The latest kitchen tech, that you thought you couldn’t live without, ends up at the back of the cupboard a week after you bought it. Now where did I put that Breville sandwich toaster?
But there are some trends that may pass the test of time. Hot this year, they will be trending again next year and maybe for the foreseeable future.
Vintage – Some things never quite go out of style. Vintage clothing, accessories and furniture has been around for a while now. The trend for retro-styling will continue in 2018.
Bare surfaces – Bare stone or unpainted wood and brick wall surfaces will give rustic old-world charm or industrial warehouse chic to larger, open plan living spaces.
Terracotta – Bring some lightness into you home. Terracotta floors covered with rugs and mats with colour geometric designs will be the order of the day. Combine this with earthenware crockery and vases for understated Mediterranean style.
Customisation – This year has seen homeowners seeking bespoke solutions for their furnishing needs. Design to order will continue to trend in 2018.
Branches and twigs – Bringing the outdoors and natural world inside has been trending this year. Using natural materials, incorporating twigs, leaves and branches into creative interior design will increase in popularity next year.
Reclaimed and upcycled materials – Related to the vintage trend, upcycling tired old furniture and giving it a new lease of life has been a creative trend that has developed over the past couple of years. It is likely to continue in 2018 and beyond as the more frugal among us seek affordable but innovative design inspiration.
Connectivity – Wifi , faster broadband speeds and the developing concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) means that we have started to connect our domestic functions to our tech. We can control our heating and lighting from our phones while we’re commuting. Fridges can scan the barcodes on products and place grocery orders online. Printers can order ink. Wifi speakers mean we can listen to music throughout the home. The connectivity trend will grow in 2018 as more devices come online and digital assistants like Alexa become more sophisticated.
Two trends for 2018 according to the John Lewis Retail Report 2017 are:
Prints go wild – Cushions and throws are likely to be adorned with the colourful wildlife of tropical jungles as exotic birds and animals feature heavily.
Multifunctionality with Japanese styling – Minimalist style is on the up. 2018 is likely to see design inspiration coming from the arts and crafts of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Let’s see which of these stands the test of time.
