Staying on top of what's trending and current in an ever changing design landscape can be difficult. To alleviate this, Barron's has compiled some of the top design trends across the globe and synthesized why these trends are so popular. The publication suggests that casting a broader net and looking far and wide for design inspiration can be exactly what is needed to spark creativity. Here are some of the trends Barron's identifies.
Dual-Purpose Furniture
“We see a lot of modern portmanteaus that can hold a jacket, keys, and an umbrella, but also have a built-in mirror,” says Allyson Rees, senior retail lifestyles editor for WGSN, a global trend-forecasting company. Flexible furniture solutions are popular across the board, she says. “And for those who work from home, we’re seeing a rise in flexible dining tables; tables have hidden outlets or USB ports, so people can use them as a workspace during the day,” she says.
Extra storage space can be found under the bed, with shelves in corners, in false ceilings, or with tailor-made bench beds that can store a lot inside. “These storage solutions don’t seem like a wardrobe; rather, they look like the flat layout of a wall with almost invisible panels behind where there is space for storage,” Houzz Italy editor Leonora Sartori says. As such, custom cabinetry is growing in popularity.
Timeworn Materials
Creating a home that feels safe and comfortable is of utmost importance around the world. “Velvet continues to be the upholstery fabric of choice, seen at furniture trade shows from Paris to High Point. N.C., and interior silhouettes are soft,”
There is a return to aged surfaces, timeworn materials, and an heirloom quality to interiors, Rees says, “championing the artisan—whose goods bear marks of the hand and small imperfections [that] add a more human element to designs.” There’s also a rise in craft products. Consumers want to know the provenance of the products they buy.
“Noble materials such as bronze, onyx, and marble naturally have aged surfaces and can be considered a luxury,” Salvagni says. “They’re on trend because people recognize the craftsmanship that has to go into shaping these precious materials into the forms they want; this attention to detail is what people are willing to pay for. These materials are tactile, warm, and so much more appealing than plastics, laminates, and so forth,” Rome-based architect and designer Achille Salvagni says.
Mindfulness in Design
“We’re seeing sensorial experiences such as scent, color, and sound—once only really found in spas—take on an everyday appeal in the home,” Rees explains This is playing out with smart lightbulb systems that allow you to create a sensory atmosphere in the home and use different colors for chromatherapy.
The rise of wellness and mindfulness as a key consumer trend is influencing younger generations, millennials especially, to move plants into the home, Rees says. No longer confined to the terrace or windowsill, they’re all over—in the shower or bathtub, hanging overhead.
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