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6 design and décor trends to watch this year!
No bulky Sofas- This year, bulky sofas are just for traditionalists.
Interior design platform Qanvast (Singapore based), expects to see more interior designers furnish living rooms with smaller, movable seating options such as armchairs (pictured), ottomans or bean bags. The similar options are available on Pepperfry’s website in India.
Also, decking out the entire home in a Scandinavian or industrial theme is not cool anymore.Instead, pick furniture and decor pieces that have Scandinavian or industrial-looking features and use them as accent pieces to give a bit of that traditional/European look.
Garden in Style- ‘Red, earthy-coloured pots and plastic watering cans do not cut it anymore’, says Ms Cynthea Lam, founder of Super Farmers, an urban-gardening company.
When it comes to pruning, trimming and turning the soil in an old planter, there are now gardening tools that are functional and stylish. Water your plants with a fancy brass mister (pictured) or prune leaves with a pair of vintage scissors, for instance.
She also says: “Traditionally, moss is used to complement other plants, but I envision it being used as the lead plant now. We’ll celebrate how simple it looks and its low maintenance.”
Bold Paints- There is nothing quiet about the shades for 2017. The Pantone Color Institute chose Greenery, a yellow-green hue that “speaks to our need to explore, experiment and reinvent”.
It was named one of the most prevalent colours on fashion shows featuring spring trends.Moreover, Interior designers are inspired to use such colours as an accent on backsplashes, countertops and feature walls.
Meanwhile, paint and coating company AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetics Centre gathered a group of international experts and trend watchers from various disciplines such as architecture and textiles who picked Denim Drift (pictured), a blue-grey tone, for this year.
If you are nervous about using such a bold shade on all the walls, Denim Drift can be used on a feature wall to give an updated look to your living space. It also works as a backdrop for different styles of wood furniture. Even accenting the space with cold whites give this look a crisper, more modern appearance.
Go Natural (Earthy)- Rattan and wood are the coolest materials for this year. They are trendy in their own way. It gives more of a natural look to your homes. Additionally, Ms Jill St John Jeremiah, merchandising manager at Crate & Barrel, says if you want to get that natural, down-to-earth look, choose furniture pieces with knots, grains and fissures. Also taking a leaf from the fashion world’s book, botanical prints (pictured) are hot, especially in upholstery.
2017 is all about botanical prints, small floral prints to huge leafy patterns. You can’t resist but style your homes with such patterns and furnitures.
Functional Balconies- Balconies are very common in newer properties these days. But while there has been a push to use the space as an extension of the living room or to create an outdoor garden, most home owners do not use it well.
“Look at balconies in most buildings and you are more likely to find clothes drying in the sun than a beautiful garden.”, says Raman Aneja, director of The Home Talk.
The balcony space need not be wasted and can be furnished with outdoor furniture (pictured). It is the best place to have morning tea and evening snacks.
Large balcony owners can even be bold and add a washing machine to the balcony area. Conceal it within a built-in cupboard and they will have a balcony space that is not just for chilling.
Versatile Furniture- Furniture that can be used both indoors and outdoors are also trending. A versatile series that can be used outside and inside the home can be shopped from Pepperfry.
The pieces, which include the Parisi table (pictured), are painted in soothing colours such as salmon and light greige, and the designs feature bent metal wires – a common, waterproof material in outdoor furnishings.
But others have white Carrara marble from Italy and black Marquina marble from Spain worked into the design – luxe materials not usually used in outdoor furniture.
