With all major looks being first introduced at the Milanese show, Salone del Mobile, Milan is the first and final word on the trends that will impact interiors for the year. This is my edit of the big trends coming out of the undisputed capital of interior design.
Colour me pale
From the overall colour schemes to accent walls and furniture, light colours are the way forward. Think bleached out pastels — a barely there, faded look signals a calmer outlook and our quest for serenity. When it comes to furniture, these pale shades bring to view the lightness of form that seemed to dominate the new shapes and geometries for furniture and accessories.
New wood
In keeping with the lighter colour palette, wood too will take on a lighter hue. Blonde to be precise. Don’t confuse this with the IKEA lightwood. The new wood remains golden and luminous; the stain or polish remains natural without an overdose of artificial colouring. Celebrate this trend in big pieces of furniture — such as dining tables and consoles, set to warm lighting to bring out the inherent depth and character.
From the Earth
Given the overall light, sombre mood, natural stones move away, interestingly, from the refined, light palettes that have flooded the market recently. Instead, browns such as the Emperador — with its lush mocha tones and sturdy white veins — and Carrara marble with its fine black-grey lines would be the materials of choice. Forego the temptation to use them on the floor; they are the perfect accents for statement furniture.
Rock metals and minerals
Another example of Earth inspiration, precious metals continue to inform the year’s key trends. From matte to high-gloss, they can be found from adorning the smallest of spoons and the biggest of chandeliers. While gold and silver remain obvious choices, bronze and copper are the go-to finishes for those in the know. Crystal facets too are a huge trend as seen in textures for tiles as well as forms of consoles and cabinet shutters.
Future present
Think new age materials such as polycarbonate and stabilised plastics. Then mould them into sinuous forms from the future. Add a barely there, support frame. The good thing is, you don’t need to do any of the above. From lamps, to chairs and bathroom consoles, the biggest names in furniture are favouring this look. Simply look out for furniture, simplified to its bones, elevated with strategic use of clear heavy-duty plastics.
Light it up
You might recall the Supernova light by Lasvit featured in my story earlier this month. Yes, it turned out to be very much the showstopper it promised, but come on. That is a museum installation piece. As Euroluce 2015 showcased, your lights don’t need bells and whistles to make a chic design statement. Invest in pieces that show-off the state-of-art light source encased in hand-made, delicate bohemian glass, in forms akin to the design code established by the futuristic trend.
All about the rug
Tilework is still winning over stone and parquet when it comes to making a bold floor statement, but don’t underestimate the power of the rug. A perfect opportunity to showcase another key trend — handicrafts — the rug of the future is inspired by stripped down tribal designs, traditional knotting works, toned down colours and often embodies a playful spirit.
Pratyush Sarup edits the design site designcarrot.net. You can follow the site on twitter @DesignCarrot.
