Signature styles: popular home design trends of 2019

In future decades, 2019 might be remembered as the beginning of the end for the minimalist Scandinavian look.

“It’s been around for quite a while,” says Sophie Seeger, of Seeger by Design. “When you see it hitting all the catalogues from every department store, that’s a sign that it’s been mass-produced, and it loses its design-edge.”

Interior designer Camilla Molders is also hoping for an end to “soulless, boring design” in 2019. “I really would like to see a lot more colour and interest in personality, and individuality, coming back into people’s homes.”

Seeger says an “eclectic but considered” look is increasingly popular. “It doesn’t need to be so curated. [It’s] more comfortable, more eclectic. We’re going back to [design that’s] more interesting.”

Examples include mixing silver and gold finishes, and using mid-century furniture pieces but in a mix with other design elements, whether that be a Moroccan rug or African baskets.

As for materials? Seeger says timber never goes out of fashion, and more people are embracing concrete.

“People are being braver, and injecting some unique factors into their homes, so everything doesn’t all look the same, which can happen with trends.”

One trend Molders is happy to see continue is house plants. “They do change the energy and feel of a space. It’s good to be able to bring nature inside … although we can say goodbye to the fiddle leaf, especially in Melbourne – we just don’t have the climate for them to thrive.”

She also sees home owners growing increasingly confident in how they decorate their spaces. “There’s a bit of floral coming through; I’m seeing hints of that. For a long time, pattern was something that you’d have on a cushion. But now people are feeling braver, and they’re happier to have investment pieces, rather than just leaving it to the sidelines.”

Natural fibres are also having a moment, and Molders’ clients are increasingly interested in the stories behind their furniture pieces, something that Seeger has also noticed.

“The organic look is definitely here,” Seeger says. “With the whole move in sustainability, people now appreciate the processes, and the artists at the other end.”

While trends can be a useful reference point in conversations with clients, Molders notes that slavishly following them can lead to “bad design”. “A home should be filled with what suits a personality.”

When it comes to the exterior design of a house, bold design and clean lines are in, says Damian Morabito, brand manager at Signature by Metricon.

“We’re finding now the trend is design that’s very prominent from the street. That’s what the market is really looking for. Our Riviera home design, with its bold, geometric modern design, has really taken off here in Melbourne.”

Under the Signature by Metricon brand, a team of in-house designers work with clients to personalise floor plans to individual lifestyle needs. It’s a popular option for home owners seeking to knock down and rebuild.

“As clients gain equity in their homes, and they love their location, the kids go to the local school … it’s becoming a viable option for clients to knock down their existing home and rebuild for a growing family. On the flipside, we have customers who want to downsize so we help them rebuild a home that might be smaller as well.”

The French-inspired La Pyrenee house is also proving popular, with its “beautiful columns” and intricate facade features.

“Our design team put a lot of emphasis on what’s going to be next,” Morabito adds. “We feel that we’re leaders in new design and bringing innovation to the marketplace.”