The hot list: 13 interior trends that will define 2019

Paris recently hosted the leading home decor fair connecting the interior design and lifestyle community, Maison et Objet.

The design world has returned home with hot-off-the-press news on what trends are appearing, continuing and coming to the fore globally, with a few standouts for 2019. Here are the key take-outs …

Rich colours

Whether it’s burnt orange, bright red, vibrant gold or mustard yellow; greens from blue to yellow hues; deep and rich blues, or the colours of gems such as sapphire, ruby, emerald and citrine, colour is big, bold and everywhere. From sofas to lamps, through to metallics and rugs – you name it, bold colour will be on it.

New pastels

If bold colour application is all too much for you, rest assured there is a trend for you too, with secondary colours getting the pastel treatment. Look for sage greens, the continuation of dusty pinks and the inclusion of yellows and lilacs with the edge taken off their intensity through reduction of saturation and, more importantly, tone. You’ll see light, slightly greyed pastels across products as a relief to, but part of, the colourful resurgence trend.

Reactive finishes

Colour makes its way into metallics and ceramics through reactive treatments, bringing out a show of kaleidoscopic colours from heat treatments or naturally occurring finishes. The oil-slick spectrum of colour, intrinsic to peacock ore, gives a nuanced and naturally brilliant effect we’ve seen before on candles but, in 2019, expect to see it applied to glassware, crockery, vases, occasional furniture and even larger storage furniture.

Chunky terrazzo

It’s terrazzo, but extra. The bigger the chunks and the bolder the colour the more successful this year’s versions of terrazzo will be. Colour continues on through terrazzo, whether constructed with a coloured base with coloured specks and chunks of stone or man-made materials, or with multi-coloured aggregate on a neutral or white base. Terrazzo will stay on trend, but will be amplified to new and exciting levels.

New velvet

Experiments with animal print, colour, embossing, pleats and macro-scaled ribbed surfaces have reinvigorated velvet for yet another year. Expect to see pleated velvet sofas, animal print-embossed velvet cushions, chunky ribbed velvet furniture, and any mutation of the traditional velvet finish your heart desires. Experimentation blended with tradition is the idea at play here, and the results are luxuriously wonderful.

Global influence

From South America to West Africa,  through Morocco and Turkey, to South-East Asia, there are elements of cultural significance being used for an authentic edge on contemporary spaces. Traditional timber forms, decorative elements and motifs applied to wall art, fabrics and tiles, and even the application of handmade weaving techniques are all popular.

Bygone resurgence

From rustic inspiration to ’50s retro to the resurgence of art deco – everything old is new again. Reinvigoration and reinterpretation coupled with a contemporary take on the refinement of shape and manufacturing techniques updates forms and finishes from different eras, making them easy inclusions to contemporary interiors.

Cane, bamboo, rattan

Tying into the global influence and bygone resurgence trends, the retro feel of cane, bamboo and rattan is applied across the board to furniture, from occasional tables and chairs to sofas and beds.

Tarnished metals

Not only do metal finishes get the tarnished treatment, but also look out for the metal behind mirrors to be distressed to create aged looks. Metallic effects on soft furnishings, creating the illusion of weathered metal, will also be popular. You might see this effect on lamp shades or cushions or applied to fabrics to be upholstered onto cushions, bed covers and furniture pieces as well as on ceramic and metal vessel products.

Gold and brass

Rose gold and copper are out. The perennials of stainless steel, chrome and nickel endure, and black and anthracite are having their time in the spotlight, but the real metallic stars of the moment are gold and brass. The array of colours within this spectrum can be as subtle as champagne or as dark as burnished brass, but the main focus is in the glamorous brightness of true brassy, gold tones, whether they be polished and highly reflective or brushed and slightly dulled for effect. Look for gold and brass adding their sophisticated edge to candles, homewares and furniture as well as the usual suspects of tapware, accessories and handles.

Comfort first

Tired of minimalistic and uncomfortable furniture? This trend has embraced a love of simplified forms with an equal focus on comfort and use. Curved contours take the fore alongside soft materials and welcoming forms designed for the user to unwind. A reaction to the trend of being safe in the cocoon of home, the comfort-first trend will grow in demand and influence.

Sustainability

Conscious consumerism has really sunk in, with most people aware of authentic design, localised production, waste minimisation, and generally being considerate of the impact we have on the world around us. The trend to ensure longevity of the planet while enjoying your home continues to grow in importance with products being brought to market that encompass both desires.

Multi-functional

It’s harder to find products at the moment that aren’t punching well above their weight in terms of function, whether it be phone and mobile device-charging utility, Bluetooth-enabled multi-functionality and clever interconnectivity – one product doing one thing doesn’t seem to be quite enough.

Spaces need to multitask, too, with room dividers making a comeback with intriguing, chic forms allowing people to achieve a zoned use of open or small spaces through the considered, flexible and easily moveable placement of a screen.

HomeSpace by Darren Palmer (Murdoch Books, RRP $39.99).