey continues to be a popular choice as a backdrop to strong colourful accents, mixed styles or art and textural objects. Add to this the new muted steely blue palettes and they compliment one another beautifully.
Personal Vignettes – a posh term for putting together your own little still life assembly in your home of treasured objects, books, jewellery or art – anything goes as long as its composed well!
Dark Walls – these I love and black is still growing in popularity, a wonderful setting for eclectic luxurious rooms and glinting metallics.
Eclectic – putting antique and new, mid and 21st century design, bought and found and mixed cultures together is an ever growing trend and I’m a fan. Real homes that with personal stories that are relaxed and comforting yet brimming with style and atmosphere.
Sensory Interiors – homes that nurture our wellbeing, reaching out to all our senses with colour and lighting conjuring up moods, memory and emotions. The use of scented accents such as perfume stones, candles and the resurrection of pot pourri but not as we know it; ‘therapeutic’ crystals and minerals.
Authentic Materials – mouth blown glass, carved wood, hand woven and tribal textiles, knitted, crocheted, leather, hides, lace, sculpted surfaces, simplicity of concrete.
Handpainted walls – painted murals, irregular paint effects, natural textural walls and trompe l’oeil details.
Scandinavian– easy to live with, cool airy rooms with pastels , blonde woods and cool design products or white walls with dark accents, objet d’art , rustic ceramics and industrial lighting .
Geometrics – stripes, zig zag, thin graphic lines and angular shapes of all sorts in all colours, brights and monochrome.
So thats it, my hotlist of trends, have fun following them or not and I’m sure a few new ones will be sprouting wings throughout the year so will keep my eyes peeled!
