The top interior design trends of 2018

So, you’ve chosen your piece of land and your house design. Now, it’s time to consider the interiors. But what trends are running hot – and how can you incorporate them into your dream home without breaking the budget?

Here, five interiors experts select their biggest trends for the year.

Keep calm

As an increasing number of people embrace a cleaner, more natural way of living, it’s no surprise this trend is reflected in our homes, with more interiors styled as places of calm and retreat, says Bianca Hung, interior designer and director at design practice Hayball.

“There is a growing enthusiasm and desire to create peace and calm within our private spaces,” Hung explains. “People are looking less towards the notion of living in a luxe hotel and want to spend time in spaces that provide shelter from outside stressors and allow opportunities to both retreat and connect.”

Create a sense of tranquillity in your home with generous storage to avoid clutter, reading nooks to retreat to and inviting textures such as natural woollen throws and welcoming soft leather couches.

Beautiful designs for the bathroom, kitchen and laundry represent investment, functionality and money well spent.

Clean lines

First it was the bathroom, then the kitchen, now we are seeing a focus on glamour in the laundry, says Designstuff founder Christina Fedders.

“It’s all about elevating the everyday and making essential tasks more enjoyable,” she says. “When people feel the need to tighten their budgets, they still feel happy to spend money on beautiful designs that they will use every day. Beautiful designs for the bathroom, kitchen and laundry represent investment, functionality and money well spent.”

Give your laundry the luxe treatment with feature tiles, pendant lighting and generous storage.

In 2018, we’re expecting to see a reworking of herringbone flooring.

Above and below

Kerena Berry, co-founder of interior design firm Designbx, is quite literally predicting an up-and-down year.

“On ceilings we will see bold geometric patterns, in various scales, becoming big players in this new trend,” she says. “Wallpaper makes the jump to the ceiling and structural ceiling details are being made into features, often in dark accent colours.

“The eye will be drawn from high to low, to acknowledge flooring that draws from previous eras. Seventies terrazzo will see a resurgence across all styles of homes. Designers will draw inspiration from the Parisian style and we will see a reworking of herringbone flooring.”

If you have a favourite holiday destination, you can incorporate elements that will remind you of adventures.

Adventure time

Design elements can take you back to happy holidays while being functional features of your home, suggests Sarah Nolen from Birdblack Design.

“If you have a favourite holiday destination – maybe Peru, Morocco or Tanzania – you can incorporate elements that will instantly remind you of special adventures,” she says. “Adding these features could be as simple as a hand-painted Moroccan tile splashback in your kitchen and laundry. Or a woven grass cloth-hanging from Tanzania mounted on the wall over your bed.”

Back to earth

Look no further than nature for colour and texture inspiration, says interior designer David Hicks.

“In terms of colour, think of more earthy tones such as terracotta, watermelon red and sienna,” he says. “And we will continue to see the mixing and matching of various marbles, in bold patterns and colours, particularly in terrazzo.”

Hicks also predicts a trend for all-black kitchens and bathrooms.