Change comes from within
Gabrielle Fagan takes a look at what 2010 holds for home interiors
Published:
Woven natural-stripe cushion, £9; cream cushion, £5; woven blue-stripe cushions, £6 each; blue stripe throw, £10; Tu Home beach huts framed print 30 x 60cm, £15, from the Tu Home range at Sainsbury’s
Spirograph ceiling pendant, £190; Jam chairs, £150 each; Eloise table, £395; tableware, from £4, from the Bhs Gloss range
Poppy canvases (set of three), £99; duvet and pillowcase set, from £45; Oxford pillow cases (per pair), £16; curtains from £50; cushion, £15; throw, £90; bedside cabinet, £175; stick lamp, £10, and bedstead from £325, all from Next
Next optical illusion canvas, £50; bright floral photographic canvases (set of nine), £80; colour block wall clock, £25; box collage frame, £25; waffle chenille cushion from £10; faux leather cube from £45 and colour bottles (set of four), £10
Azuki double duvet cover, £55; multi spot cushion, £20, and round green or pink flower cushion, £30, all from John Lewis
Dogtooth bedset, £55; Houndstooth cushion, £35; Reactive peony bedset from £45; Bloom floral cushion, £29.50; Bloom woven bedset from £55 and Bloom floral bedset from £45, all from Marks & Spencer
Ribbed metal base table lamp, £85; peony cup and saucer, £7.50; peony side plate, £6; pink design vase £29.50; 3D floral cushion £35; Bloom embroidered gold cushion, £35; Fraser armchair in Aster Plum, £849; Peony rug £49.50; bubble glass tea-lights, £15 and Sheesham wooden stool, £99, all from Marks & Spencer
COLD winds outside are icy proof that winter is far from over, but welcome winds of change are blowing through home style.
Bland neutrals have finally been given the boot and colour has triumphed, meaning that, in 2010, rooms will glow with warmth and character.
Feel free to use beautiful, blooming florals, or add impact with strong blocks of colour mimicking catwalk styles.
Even devotees of cool monochrome schemes should add injections of colour to bring them bang up to date.
Be cool and contemporary with zingy accents of bubble-gum pink, citrus yellow and lime, or opt for rich, luscious plums and purples and lipstick reds for a glamorous, luxurious look.
Throw caution to the wind and mix elements of different styles, eras, colours and patterns to create a look that works for you.
“Generally, people are more at ease about their taste and this year will be ready and willing to experiment,” predicts leading interior designer Anita Kohn at Living In Space.
“They’re going to want to make interior-design statements to add ‘wow’ factor to rooms, with bold wallpaper prints continuing to be a strong and popular trend.”
It’s about being imaginative rather than feeling you have to slavishly follow one style, agrees Alan Hughes, director of Inchbald School of Interior Design.
“Interior design has grown up in the last few years,” he says.
“Replicating a design or scheme ‘off the peg’ seen in a magazine for a lifeless hotel look is very yesterday.
“Instead, homes should be personal reflections of their owners, where treasured possessions, complementary in colour, texture and form, are displayed, and the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed.”
So if you love nature but feel florals are too girly or fussy for your rooms, opt for the more funky ‘country chic’, which mimics a hunting-lodge look.
Make a focal point of a decorative replica of a stag or deer head, a surprising bestseller on the high street, and continue the woodland theme with wallpaper and accessories that take inspiration from creatures and nature.
If that’s too close to home and you yearn for the sultry colours and styles of foreign parts, take stock of the ‘faraway look’ which is coming into vogue.
You could incorporate the exotic colours and intricate mosaic patterns of Moroccan style, experiment with dark woods and artefacts characteristic of Africa or succumb to the charms of the East.
But whichever style you follow, make sure you make it your own.
Make do and mend is all the rage in these impoverished times, Anita says, and that’s resulting in a fashion for craft.
“Sophisticated stencilling has made a come back, with an emphasis on achieving a hand-painted look.
“Make your own stencils or buy ones ready-made, and apply to unexpected areas such as skirting boards, pieces of furniture and otherwise dull corners and alcoves.”
There’s no need to worry about busting the budget. A few rolls of wallpaper, a pot of paint and a new accessory could be all you need to give your home a new-year lift.
So don’t stay out in the cold. Follow our experts’ guide to the hot new trends for interiors.
GO FOR SPRING GREENS
Greens, once seen only in dull public buildings such as schools or town halls, are emerging as the most versatile colour for homes.
Soft, deep shades such as moss greens are renowned for their calming effect, but don’t overlook bright leaf green and lime, which are starring on everything from textiles to wall coverings.
Introducing shades inspired by nature is an ideal way to freshen up a neutral scheme, says Mockie Harrison, manager of John Lewis’s Home Design Studio.
“Spring is in the air, so where better to look for inspiration than the evocative charms of the verdant British countryside?
“Our collection, Forage, evokes the natural and harmonious nature of the woodlands. Look out for unfinished timber, and colour is key. Soft honey and cool neutral tones are juxtaposed against vibrant hues such as leaf green, pumpkin, purple and kingfisher blue.”
TIP: Muted greens team well with soft mimosa yellows, warm ambers and bronzes. Add complementary materials such as dark stained wood, copper and reactive glazes.
GET THE LOOK: Make a statement with a willow green Allegra sofa by Nick Munro upholstered in velvet, £1,750 from John Lewis. Accessorise with round green cushions, £30 each.
IT’S A SHORE THING
“A relaxed coastal look will be ultra-fashionable,” says Marnie Janaway, head of home design for Sainsbury’s.
“The allure of the sea is strong this year, with all things nautical in vogue. Refresh a home with an airy Hamptons beach house palette of tranquil blues and understated neutrals.
“Cool cottons, natural rattans, galvanised metals and folk-inspired patterns can be easily mixed and matched across different rooms of the home, from bedroom to bathroom.”
TIP: Paint floorboards in white and add New England-style white painted furniture, plus sea-blue shades in blinds, rugs and accessories for a holiday home look.
GET THE LOOK: Get shipshape with Sainsbury’s blue and white striped cushions, £6 each; throw, £10 from the Tu range, and a Beach huts framed print, £15.
New England Lifestyle UK has an excellent selection of white painted furniture.
FLOWER POWER
“One of the strongest trends will be florals which have been given a modern-day shake-up,” forecasts Sally Bendelow, head of Home Design for Marks & Spencer.
“The new twist uses bold painted and large-scale botanical prints. To make them look more contemporary, we’ve mixed 3D florals with houndstooth and graduated stripe patterns.”
GET THE LOOK: Marks & Spencer’s florals collection includes a fab Peony Rug, £49.50, and Fraser Armchair in Aster Plum, £849.
MONOCHROME MAGIC
Black and white continues to be the sophisticated leader in decor trends.
It’s a winner because it’s a look that’s easy to live with, but this year must be warmed with flashes of bright colour, from lemon to lime hues.
Suzanne Beechey, divisional homeware buying manager for Bhs, says: “The popularity of a monochrome colour palette has grown over the years. But to give the look more depth, accessorise with bold colours. Lemons and limes really add a new dimension to this classic trend.
“Sharp lines and sleek detailing, bold geometric and even floral prints can also play a role in this versatile look.”
TIP: Monochrome is an elegant foil for lush silks and velvets and sparkles when accessorised with metallic touches.
GET THE LOOK: Bhs’s Gloss collection features some monochrome classics: a black and white Jam dining chair, £150; sparkling white gloss Eloise table, £395, and Demure dinnerware from £5.
The Next range opts for a softer pairing of black with grey, while Matalan’s range ticks all the right boxes for design and price. A black butterflies duvet set is a snip at £22 (double size).
GLAMOUR AND COLOUR
Tough times make us all crave comforting, but visually appealing, sanctuaries – and that means rooms dressed with sensual fabrics, rich colours and statement pieces.
This all adds up to a recipe for glamour. Designer Ben de Lisi predicts that the winning look this year will be old-world glamour mixed with artist-studio chic for an unpredictable, edgy but luxurious scheme.
“Think lush fabrics like silks, cashmere, velvets and suedes contrasting with sleek gloss surfaces like lacquer, concrete or polished wood. Our homes need to be uplifting and full of light, colour and energy.”
TIP: Test your taste by taking the plunge with colourful accessories – zesty orange, green and yellow – set against a neutral background, and include exuberant patterns.
GET THE LOOK: Ben de Lisi’s range at Debenhams has all the ingredients for a colour story – multicoloured Puzzle rug, £100, and Polka Dot cushions, £10.
Sunshine colours star in Next’s dazzling floral wall canvases (set of nine, £80), or pick fun red, blue and pink faux-leather floor cubes, £45. The red Poppy bedding range, duvet set from £45, is also stunning.
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