Top ten interior trends for 2015
I recently spent a cold January weekend in Paris at Maison et Objet – Europe’s largest interior design fair. It’s a key date in every interior designer’s diary as this huge biannual event sets the interior design agenda for the year and beyond. Here’s my round up of the key interior design looks to emerge for 2015….
1) Modern Seventies is everywhere…
The inspirational era of choice for most of the big brands was the Seventies. The look was everywhere! It’s a sophisticated, contemporary take on the decade with long low sofas, big round pouffes, smoked-glass coffee tables, thick softly coloured rugs, cream shagpile carpets, low lighting and dark woods. It’s a sexy urban feel inspired by fashion designers like Celine and Missoni. Think American Hustle, West Hollywood, Studio 54 and you’ll be on the right track.
2) Cocktail cabinets are the new sideboards
If you’re going to buy a new piece of furniture to update your living space, make it a cocktail cabinet or a drinks cabinet. They were everywhere. As were crystal drinks decanters, tumblers and glassware out on display. Another tongue-in-cheek nod to the disco era. Buy new or scour vintage markets for an original.
3) For metals; brass and copper are still hot
Warm metals were everywhere with brass and copper the materials of the moment. It was on everything from lighting, furniture, tableware, accessories and lamps – and both brushed and polished finishes looked modern. The warmth of both copper and brass looks great with grey, which is lucky because….
4) Grey is still trending
All shades of grey are still playing a major role in the interior world but darker greys are coming through strongly for 2015. It looks understated, sophisticated and sexier than the paler shades that have dominated our interior design pallet for so many years.
5) Moody new colours
Soft greys and dark tones were set off with a fresh new pallet of darker accent colours like forest green, deep coral, dark teal, burnt sienna, petrol blue and mustard yellow giving a moody sophisticated feel. The colour palette for 2015 also saw warmer tones of pinks, reds and oranges coming through unsurprisingly in a year that has Dulux’s naming “Copper Blush’ and Pantone choosing Marsala (a deeper copper tone) as their colours of the year.
6) Wicker, wood and bamboo chairs are the must-have piece
Hanging chairs and armchairs in natural materials like rattan and grass were a key trend at Maison. And there were plenty of homages to classic Emmanuelle armchair with its high oval backrest and peacock pattern. Sling a sheepskin rug or a couple of hide cushions on it to add an instant ‘70s retro vibe to any room.
7) Plants create an urban jungle vibe
Yuccas, ferns and parlour palms in oversized glass pots, terrariums and cacti & succulents in hanging glass displays created a calm fresh way of using plants in the home. Floor-to-ceiling walls of plants, hanging baskets and groups of plants in interesting pots were ways of making a statement with plants. It has been a long time since our love of plants was indulged inside and it looks surprisingly fresh and modern.
8) The new global ethnic look was strong
This year influences from Morocco and Africa were particularly strong. Fitting with the 70s vibe there were kilims, Moroccan lights, ethnic wooden sculptures and Arabesque tiles everywhere. Print was a big story with paisley, geometric, chevron and ikat prints making an appearance on fabrics and rugs. It’s a modern hippy-de-luxe look that embodies a certain kind of 1970s glamour (think Talitha Getty in her kaftan on a Marrakech rooftop).
9) A love of nature
Skeletons, feathers, driftwood, interesting stones, bone, coral, horns, shells, leather, animal skins, leather and skulls found their way into many of the big designer room sets. These beautiful treasures were carefully curated to form changing and dramatic displays. It’s a great trend to incorporate into any style of home, as objects from nature look right with almost every interior style from traditional to urban chic.
10) Botanical prints were everywhere
Overblown fabrics covered in leaves, bright birds, butterflies and flowers are one of the hottest trends of the season. From Missoni Home to Designer’s Guild, they give a big two fingered salute to the pastel and neutral mid-century patterns which have dominated for the last few seasons. Blowsy, overblown, tropical prints are the look you are aiming for.
