Less is best: Dea Jolly's trend report for 2018

 With the year well under way, most designer minds turn to refreshing or renovating their homes to sparkling effect. Exactly what is in store for the interior world in 2018?

Colour

We will continue to see a return to rich and decadent colours, often clashing with the more minimal palette of previous seasons, such as whites and greys.

Expect to see emerald greens, plums, black, orange and browns. The big-impact colour for the year – striking, confident and bold red. Watermelon-red and other warm and earthy colours such as rust, terracotta, peach and tan will be found on everything from walls to furniture and decor objects.

Colours that are fading fast – millennial pink and turquoise.

Materials

Copper is being replaced by brass and silver as the metallics of choice for this year. In a shift away from blond woods and the Scandi style of the past few years, dark, warm woods, such as rosewood and walnut, will be the new favourites.

Marble is still the material of choice for kitchens and bathrooms, with an eye towards black, green and grey marbles, and thin benchtops instead of the 40 or 60 millimetres that we have seen in recent years. Terrazzo is also popping up and wallpaper is here to stay with key trends being either organic or geometric.

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New trends coming up for soft furnishings will be velvet, suede, tartan and tweed. Fringing on just about everything will be big. Wood will be popular, especially when used with raw materials such as concrete and exposed brickwork.

Quality over quantity

Style over abundance and making a conscientious choice to buy quality items that will last instead of lower-quality mass-produced pieces will be the way forward for 2018.

A renewed interest in antiques and handmade furniture, decor objects and art will reflect that desire for quality, history, sustainability and a return to a simpler way of life. Seeing the potential in existing things is the important message.

Greenery

Plants and vegetation are the new must-haves with plants en masse making an impact, without blowing the budget, and bringing the serenity of nature indoors. Everybody wants calm, and to reconnect with nature.

Details

Puffy, plump and curved shapes in furniture design will signal a move towards comfort and a more organic style. Open shelving and glass cabinetry doors will be favoured over solid cabinet doors for kitchens.

We will see more and more integrated fridges, dishwashers and stovetops as concealing the working elements of kitchens and laundries becomes popular.

Adapting our homes to our lifestyles with technology by using tablets and smartphones to create an intelligent house will be an important trend for anyone renovating or building.