Top interior trends we have seen in 2017 to date

Summer is the perfect time to think about brightening up your living space and refreshing your home interior. Having officially passed the midway point for 2017 (already!) we thought there were no better time to look at some of the trends leading the way in homes across the country to give you a little inspiration to help you on your way.

Greenery

As always, the design year started with the authority on colour, Pantone, announcing that the official colour of the year 2017 would be ‘Greenery’, a refreshing and revitalising shade of green which has lead the way on the catwalk and in the interior design world already this year. We have seen variations on this trend making an appearance throughout the interior world with shades of green being seen in striking wallpaper prints and velvet sofas for the bolder consumers along with vases and playful cushions allowing others to adopt the trend with subtle accents throughout the home.

Pantone’s choice of “Greenery” certainly set the tone for 2017 that it would be a year in which many of us seek to get back to nature in our properties. With an emphasis on the natural textures provided by the likes of earthware bowls, matte glazed dinnerware and wooden floorboards, in contrast to the highly polished gloss that has been sought-after in recent years. The green shades offer a beautiful contrast to the metallic accessories featured later in this article.

Designed to order

2017 has seen a definite surge in customisation across the interior space. Earlier this year, leading forecasters WGSN predicted that ‘made to order will become the new order’ in their recent report with interiors marketplace eporta and this has certainly rung true. Bespoke solutions allow the consumer to design and develop a product specifically for their needs, wants and desires resulting in a truly unique outcome. We have seen that there is a direct correlation between the most popular suppliers and the degree of customization options available.  Aside from this being a practicality and requirement of the interior trade, WGSN identified this as a trend throughout interiors and lifestyle with walls and floors receiving the same degree of personalisation as furniture and lighting.

Metallic Lighting

A trend which was identified in 2016 in the John Lewis retail report and has continued to shine brightly in 2017. Gold, brass and copper lead the way as the preferred choices among consumers, providing complimentary accents to the aforementioned trends. The industrial feel which reigned last year is still very much in favour with exposed brickwork and concrete or rustic floorboards allowing statement ceiling lights to take center stage.  

Metallic light fittings promote the reflection of light which helps to give a room a spacious impression; no matter the size of your living space. They are also easier to match with different styles of houses allowing the majority of consumers to be able to adopt this trend easily. Undoubtedly, 2017 has so far been a year or contemporary designs.  Metallic lighting decors never fail to give a futuristic look. You can make use of several small light drops to create a dramatic effect.  This is perfect for the entrance of your home as well for the dining area.

Bringing the outside in

The blending of interior and exterior spaces has to be one of the hottest trends for summer 2017, creating a modern and tranquil feel to your living space. Consumers are beginning to experiment with different ways to bring nature into every aspect of their homes with wall features, accessories and lighting all being incorporated to make a design statement with this current trend.

When we can’t always guarantee the fine weather, it is great to be able to bring nature inside our homes, it is an extremely healthy trend for us all to adopt allowing us some element of the ‘best of both worlds’ particularly for those with more limited outdoor space.  For those who are not particularly green fingered, never fear the artificial alternatives provide an effective solution.

Quirky Lighting

Lighting should be the biggest accessory to any home and this latest trend has certainly celebrated the beauty of light. Lighting in a home can change the mood of a room just as it can change the perceived size of a room. Placement and type are important aspects of interior design, and they work in conjunction with colour selections, room size, availability of natural light and furniture selection. The elements that come together when the right lighting is achieved transform a room into a seamless combination of functionality and style.

A unique light fitting is the perfect way to show off your sense of style. The dining room for many, is the ideal space to make a bold statement and boast something more unusual. For a more subtle way to adopt this trend however you could think about a quirky table lamp or floor lamp.