Interior home decoration goes through shifts and trends all the time, and 2019 is set to be a significant year for the industry. Minimalism seems to slowly be fading away, and we’re also seeing a clear return towards more light and colours coming into this new year. Let’s take a look at nine interior design trends to keep an eye on in 2019. We’ll cover trends that you can easily implement yourself and others that could completely transform your home.
The Rush to Plush
We’re seeing a return to plush furniture. More people today are moving towards rich, plush sofas and chairs. Their rounded shapes and often over-stuffed bodies scream comfort and relaxation while hinting at luxury. Large, plush pillows are increasingly used with these plush seats, though they can also be put on existing chairs and sofas to create a hint of luxuriousness without replacing everything. The ottoman is also making a comeback, but we aren’t talking about the classic leather-covered kind; instead, we’re seeing soft materials like velvet making their appearance.
The desire for a softer environment is showing up in the bedroom, too. A popular choice is replacing the wood headboard with a headboard upholstered in leather instead.
The Return of Wallpaper
Wallpaper is also having a huge comeback recently, and the trend is set to continue well into 2019. Some have posited that the return of wallpaper is a backlash to the overly minimalistic and overuse of neutral tones that the 90’s and 2000’s were characterised by. Wallpaper is much more interesting than it once was and what was long considered a controversial alternative to paint and somewhat of a taboo among certain circles is coming back with fresh new patterns, new materials and colour options. Dimensional fabrics are also entirely changing the game and are opening up the field of possibility for wallpaper.
Wallpaper offers way more drama and pattern options than paint and can range from the demure and understated to the almost regal in some cases. Wallpaper is a great way to add personality to any room and it can fit any type of aesthetics. Whether you’re looking for geometric shapes, botanical patterns or even metallic effects, you can find it in wallpaper. If you’re looking for inspiration, have a look at Fashion Interiors as they offer a wide selection of wallpapers for all styles and budgets you can choose from.
The Spa Bathroom
Spa days with friends are becoming more of a thing these days, and more people are trying to bring the spa home by making their bathrooms more inviting and conducive to relaxation. And if Pinterest is any indication to go by, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Internet searches for bathroom spas increased nearly 300% last year. But getting bubbly foot baths and bath salts isn’t good enough. Instead, bathrooms are being renovated to put in large hot tubs and large stand in shower spaces. Granite and marble are also increasingly popular in bathrooms as well and are set to continue being so way beyond 2019. A general return to nature can be noticed in the most recent interior design trends, and bathrooms should reflect that as well.
Patterned Plants
Another hot new trend in indoor decoration is the use of patterned plants. These plants have vibrant colours or unusual patterns and are definitely a change over the little green bush in the corner. It doesn’t have to be something exotic either. Instead, something like potted plants with vivid white veins on dark green leaves can be a great way to attract attention. These plants are often put in terracotta plants and used to break up a background of hardwoods.
Examples of great patterned plants include calatheas, red aglaonema and watermelon peperomia just to name a few. However, before you add patterned plants to your decor, know that many of them tend to be tropical species, so make sure that you read the care instructions to the letter if you want them to last.
Hints of Colour
Instead of decorating a room in one colour or complementary colours, interior decorating is shifting toward adding small hints and flashes of colour here and there. Depending on how it is done, it can add more variety and personality to a space than an area decorated in oppressive monotone, and you can create a unique look for relatively little money. One example is the resurgence of terrazzo, which can add a vibrant, earthy tone to any dark, neutral room. It is so popular that composite stone is having a revival right now and is in high demand.
Patterns on the floor and upholstery are popular, too. Rip out the uniformly white or cream carpet and put in one with delicate patterns instead. Where you have an existing colour palette in your flooring, walls, and furniture, accent pillows add a little more colour that truly pops out. Blown glass is making a comeback, where the glass contains unique swirls of white instead of being completely clear.
Marble with unique, varying patterns is becoming popular, combining the desire for something different and natural in one item. This is a more vibrant alternative to standard grey, beige or cream stone tiles on the wall, floor or countertop. You get extra points for using recycled marble or wood in furniture or home design. Recycled rock and stone create floors with a distinct, random pattern while there’s little to no waste. And it isn’t limited to flooring either. A number of manufacturers are recycling stone, ceramics and other materials to create light diffusers and furniture that gives your home a one-of-a-kind design without paying for commissioned artwork.
Sometimes the “hint of colour” is on a massive scale. For example, a home could have a single colour palette and have a bright, colourful door that dramatically stands out from the rest of the exterior. Instead of repainting a wall or painting little flecks on the wall, accent wall hangings are put up to replace the way it looks.
And what’s great about the trend is that you can achieve this look by just adding a few accessories like throw pillows and personal possessions. You can complete the same look by changing out your window treatments to break up the monotone colour palette instead of repainting or totally redecorating.
The Return of Curves
The home of 2019 is abandoning straight lines and harsh angles. Instead, furniture and window treatments with curves are in. In part, this plays on the return to plush furniture that abandons sharp corners in favour of comfort. Instead of harshly edged blinds and curtains as straight as your structural walls, we see curtains and drapery that arch, curve and flow.
Flexibility Is Key
Flexibility is key to home design for some people. This is driving the sales of modular and compact furniture. If you live in a small urban home, flexible furniture arrangements let you get the most out of your living space. A footrest that doubles as storage helps these small spaces stay uncluttered. In larger homes, flexible and multi-use furniture opens up your home, creating a sense of space. For example, tables you can raise and lower allow you to save money on furniture and avoid the need to store rarely used furniture. Small, interlocking tables that can combine into a single large table or serve as shelving when stacked are another excellent example.
The Return of Natural Tones
We’ve long considered vivid, neutral tones to be bright white, metallic colours or, at best, a moderate grey. Cold and sterile shades are out. We’re now seeing a return to natural tones.
Warmer, natural tones of beige and cream are making a comeback. Multiple shades of brown and green are combined to create a relaxing atmosphere.
The trend isn’t just for “soothing” colours either. Cactus green, sage green, burnt orange like the sunset, peacock blue, and forest green are becoming popular. For example, seeing bright blue in a bathroom or kitchen is increasingly common.
Outdoor furniture blends into the natural environment or complements it. Wood is being used in many ways, while dark wood is being adopted to stand out from the dark browns and light browns that have dominated for a decade. A major trend is the utilisation of natural wood instead of staining it or painting it. Wicker is making a comeback as well.
Recycled and Natural Elements
Using repurposed items and materials is no longer merely a statement or a way to get a rustic look for less, it’s now increasingly being viewed as a responsibility. More people are trying to combine their need for luxury and artistic expression with sustainable living and a search for more organic, tactile sensations. We should see more and more repurposed furniture, wood, and textiles making their way into our living rooms coming into 2019.
Use the interior design trends we’ve identified for 2019 as a source of inspiration. They should be a guide on how to decorate or redecorate your home. Pick what works best for you and update where you feel it is needed.