WHAT’S IN AND WHAT’S OUT

We have all spent a lot more time than usual at home over the past few years, and we all need to look at our homes in a new light. Trends should be taken as inspiration and not written in stone. If the bouchée chair you’ve been dreaming about still sparks joy for you don’t let anyone tell you any different - buy it. The most memorable spaces, while they may be informed by trends, always convey a person’s unique style and that’s hard for any one trend to capture. Your home is your safe space and beauty is in the eye if the beholder.

Out: Bouclé

There was a boom in bouclé in 2021, but the creamy looped fabric is already a victim of its success.

“I love me some bouclé, but every single vendor is upholstering their furniture with the fabric,” - Joshua Smith, interior designer.

Bouclé is beautiful but can be very impractical especially if you have small children, teenagers or pets, so maybe limit it to a bedroom chair or even a headboard if, like me, you still love this fabric, but you may regret a full bouclé sofa.

In: Velvet

To be honest velvet has been “in” forever but it’s hard to match a good quality velvet sofa. My velvet sofas have survived so much and still look relatively good after so many years. It’s so cozy - and coziness is always in. Moody tones are big on trend and also make a velvet sofa even more practical.

Out: Scandi minimalism

Designers have noticed a departure from early IKEA days of pale wood and colourless interiors. Unless it’s implemented perfectly this trend can feel cold and a little bit too open, and if you don’t bring warmth and texture, it can fall flat, lack individuality, and feel sterile. We want to feel comfortable in our homes and the clutter of our daily lives sticks out like a sore thumb in these paired back spaces.

BOUCLÉ

Scandi Minimalism

BOHO

Moody Spaces Earth Tones

In: Sustainability

We have all become more concerned about the impact we have on the environment; our purchasing and our recycling and reusing. Some vintage or antique pieces in our homes are a great way of grounding the space but also gives the added knowledge that you are being kind to the environment. These can be mixed with newer furniture to give an eclectic look and are also great talking points. As Patsy Stone once said, “One should never be the oldest thing in one's house”. And if you are replacing big items think about selling or donating your old furniture, it may spark joy for someone else.

Out: Boho Styles

Take the macramé off the wall and put the plants on a side table. While Boho has been big for years now, it’s changing. In the past this style has been heavily influenced by YouTube and Instagram where there’s a younger audience, but now it’s growing up. We’ll see more curated spaces that still celebrate hand craftsmanship and artistry but with a less hippie vibe.

In: Moody spaces

We are loving deep moody tones and their ability to make spaces feel so intentional. Try painting a room all in the same colour including the ceiling and trim; AKA Farrow and Ball or adding wallpaper with the same colour as other textiles in the room. Chose colour with depth like a dark green or deep blue, this works really well with dark furniture and a mix of patterns and striped cushions and throws. Think a modern take on the traditional Manor House charm.

In: Earth tones

Brown is the new black, at least in interiors. Earthy hues are here to stay; they increased in popularity during the pandemic and still rule three years on. Colour psychology—or how different shades affect our emotional being—states that humans feel a sense of safety and security when surrounded by brown. Why? Its associations with the earth: the calming and resilient element that keeps us quite literally grounded. Another moody tone, mauve is set to take over from pink which has been very popular since millennium pink, later moving on to duster shades. What do the designer’s say, “Expect to see green everywhere”. ELLE Decor editors have seen grassy flooring crop up in homes from Paris to Woodstock, while leafy-hued furniture was on display at the most recent High Point Furniture Market. Studholme, of Farrow & Ball, points to the increasing popularity of the paint company’s deep moody greens, like Green Smoke.

In: Heavy vained counter tops

While a classic white stone is nothing to be sniffed at, it is striking veining, characteristically in black, running with wild abandon through the countertop, which can have a real show-stopping impact in a kitchen, and make the space truly sing. Dramatic veining, whether it’s on worktops, splashbacks or sinks, has been growing in popularity over the past few years. It’s nature at its most dramatic and this trend is here to stay for the foreseeable.

Heavy Vained Counter Tops