Be bold for 2009
Each new year brings a raft of new trends, but what does 2009 hold for the trendy home? Interior designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan reveal all to Susan Welsh
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COLOUR is back – again. That’s the style prediction being made by TV’s interior-design duo, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan.
They say key trends for 2009 include bringing back colour, adding gloss and affordable luxury.
“The one thing guaranteed to get us though a grizzly and grey British winter is the prospect of spring lurking just around the corner,” said Colin.
“With its air of freshness and new life, spring is a tantalising season that excites us more than any other.
“It’s at this time that our ideas for the home spring forth like blossoming flowers as we desperately try to encourage you, and your domestic inner sanctums, to break free of the dowdy shackles of darker days and take on a new and much lighter persona.”
Justin added: “The best antidote to all those dreary sepia skies is to ‘pop’ your home with bright tones and shades.
“The colour trend to watch as spring approaches is vibrancy – it’s the big buzzword in home design this season.
“The trick, however, is to be bold, but to be bold subtly.”
That may sound like a contradiction in terms, but the lads clarify this by suggesting raw, clashing colours should be balanced with translucent or neutral tones to soften proceedings to create vibrant harmony in the home.
“Navy blue, as far as we’re concerned, will replace predictable black as a decorating contrast colour, especially when teamed with white,” said Colin.
“And purple, winter’s hot fashion shade, will be softened by the sun to become lavender. Gorgeous.
“Use punchy yellow to add levity and sunshine. Three very different greens round off this season’s colour palette, capturing, as they do, a theme of freshness and rebirth.”
Justin added: “A key trend this season is to mix city with country, so combine scary concrete grey and friendly leaf green, or use fresh green with complementary blue to mimic sky and fields.
“Gloss finishes (especially on furniture) will be huge this season, both in vibrant colour and in crisp, clean white.
“Allow yourself to become a magpie and take a shine to anything that’s glossy. Use a signature piece of furniture in isolation (like a bright yellow Ikea sideboard, for example) in a whitewashed room to create an art-gallery exhibit style, or add a large single coloured iconic vase or object to create a serious talking point.
“Your choice of furniture can also serve as a way to add colour, in addition to function, so embrace that Holy Grail combo of beauty and practicality.
“The influence of the iconic iPod can be seen in the rise of gloss-white furnishings and accessories, and with white car sales across Europe being on the increase, it seems that, these days, it pays to be all white on the night.”
Finally, for a touch of affordable luxury, the lads suggest investing in crisp white cotton bedding with luxury trims in suede and linen, bejewelled cushions and beaded throws – Matalan’s new Influence range is ideal – and bringing an air of freshness into the home with Ambi Pur’s spring collection.
