10 Trends that changed interiors
Assisted by the plethora of home improvement TV shows, decor magazines and celebrity interior designers, the focus on design and style for the home has strengthened over the last 10 years. Technological innovations are constantly developed and refined, while craft aesthetics and traditional motifs continue to be reworked and reinterpreted in a contemporary way.
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Wallpaper
What: The re-emergence of wallpaper as interior decoration. With painted walls being the style trend of the late 80s and 90s, this reinvention of wallpaper has been fuelled by the desire for more decoration and is now more affordable through advanced technology.
Why: Wallpaper ranges appear at every level of the market from high-end bespoke panels through to the mass-market retailers.
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Eco-aware
What: A combination of both attitude and material; ethically responsible manufacturing techniques are as important as the sustainable recyclable materials used.
Why: Good for the planet and our children's future, but also a massive selling point. Wood is being used as the material of choice over new plastics.
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Ethnic inspiration
What: The strength of inspiration which derives from global art, cultural motifs and specialised techniques can be applied to all manner of textiles and decoration – from rugs and cushions to throws, towels and bedlinen.
Why: The prevalence of ethnic motifs and techniques, including suzani from Uzbekistan, paisley from Persia and geometrics from Africa, being used throughout the interiors industry.
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Minimalism
What: Design innovator John Pawson was a key player in the late 90s trend for a minimalist interior. The principle of the movement was to take away all unnecessary ornamentation and be left with only the essentials, revealing the naked object.
Why: A design trend embraced by hotels, restaurants, mass-market retailers and interior designers is set to be permanent style option.
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Craft
What: A strong craft revival combined with innovative technologies to create a new workable aesthetic has meant a revaluation of design parameters – designers are fast becoming the masters of multiple trades.
Why: Cross-over between design disciplines is key to both sustainable manufacture and keeping products and collections original.
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Baroque and rococo revival
What: A continuing romantic and decorative trend where the mixing of modern lines and materials has been combined with 17th and 18th century charm and detail.
Why: Reinterpretation of historical references is pivotal in the development of design. This trend has been the greatest inspiration on the mass market in the last decade.
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Superstar status
What: In the past decade top international designers have enjoyed the status of superstars, successfully marketed through collaborations with big-name brands. Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola, Tom Dixon, Hella Jongerius, Paola Navone and Jaime Hayon are the most significant super-designers of the present day.
Why: Collaborations are not limited to the high-end, with Target, Habitat and Graham & Brown also capitalising on superstar designers' skills and status.
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Embellishment
What: Beaded and sequined home accessories inspired by the fashion of the early noughties.
Why: Embraced by the homewares industry as a staple glamorous fix for all home environments.
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High-gloss finish
What: High-gloss finishes achieved by lacquered or polished materials continues to be a key patina for furniture and accessories alike.
Why: Gives an added sense of luxury which has filtered down to the masses via Ikea kitchens.
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Limited editions: blurring the boundaries between art and design
What: Limited edition pieces/collections of furniture and accessories designed by artists and architects exhibited in exhibitions and galleries.
Why: The blurring of disciplines allows for a new more diverse aesthetic while the notion of limited editions also prevails in the lower end of the market as exclusivity will always be a selling point.
