So fabric wall details are out…but what’s in? Here’s a glimpse at the latest interior design trends to help you add value and style to your property.
WHATS IN:
Dark furniture.
Say bye-bye to the blonde-wood and think rich, warm tones for side tables, coffee tables and cabinets. Green is also a colour on the rise and the ideal complement to deep, dark wood tones. Dark green is king and helps create a look that is calm and luxurious.
Terracotta
Pots, tiles and other decorative items – it’s all about the terracotta. Green looks good here too so pair the hues of terracotta with some fresh greenery for a look that is very ‘now’. The effect is one of depth and warmth – a great way to turn a house into a home. Kick the copper out to make way…
Cork
It’s stylish and retro chic – and it adds a warmth and texture that is easy and stylish. The added bonus? It’s great for absorbing noise and softening hard spaces – ideal for open plan living.
Woven baskets
For the linen hamper or cool storage solutions, woven baskets are the big thing in the year ahead.
Upholstered bedheads
Timber bed-frames are so last year. What’s hot in 2017 is the luxe feel of upholstery on your bedhead – creating a hotel-like feel to your bedroom décor.
Neutral colours work well with any linen design or you can be bold with a colourful style, or rich velvet texture for added ‘wow’.
Remember – whatever trend may be named as ‘hot’ by interior design experts in the know, it’s vital that you still love it for yourself, regardless of what is popular. Nothing dates more than design trends that aren’t really suited to your style. To make your home a place you really love, choose the things that work with your tastes – and your lifestyle. For many, the best way to nod to design trends is in small touches that can be added to our existing décor to add fresh visual appeal in the comfortable home that we’ve come to love.
Escapism
Homes with nooks and places to retrieve will become more popular as humans react to our increasingly technological lives.
“With an ever-increasing amount of time spent in front of a computer or smartphone screen during the day…there will be a greater desire to create spaces in our lives devoid of digital distraction,” says the team at Nathan + Jac.
“This may not mean listing the 65 inch flat screen on Gumtree, but we will seek to create havens of calm and tranquillity, whether it’s a bedroom or a nook we can escape to, even if it is to lazily scroll our Instagram feeds in peace.”
Relaxed furniture and materials will follow suit, from deep sofas with linen slip covers, to oversized love seats, day beds, Icelandic sheepskins, chunky knit wool rugs and floor cushions.
Jewel tones
While pastel shades of pink and blue are currently having their day in the sun, they will soon be overtaken by jewel tones inspired by metals, space, stars, clouds and the cosmos.
“Metallics, metals, raw-cut quartz, Lucite and opal will add a dash of sparkle and interest,” says the Nathan + Jac team.
“X-ray materials, transparent fabrics, floaty silks and sheers will create a lightness and soft romantic element to this trend, which embodies an optimism for where we have come from and where we are headed.”
WHAT’S OUT:
Copper
Our experts almost unanimously agree that copper and rose gold will be out by 2017.
“As a material, copper is BEAUTIFUL and will always be in style in some way or another,” says the Nathan + Jac team.
“However, the oversaturation of cheap and shiny imitation copper just ends up looking like you’ve tried too hard, and by doing so, you’ve already missed the boat.”
In its place, a more industrial aesthetic is anticipated.
“Warm metals like copper, brass and rose gold will continue to be on trend for autumn/winter 2016, but as we move into summer 2017 you’ll see a shift away from this super polished look,” says Diane Cocksey, Senior Interior Decorator at Freedom.
“I expect you’ll see a more industrial aesthetic, with black steel and burnished metals taking over the home.”
Marble
With marble homewares all the rage in the mass-produced homewares market, we can soon expect a sharp decline in interest.
“Marble has had a good run, but it’s time for a change,” Cocksey says.
“Look forward to raw, earthy textures like timber, clay and wicker.”
Quote artworks
After years of popularity, consumers will predictably move away from quote artworks.
“[They’re] so cliché,” says the Zwei interiors team.
“We have all seen the ‘Keep calm and …’ posters and they have had their day,” Macer says.
Fiddle leaf figs
Once a feature of every magazine spread, the fiddle leaf fig will soon be substituted for a new statement indoor plant.
Not only are consumers arguably tired of the fiddle leaf fig’s look (and increasingly frustrated by the high prices and wait periods) it’s also proven difficult to keep alive in southern Australian climates given it’s native to parts of western Africa.
“The staple indoor plant needs to have an update. Move over fiddle leaf figs, the olive tree is coming,” Blomfield says.
Open plan living
Defined living spaces are returning to modern homes as consumers seek more private home layouts.
“As people have now lived with the open plan living areas incorporating kitchen, living, dining and even study areas, they have found problems with acoustics and cooking smells through the space,” Macer says.
“The living, kitchen and dining areas could be located around central courtyard, breaking up the large open space.”
Subway tiles
Modern bathrooms and kitchen commonly feature the humble subway tile due to the affordable price point and its versatile look. However, the proliferation of this look will see its popularity decline.
“We have seen them at our local cafe and basically they’re everywhere,” Macer says.
“A BEAUTIFUL option for a kitchen splashback is a “finger” or “kit-kat” tile. Long and thin, they look great laid in vertical or horizontal rows.”
If you need advice for a home loan, business or commercial loan, self-managed super fund loan, or a vehicle or equipment finance loan, speak to a broker at Lending Specialists. We have a wealth of experience under our belt and a robust network to connect you to the right industry professional for the loan you need.
