When New Year arrives it’s all about making changes and resolutions. If you’re among the tens of thousands of people who see the drab, grey post-Christmas period as a great opportunity to give their homes a new lease of life, here are some of our top predictions for interior design trends in 2018.
Gold
Copper has had a good run over the past couple of years, but some say it’s making way for its more opulent, expensive cousin. “Gold fixtures and fittings make a luxurious statement in any home, but if you’re not too keen on the bling you can tone it down a touch by just adding accessories here and there and trying brass instead of pure gold” suggests Knightsbridge estate agent, Plaza Estates. Think golden vases, door handles and pots for a touch of understated luxury.
Colourful Kitchens
All white kitchens have been a staple in designer mags for nearly a decade, but the sterility of white is not everyone’s cup of tea. There’s been a definite move towards more playful, colourful kitchens which combine practicality and style- sturdy school canteen style chairs combined with rustic tables have been a real hit over the past few months and will likely continue to become more popular for 2018 and well beyond.
Parquet flooring
First impressions count, and a really beautiful floor is a sure fire way to add the wow factor to your home. The classic herringbone pattern of a parquet floor is a design statement that never goes out of fashion, but now the Scandinavian look is on its way out it’s having something of a revival. “Warm natural wood is comforting, relatively easy to keep looking good and always looks classy” says M&M Property.
Peaches and Violets
There have been a lot of deep petrol blues and violets featured in interior magazines over the past couple of years, but those in the know are predicting a move towards a softer violet. It also works perfectly with the gold tones we mentioned earlier.
Likewise, there has been a strong emphasis on romantic blush pinks of late, but experts suggest this is soon going to be replaced by soft peaches and apricot tones. They look great with black and bring a slightly modern, less fluffy touch to romantic rooms (and guess what, they too work well with gold and parquet!)
Statement Art
“A big piece of art is always a good talking point” says Proskips, and 2018 is seeing a distinct move away from the clutter of gallery walls towards bigger, bolder statement pieces. For a really unique look steer clear of off-the-peg posters from high street stores and trawl the internet and galleries instead. And if you can afford it, commissioning an individual piece or splashing your cash at an action could end up being a great investment decision.
Black and White Photography
Great news for anyone who hates the Keep Calm and Carry On/ Live, Love, Laugh trend! Typography is well and truly on its way out and is making way for more elegant, moody and classically sophisticated black and white photography. Expect to see lots of Robert Doisneau prints in the shops over the coming year, but if you really want to make the look your own try investing in a good camera and having a go at some moody black and white shots yourself.
Andrew Reeves has some advice- “Trends come and go, so you don’t have to go all out with a totally new look if you don’t want to be bothered with re-doing it all again next year. Just select a few key pieces that you like and you can bring your home up to date without spending a fortune or completely re-decorating.”